Upgraded Xbox Cloud Gaming Demo Reaches 1440p/60fps
Fans are sharing first impressions of the enhanced Xbox Cloud Gaming experience. Videos reveal smooth streaming of demanding open-world games like The Witcher 3 at 1440p resolution.
Performance and Availability
This upgraded service is accessible through the more expensive Xbox Game Pass Ultimate plan, offering performance comparable to some GeForce Now options. Microsoft has faced criticism over recent Xbox Game Pass price hikes, but the improved streaming quality might convince gamers to maintain their subscriptions.
Beta Period Results and Streaming Quality
With the beta phase concluded, select titles now support higher resolutions and frame rates. Jez Corden from Windows Central highlighted how Xbox Cloud Gaming (Xcloud) could challenge Nvidia GeForce Now as an attractive alternative.
Subscribers must have Game Pass Ultimate to access 1440p streaming. While Essential and Premium plans also offer cloud gaming, they do so at reduced quality and with longer wait times.
Testing and User Experience
Gamers paying $29.99 per month for the top tier may be surprised by the streaming advancements. Corden tested multiple Xbox Cloud Gaming titles on the ROG Xbox Ally handheld device. The Witcher 3 ran at a steady 2560 × 1440 resolution and 60 frames per second.
Described as a “night and day” improvement from earlier sessions, latency was barely noticeable.
However, only a limited number of games currently support this enhanced performance.
Summary
The upgraded Xbox Cloud Gaming offers notable streaming quality gains, positioning it as a strong competitor to GeForce Now, though only select titles currently benefit.
Would you like the tone to be more formal or casual?