While Twitch streams are a great way to bring fans of a particular game or streamer together to experience the joy of video games all as one, the platform has unfortunately suffered in the past from issues involving toxicity. As such, the live streaming platform has now announced new policies …
Read More »Microsoft will bring xCloud streaming to iOS and PC in Spring 2021
A couple of months ago, Microsoft announced that it would still be bringing xCloud game streaming support to iOS. Microsoft has also committed to bringing its game streaming service to PC too. Now, we finally have a launch window for these new versions of Xbox Game Streaming, with both scheduled …
Read More »Xbox xCloud streaming could come to Smart TVs next year
Xbox head, Phil Spencer, is continuing to do the rounds at press outlets to discuss all things Xbox and promote the recent Series X/S launch. In a recent interview published this week, we learned about what's next for xCloud in 2021, with Microsoft's game streaming service set to become much …
Read More »Twitch is reportedly limiting users with ad blockers to 480p
Since the creation of the modern internet, one of the main ways which websites have managed to monetise their content is through the inclusion of advertising. While this can take many different forms, some can be more egregious than others. This led to the creation of ad blocking software. While …
Read More »GeForce Now adds Watch Dogs Legion, Ghostrunner and more this week
GeForce Now has been getting weekly library updates since its launch out of beta and this week is no exception. This time around, we have a small number of games joining the library, but each one is a pretty big hitter, including two RTX-supported games in Watch Dogs Legion and …
Read More »Facebook begins its own cloud gaming efforts
While Microsoft, Amazon and Google are taking bigger swings at the cloud gaming market, Facebook is taking baby steps. This week, the company announced that it would be bringing cloud streaming to its existing Facebook Gaming service. Facebook Gaming hopes to “make it easier to play games instantly”. This will …
Read More »Xbox head hints at xCloud streaming stick for TVs
The idea of a cheap, streaming-only Xbox device has been flaunted around for a while now but it could come to fruition very soon. Recently during an interview, Xbox head, Phil Spencer, hinted at the existence of a new xCloud device for TVs. Speaking with Stratechery, Spencer said: “I think …
Read More »Google distances itself after Stadia employee’s controversial tweets
There has been some controversy in the live streaming space this week, as not only did thousands of videos get hit by copyright takedowns on Twitch, but a Creative Director at Google Stadia kicked up a stir for his stance on game streaming as a whole. Now, Google has had …
Read More »Microsoft planning browser-based Game Pass streaming for iOS
With Xbox Game Pass streaming now up and running on Android, Microsoft has been turning its attention to iOS. So far, game streaming services have had issues getting onto Apple's platform, but a solution may have been found. According to sources speaking with both The Verge and Business Insider, Microsoft …
Read More »Netflix shares a first look at Geralt in Season 2 of the Witcher
As we begin to approach the first anniversary of Netflix’s The Witcher, thoughts are beginning to shift towards the upcoming season 2. While there is currently no release date for the follow-up season – barring a vague 2021 – filming is currently underway. To satiate fans during the long wait, …
Read More »4K Netflix streaming only works on Macs with T2 security chip
Bringing 4K Netflix streaming to PC has been quite the ordeal, with Windows systems only just getting wide support in the last couple of years thanks to new CPUs and GPUs. On the Mac side of things, gaining access to Netflix's highest streaming quality is even more of a chore, …
Read More »Amazon announces Luna – its own cloud gaming service
We've known for a long time now that Amazon has been quietly working on its own cloud gaming solution. Yesterday in a surprise twist, the company officially announced it. Luna is Amazon's game streaming service, which takes another different approach compared to Google Stadia or Project xCloud.
