Skip to main content

Microsoft’s Xbox Series X console could power xCloud servers next year

Microsoft will use its upcoming Xbox Series X console to power xCloud servers, according to a new report.

Recommended Videos

When Microsoft launches its xCloud game-streaming service later this year, it’ll rely on the Xbox One S to power the platform. But sometime next year, Microsoft plans to replace the Xbox One S with the Xbox Series X, providing improved graphics and performance for the company’s streaming service, The Verge is reporting, citing people who claim to have knowledge of its plans. The Xbox Series X is scheduled to launch in time for the 2020 holiday shopping season.

Those same sources told The Verge that Microsoft is already testing the Xbox Series X on xCloud. Microsoft is also testing PC blade servers for streaming PC titles, according to The Verge’s sources.

Microsoft told Digital Trends in an e-mailed statement that the company does “not comment on rumors or speculation.”

Microsoft’s Project xCloud, which is currently in preview and has more than 50 games, allows players to stream to Android-based mobile phones and tablets. Games work with a standard Xbox controller connected to a device via Bluetooth. Players need a Wi-Fi connection with 10Mbps download speeds or greater. Microsoft has said that it can’t fully test xCloud on iOS because of Apple’s App Store restrictions, and is unsure when a final version of the service would be available to iPhone and iPad users.

Microsoft revealed last year that it uses blade servers loaded with Xbox One S to power xCloud. When players boot up a game and stream it to their homes, the games run on the remote Xbox One S. Microsoft’s Xbox Series X will provide a significant boost in performance compared to the Xbox One S, thanks to a more powerful CPU and improved video encoding.

Perhaps most importantly for Microsoft, the move to Xbox Series X-based servers could also reduce its server load. According to The Verge’s sources, the Xbox Series X power would allow the company to stream four concurrent Xbox sessions per server, topping the single session that can run on an Xbox One S-based server.

Microsoft has yet to announce an exact launch date or pricing plans for xCloud, but The Verge’s sources say the service is still on track for a 2020 release on Android devices.

Don Reisinger
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Don Reisinger is a freelance technology, video game, and entertainment journalist. He has been writing about the world of…
The best Xbox Series X games for 2024
halo infinite season delay team

The Xbox Series X and S had no small task in trying to compete with the best PS5 games and the best Switch games at the same time. While it did get off to a slow start for the generation, its library has exploded with games thanks to all of the studios under its umbrella.

There's no shortage of games to play on either console thanks to Xbox Game Pass, which gives players immediate access to a library of titles old and new. That catalog offers extra value on top of all the new games available on the system that take advantage of its impressive technical specs. When it comes to first-party exclusives, the Series X is still growing. Halo Infinite and Forza Horizon 5 gave a good boost to the console's library following a somewhat sparse first year. More games are also on the way from its massive first-party group that now includes all of Bethesda and Activision.

Read more
The best free Xbox Series X games
Spartan on the battlefield

Xbox Series X has built up an impressive roster of games since launching in 2020. From fast-paced first-person shooter (FPS) games to challenging RPGs, Microsoft's latest console has something for everyone. But with most new games clocking in at an eye-watering $70, it's not always possible to play all the best Xbox Series X games. Thankfully, Xbox Series X is also home to a surprisingly deep library of free-to-play games.

While there is some crossover between the best free PlayStation 5 games, that just means there are more players to compete or join up with since almost all of these are cross-platform games.

Read more
The best multiplayer games on the Xbox Series X
Pirates digging up treasure in Sea of Thieves.

We all love a good solo adventure, and some of the best Xbox Series X games are single-player only, but nothing quite captures the same feel as playing with (or against) your friends. Thanks to the widespread adoption of cross-platform games, it has never been easier to connect with your friends and hop into a game. The only real difficulty is deciding what game to play. Obviously, there are a ton of free Xbox Series X games you can go for, but if you're willing to spend a little, these are our current multiplayer addictions on Series X.

Halo Infinite

Read more