Phil Spencer is Microsoft’s head of Gaming on Xbox One and PC. He was asked why the Xbox is lagging behind in streaming. Google Stadia is planning to launch in just a few days – the Xbox service Project xCloud is still in the testing phase.
This was the situation: Phil Spencer gave an interview to the BBC during the X019, Microsoft’s major event regarding “Gaming”:
- Google’s streaming service, Stadia, will start on November 19 with 22 games
- Xbox’s project, “Project xCloud”, is still in a public testing phase
The question to Spencer was: Are we falling behind Google and will we have to catch up laboriously?
It will take years for streaming to become mainstream
This is what Spencer says: Spencer believes streaming has given people in other industries the opportunity to stay connected with their media wherever they go. As with music or videos. He sees this coming for gaming in the future – but that future is still far away.
“In my opinion, we are all in a testing phase. We are still in a very early stage of the new technology. It will take many years before the technology becomes mainstream.
The best place to play will remain the local device in your home for years: the console, the Xbox, connected to your TV. The same goes for the gaming PC. […]”
Phil Spencer
Spencer says this statement will remain true for years: The device designed specifically for gaming, the computing power at home, he sees as the first choice.
There you won’t have to struggle with internet difficulties either.
Gaming will remain as it is for now
This is what’s behind it: Spencer says streaming is coming, but it will take time. He wants to work with users on Project xCloud to develop their own streaming service. He doesn’t see a reason to rush.
In this, Spencer likely speaks to the heart of many gamers who still want to play on “strong hardware” at home here in the West.
The major advantages of streaming, being able to play games on mobile devices while on the go, many gamers here do not see as important. They do not trust the local internet. Especially since gamers already have “strong hardware” at home anyway. Google Stadia primarily targets people who lack this strong hardware. With Google Stadia, players can essentially rent a gaming PC for free.
However, one can see how seriously Phil Spencer takes Google’s push towards “gaming” and “gaming platforms”:
