82 TECH ADVISOR • FEBRUARY 2020FEATURE
though, simply squinting at games wore down my
eyes quickly, to the point where it became a chore
rather than a pleasure to play them.
That, of course, begs the question: if a phone is
too small to enjoy playing games, what other options
are there? Tablets, of course, would be a natural
choice, and there is an Android app, but nothing for
iOS. I have a suspicion that Microsoft sees xCloud as
perhaps the killer application for foldable phones like
Microsoft’s Surface Duo.
There’s still the question of data. I didn’t track
how much data xCloud uses, but I have an unlimited
connection. Not everyone does. Microsoft also has
not enabled Project xCloud to stream to a remote
Windows PC via Wi-Fi or cellular.
It’s not entirely clear how Microsoft will price
xCloud, or how it will be deployed. Making it part of
Game Pass Ultimate seems to be a popular guess. Let’s
hope that it’s a ‘try before you buy’ scenario, or that
Project xCloud is bundled with Game Pass, eliminating
the ‘do I really want to pay for this?’ question.
Since I’ve tested OnLive before, some of the
‘magic’ has gone out of cloud gaming. Playing over
cellular, though, has put some of it right back. Being
able to toss a controller into a backpack and play in
a few spare moments is kind of amazing. Maybe this
is the future, after all.82 TECH ADVISOR • FEBRUARY 2020FEATURE
though,simplysquintingatgamesworedownmy
eyesquickly,to the point where it became a chore
rather than a pleasure to play them.
That, of course, begs the question: if a phone is
too small to enjoy playing games, what other options
are there? Tablets, of course, would be a natural
choice,andthereis anAndroidapp,butnothingfor
iOS.I havea suspicionthatMicrosoftseesxCloudas
perhapsthe killer application for foldable phones like
Microsoft’s Surface Duo.
There’s still the question of data. I didn’t track
how much data xCloud uses, but I have an unlimited
connection.Noteveryonedoes.Microsoftalsohas
notenabled Project xCloud to stream to a remote
Windows PC via Wi-Fi or cellular.
It’snotentirelyclearhowMicrosoftwillprice
xCloud,or how it will be deployed. Making it part of
Game Pass Ultimate seems to be a popular guess. Let’s
hope that it’s a ‘try before you buy’ scenario, or that
Project xCloud is bundled with Game Pass, eliminating
the ‘do I really want to pay for this?’ question.
SinceI’vetestedOnLivebefore,someofthe
‘magic’has gone out of cloud gaming. Playing over
cellular, though, has put some of it right back. Being
abletotossa controllerintoa backpackandplayin
afewsparemomentsis kind of amazing. Maybe this
isthe future, after all.