Microsoft is finally making some notable technical upgrades to its Xbox Cloud Gaming service.
@RedPhx, the creator of the third-party Xbox Cloud Gaming enhancement tool Better XCloud, recently spotted new streaming performance tiers for Microsoft’s service. These new options are 720HQ, 1080HQ, and 1440p, which would add to the exiting 720p and 1080p options. Presumably, the “HQ” tiers would provide improved bitrate, while 1440p would naturally result in a sharper image.
It’s unclear when this would roll out widely for everyone, but it would at least be a decent first step towards improving the overall streaming quality of the service. After all, that’s been arguably the biggest issue with Xbox Cloud Gaming compared to rival gaming streamers like Nvidia’s GeForce Now service, which can support up to 5K at 120fps or up to 360fps at reduced resolutions.
At the same time, Microsoft has repeatedly referred to Xbox Cloud Gaming as a “beta,” even back in 2020 when it was in first public previews under the name of “xCloud.” Microsoft’s broader multiplatform push also means that Xbox Cloud Gaming is just one of many options to access Xbox games. Beyond Cloud Gaming being available on consoles, PC, mobile, VR, smart TVs and, soon, even cars, Xbox has been bringing many of its games to PlayStation and Nintendo systems. It’s also diving into the world of handheld gaming PCs in a big way with next month’s Asus ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X.
All of this is to say that Xbox Cloud Gaming is clearly a slow burn for the company. Hopefully, though, we’ll get more technical improvements like this at a steadier clip going forward.
Xbox Cloud Gaming is included at no additional cost with a $22.99/month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription.
