Katarzyna Petru
Microsoft accelerated the development of the Xbox ecosystem significantly in February. The most important change? Streaming in resolutions up to 1440p on consoles and a range of improvements for ROG Xbox Ally users. The update affects both console gamers and PC players, as well as handhelds.
1440p in the cloud and a new quality of streaming
Xbox Cloud Gaming on consoles reaches a higher level. Subscribers of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate can now stream games at resolutions up to 1440p with higher bitrate, which means sharper images and more responsive gameplay. This feature is available on Xbox Series X|S as well as older models Xbox One X and One S. Microsoft emphasises that following the exit from beta, the development of the cloud is accelerating. At the same time, a public preview of the new web version of Xbox Cloud Gaming is ongoing with a refreshed interface. Additionally, there are Postgame Recaps for Insiders on PC – a system summarising achievements and activity after a session ends.
ROG Xbox Ally and more freedom to play
Users of the ROG Xbox Ally have received specific improvements. The most important are the ability to directly format microSD cards from the Xbox app and the Advanced Shader Delivery indicator, which informs whether the shaders have been pre-compiled. This is intended to shorten load times and improve smoothness when launching a game for the first time. Microsoft is also expanding the Handheld Compatibility programme, which makes it easier to check if a game runs optimally on handheld devices. The Xbox Play Anywhere library has surpassed 1000 titles, and the "Stream Your Own Game" feature now allows streaming over a thousand of your own games from the cloud.
The February update clearly shows: Xbox is focusing on the cloud, handhelds, and gaming flexibility. 1440p on consoles is a significant step for Cloud Gaming, and the changes in the ROG Xbox Ally indicate that Microsoft takes the portable market seriously.
Source: news.xbox.com
