Game streaming is all the rage. Steam lets you stream your own games from your desktop to your TV, but more ambitious folk like OnLive and the now Sony-owned Gaikai are planning to stream games straight to compatible devices over the internet. According to unsourced, unverified reports on Neowin, Microsoft is planning on doing the same – but going a step further, by beaming games to your browser.
Microsoft is testing out playing games in your browser and not just any games. We’re talking Xbox games – and not just last-generation titles either. In fact, even Xbox One titles are currently said to be in the works too.
And don’t think this is some watered-down experience; one source told us that he thought the experience was right around 60FPS, while another stated that this is going to be the company’s next killer gaming feature.
The Xbox 360 games offer up the full experience, including the dashboard running in the browser too. So don’t think this is some hacked together project, this is the real deal. The product, as it stands right now, has Xbox branding and works outside the walls of Microsoft.
It will likely be based on the same sort of technology we told you about previously; the one that predicts what you’ll be doing to reduce in-game streaming latency. If this is true, it could finally allow for “backwards compatibility” with Xbox 360 games on the Xbox One According to Neowin, it would also allow streamed Xbox One games – though that would negate the need for anyone to own an Xbox One.
Of course, all of this is moot for those of us without Microsoft’s Azure datacentres within proximity
Last Updated: September 11, 2014
Alien Emperor Trevor
September 11, 2014 at 12:22
I can already imagine someone moaning how they can’t play two games in different browser tabs.
Anon A Mouse
September 11, 2014 at 12:30
Are people still using explorer as their browser these days?
Brady miaau
September 11, 2014 at 13:03
I use Chrome and IE.
for certain work stuff, reports servers and the like, IE just works better
But Chrome is getting me down, using a gig ram and stuff
Anon A Mouse
September 11, 2014 at 13:07
I understand for work yes, I also have to use it to get into certain sites for business purposes but you will not find it on my personal laptop, since IE 5 or there about.
Kensei Seraph
September 11, 2014 at 14:36
I find that Firefox works for most of the work-related sites that are supposedly only compatible with IE.
Sir Rants A Lot: On Pandora
September 11, 2014 at 12:46
*sigh* and how good will your net connection need to be? This technology is many, many years away from being truely viable.
Arne
September 11, 2014 at 13:07
Not in the Netherlands its not.. my download is 180kbps (18mb/s) and my upload half of that.. Ill be good.
Sir Rants A Lot: On Pandora
September 11, 2014 at 13:29
But the majority of gamers don’t have that. To be viable it needs to be the majority of players.
There simply aren’t enough people who have good enough connections.
Arne
September 11, 2014 at 13:31
I agree, but that doesn’t have to mean that the gamers WITH the right connection cant have it also. right?
Sir Rants A Lot: On Pandora
September 11, 2014 at 15:07
Not at all. The problem is that when people start using it the publishers get it in their heads that it’s what every user on earth wants and tries to push it for the norm. Then they hurt those who can’t
CaptainNemo42
September 11, 2014 at 13:00
Ai, Microsoft will do ANYTHING to get us back to IE.
CaptainNemo42
September 11, 2014 at 13:03
So, the only way you play Xbox games in 60fps is if you play it through your browser?
Arne
September 11, 2014 at 13:06
I would be so happy if i could play the Mass Effect trilogy on my Xbox One. I start crying by the thought of it.
FoxOneZA
September 11, 2014 at 13:38
Apparently you don’t need a local Azure server like when the Titanfall beta took place.
Mark Treloar
September 11, 2014 at 13:41
Except Titanfall wasn’t streaming so its inaccurate comparison.
DrKiller
September 11, 2014 at 13:54
having games in a browser is a shit idea…… I like the idea of being able to play your games on a different device, but NOT A BROWSER.
Zach Dolbeare
September 11, 2014 at 15:37
What’s the difference if you are in Full Screen mode?
DrKiller
September 11, 2014 at 15:39
Addons, extentions, compatibility between browsers etc…. These things are really a pain in browsers.
Pieter Smal
September 11, 2014 at 14:01
Where is the dislike button?
Kensei Seraph
September 11, 2014 at 14:34
Yes, but will it work with Firefox?
Zach Dolbeare
September 11, 2014 at 15:39
Another article said IE and Chrome only. But since this isn’t even confirmed, who knows.