Microsoft reportedly working on “next generation” Xbox cloud servers

Despite the heavy marketing of their xCloud game service, Microsoft's Xbox cloud streaming still pales in comparison to its contemporaries across a bunch of different categories. That said, Microsoft looks set to introduce a ton of improvements to its game streaming services – with reports claiming that the company is “working on the next generation of Xbox cloud servers.”

As reported by WindowsCentral, Microsoft is currently focused on improving its game streaming services, with “sources” revealing that “Microsoft is working on the next generation of Xbox cloud servers, which are in testing at Redmond HQ as we speak.”

According to the report, these servers will be “part of Microsoft's next-gen hardware offering” and as such should allow for “lower lag, improved bitrates, and higher resolution options.”

As mentioned, Microsoft has marketed its cloud streaming for years now, with the service said to offer similar levels of console-quality gaming on the go. Unfortunately, the service has suffered from somewhat muddy visuals, extended waiting times and other various issues.

Until now, cloud streaming has remained a small subset of Xbox’s Game Pass subscription – making these annoyances more tolerable.

According to the report however, in the wake of these improvements Microsoft will be offering a new cloud-only subscription “which would free it up from Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.”

While there is a time and place for cloud game streaming, hopefully Microsoft’s renewed focus on the service does not take away from Xbox’s (increasingly diminishing) hardware plans.

KitGuru says: What do you think of xCloud in its current state? Would you pay for a streaming-only subscription? Which game streaming service is the best right now in your opinion? Let us know down below.

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