Microsoft to Test New Videogame-Streaming Service
June 09 2019 - 10:12PM
Dow Jones News
By Sarah E. Needleman
LOS ANGELES -- Microsoft Corp. said on Sunday it will begin
publicly testing its new videogame-streaming initiative in October,
just ahead of when Google's competing service is slated to
launch.
At a press event Sunday before the game industry's annual E3
expo here, Microsoft said the test will enable people to stream any
Xbox One game to a mobile device though it didn't say which
ones.
Last week, Alphabet Inc.'s Google said it plans to launch a
game-streaming service in November with roughly 30 games. It will
be accessible on computers, laptops, TVs and its own Pixel 3
devices. Analysts said they were skeptical it would have a strong
start because most of the games that will be available at launch
are older. Google said it plans to add more games down the
line.
At Microsoft's event, the tech giant showed off 60 games coming
to its Xbox One system and Windows PCs, including more than a dozen
exclusives from its own studios. It also said its next-generation
console will come out in late 2020 and will include a
custom-designed processor made in partnership with Advanced Micro
Devices Inc. At the same time, it plans to release a new
installment of its popular "Halo" franchise, the company said.
Microsoft also focused on the company's subscription services
such as Game Pass and Xbox Live. But actor Keanu Reeves drew the
biggest cheers when he appeared on stage to promote "Cyberpunk
2077," a new game he stars in from Polish game developer CD Projekt
Red.
Sony Corp. isn't hosting a press event this year on the
sidelines of the E3 expo, which officially kicks off Tuesday. The
company told Wired magazine in April it is working on a new console
to succeed the PlayStation 4 but didn't reveal a launch date or
mention new streaming capabilities. Sony's PlayStation Now service
enables streaming, though only with select older games.
Write to Sarah Needleman at Sarah.Needleman@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
June 09, 2019 21:57 ET (01:57 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2019 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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