With the announcement of Microsoft"s next-generation Xbox just two days away, rumors have swirled about what some of the features the console contains will include, such as live television integration. According to a new report, one of the features likely to be announced is online game streaming.
The Wall Street Journal reports that in addition to the live television integration, Microsoft has been testing a streaming game service that may be shown off at its Tuesday event. Citing "people familiar with the matter," The Journal states Microsoft has developed the technology itself. By comparison, Sony purchased cloud gaming company Gaikai for $380 million a year ago, and that acquisition"s technology will be part of its PlayStation 4 console. Microsoft"s service may primarily be used for streaming Xbox 360 games to the new Xbox console, according to The Journal"s report, though it"s unclear if next-generation games would also be available for streaming.
Late last month, job listings on Microsoft"s website revealed the company was hiring for a cloud gaming initiative, though the listings didn"t specifically state the program was for the next Xbox. Applicants hired for the positions would "work across internal teams, and with external development partners to drive experiences in gaming that have not been possible before and have not been done before," a listing said.
In addition to the steaming service, The Journal corroborates claims that Microsoft is working on a television connectivity feature that would allow users to connect the console to their set-top boxes from television service providers. Other possible announcements include "specialized glasses" that will go beyond current 3D glasses technologies and possibly "blend images of the real world with that of a game," the report states.
Source: The Wall Street Journal