Microsoft is now accepting registrations for its forthcoming series of Project xCloud trials, the game streaming service it's been developing for quite a while now.
The company is accepting applications from the United States, the UK, and Korea, though it has not specified an exact date for when trials will begin other than saying they'll happen this October. Microsoft says it's also going to send invites "in the coming weeks" to a "small number of participants."
Project xCloud Testing
Microsoft is trying to keep a low profile, it seems like. The preview group will be composed of just a small and select few. Even the games they'll be able to play will be limited.
"In the first phase of the Project xCloud public preview, featured games will be Gears 5, Halo 5: Guardians, Killer Instinct and Sea of Thieves," explains a Microsoft spokesperson, as The Verge reports. "For initial testing purposes, we aim to gather insights from engaged and active players from those communities. We'll continue to expand our content catalog over the course of the preview and will share more details in the near future."
Those who want to be part of xCloud testing will need to have an Android phone or tablet running Android 6.0 or higher with Bluetooth 4.0. They're also going to need a Microsoft account and a Bluetooth-enabled Xbox One controller. As part of the tests, Microsoft is going to launch a Game Streaming app on the Play Store, but only beta participants will be able to sign in.
Mobile Networks
Microsoft also seems to have network speeds covered. It's partnering with some carriers to test xCloud's performance over mobile networks. For example, it's going to work with Korea network SK Telecom in the coming weeks. Stateside, it will be forming technical partnerships with T-Mobile, while across the pond, it plans to work with Vodafone. All this to see how xCloud will fare on mobile networks, obviously.
Finer-grain details about the actual service remain fuzzy, though. For example, it's still not very clear what the business model for xCloud is, exactly. Clearly, with Microsoft opting for a small group of test participants, it wants to take things slow. There's no telling when these tests will cease, but it's safe to assume Microsoft will keep on going until it reaches its standards for quality and performance.
Interested users may sign up to be part of Microsoft's xCloud tests by visiting its website.
Thoughts about the upcoming xCloud game streaming service? As always, if you have anything to share, feel free to sound them off in the comments section below!