Read More »Twitch is testing the addition of ads mid-stream
While ad revenue is fundamental to the current set up of the internet and internet-based entertainment platforms, the existence of ads has often frustrated users. That being said, while in many instances these ads are intelligently placed for minimal negative impact, sometimes platform holders take it too far. This may …
Read More »xCloud streaming comes to Game Pass Ultimate tomorrow, supports over 150 titles
We are just one day away from project xCloud officially joining Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and rolling out to Android devices across the world. Microsoft had already revealed a handful of games that will be available for cloud streaming back when the announcement was made, but today, the company has …
Read More »Apple updates guidelines for game streaming on iOS but still falls short
Before the Epic Games VS Apple dispute began making headlines, Apple was already catching some flack in the gaming scene for its position on cloud game streaming services. At this point, Microsoft has scrapped plans for xCloud on iOS due to Apple's restrictions, Google has yet to bring Stadia over …
Read More »Control Ultimate Edition, Surgeon Simulator 2 and more come to GeForce Now today
Its time for another GeForce Now library update, this time headlined by Control: Ultimate Edition, Surgeon Simulator 2, the Shadowrun collection and more. In all, there are ten more games joining the cloud gaming library today, spread across Steam and the Epic Games Store. In terms of brand new releases, …
Read More »European Commission to investigate Apple’s stance against game streaming services
Last week, Microsoft officially scrapped plans for xCloud streaming on iOS, citing Apple's tight App Store rules as a result. Apple didn't deny this and in fact backed this up by saying that its store does not allow for streaming services like xCloud, GeForce Now etc on its platform. Sure …
Read More »Project xCloud streaming comes to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in September
Microsoft has long been open about the fact that one day, Project xCloud will become part of the Xbox Game Pass service. Now, we have a date on that, with xCloud streaming becoming part of the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership tier in September. “This September, in supported countries, we’re …
Read More »Tencent preparing to launch streaming service partner program to compete with Twitch
While Microsoft has recently bowed out of the live game streaming race with the shutdown of Mixer, there are other giant corporations still hoping to steal Twitch’s throne. This week, it is being reported that Tencent is preparing to launch a platform of its own, complete with a partnership program. …
Read More »Microsoft is shutting down Mixer and partnering with Facebook Gaming
Despite years of heavy investment and even bringing in some huge streamers on multi-million dollar contracts, Microsoft's streaming platform, Mixer, has been unable to catch up and compete with the bigger sites like Twitch, YouTube and even Facebook gaming. Now, Mixer will be shutting down, with the service set to …
Read More »Take-Two CEO thinks Google over-promised with Stadia
Take-Two was one of the first major publishers to support Google's Stadia streaming service, bringing titles like NBA 2K20, Borderlands 3 and Red Dead Redemption 2 to the platform. Now roughly a year on from Stadia's initial unveiling, Take-Two CEO, Stauss Zelnick, believes Google over-promised. As reported by Gamespot, Zelnick …
Read More »Steam Cloud Play enters beta, supports GeForce Now
Late last year, Steam was updated with references to cloud gaming within its code. Now, we know what those updates were for, as Steam Cloud Play has gone into beta. Steam Cloud Play is starting off with “a limited amount of games” as the team continues to build features and …
Read More »Stadia adds 1440p streaming support on Chrome browser
Back in March, Google brought its highest quality streaming option (4K) to the Chrome web version of Stadia. Now, those who don't quite have the connection for that full 4K, or have a QHD display can enjoy Stadia over Chrome, as a new 1440p streaming option has been added. The …
Read More »Twitch signs multi-year deals with three more of its top streamers
The business side of streaming has grown a ton over the last decade, to the point where giant corporations are in play and signing lucrative exclusivity deals with certain personalities. The likes of Mixer and Facebook Gaming got in on this idea early, but Twitch has been making efforts to …
Read More »Netflix begins increasing streaming quality in Europe
Back in April, as more and more people went into quarantine due to coronavirus, Netflix and other streaming services made adjustments to video quality in an effort to reduce bandwidth usage and avoid internet blackouts. Now, bitrates are slowly beginning to rise once again. We are still some ways off …
Read More »Stadia now supports wireless controller on PC and HDR web streaming
It has been a slow process, but Google Stadia has been improving in the last few months. Stadia's free tier is now available, Chrome browser streaming has full 4K support and now, HDR can also be streamed over the web. Previously, 4K/HDR streaming was only available on Stadia when streaming …
Read More »GeForce Now adds Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry but loses Xbox, Warner Bros and other titles
GeForce Now is getting another library update this week, bringing in support for streaming more Ubisoft titles, although Xbox Game Studios, Warner Bros, Codemasters and Klei Entertainment titles will be dropping out for the time being. In the latest update, Nvidia confirms that as of today, Ubisoft is allowing all …
Read More »AVerMedia releases the first external 4K HDR and 240 FPS capture box
AVerMedia is launching the Live Gamer Bolt GC555, the “world's first external 4K HDR and 240FPS video capture box”. Although it has just launched, the Bolt has already been awarded with the Taiwan Excellence 2020 Award for its innovation, and the Red Dot Award for its aesthetics. AVerMedia Live Gamer …
Read More »Google is temporarily making 1080p streaming the default option for Stadia users
This week, Google took a big step in its cloud gaming journey by opening up Stadia to everyone , meaning anyone can sign up and stream as long as they have an email address. While the floodgates opening should be a good thing, it also comes at an odd time, …
Read More »Google Stadia now has a free streaming tier
Back when Google first pitched Stadia, it was with a free tier for 1080p streaming and a pro tier for those who want up to 4K visuals. Since launch in November 2019, Stadia has only had the Pro subscription tier available but as of today, the free streaming tier is …
Read More »