Microsoft teaming up with Samsung for gaming and XCloud could be Huge

At Samsung's 2020 Unpacked event, the Korean tech giant announced a partnership with Xbox. Details are scant, but what could it mean for the future of Microsoft's gaming platform?

[THC CELL]

Reminds me of this https://images.app.goo.gl/q...

[CaptainCook]

Sony never supported PS Now on Smart TVs though...

[Fishy Fingers]

They did.

Until they adopted Android on their TV's. https://www.sony.com/electr...

[2pacalypsenow]

Yeah they did.

[darthv72]

To be fair, I think I know whete you are going there captain.

Sony did initially support it on smart tv.... but they then no longer support it. Hence you are right that they no longer support it but you cant say they 'never' did.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

Not really.?

[rainslacker]

They didn't remove it from TV's that had it, except a couple which I believe didn't have some newer functionality that was needed for an update, nor the one Blu-Ray player that offered it, but outside of updating the app for any new codec they use, they don't do much with it, nor put it into new TV's.

I think it'd be easy enough to add into modern smart TV's, but it'd require a bluetooth adapter to handle the controller. If Sony goes with a wifi standard for the DS5 controller, then potentially it could work with any TV that has the proper OS and app on the store. Personally, I think that'd be the best way to go, instead of trying to partner with TV manufactuers. They don't need to work with the companies to get it onto TV's, just release the app on the TV's store page, which can control any thing needed to run the program, assuming there is a way to connect a controller.

Only reason to work with the manufacturers, outside marketing deals and whatnot, is there are blocks on the OS software which the company needs to work around. This is usually the case on smart phones and tablets, and most TV's are locked down even more than those devices.

I believe with Samsung and MS now, they needed to have something unblocked to use the app, and given the recent announcements, it's likely also a marketing deal going on.

[fr0sty]

In either case, nobody used it, because people don't like playing laggy games streamed over the internet.

[Unspoken]

Yeah, Sony had to buy their streaming service with the acquisition of Gaikai and OnLive where they ended up purchasing the idea and shutting down the respective companies. It's kind of where their headed now as they don't have the engineering to compete.

[S2Killinit]

These days anything MS do is going to be “huge” or some variation of hyperbole.

[Sonyslave3]

X Cloud going to be on all android devices and they're bringing it to iPhone too.

[Chris12]

You clearly do. Another positive Xbox move you appear to dislike. No surprise there then.

[Atom666]

Rightfully so. I think it's time for Sony to revisit their decision to pull PS now off of smart tvs too.

This is inevitably where these streaming services are headed.

[rainslacker]

I agree. Luckily nowadays, the SmartTV's work more like mobile device app stores, where you don't need to have hardware specially made, or concessions made within hardware to make an app. There is stricter approval on most TV's store fronts, but I'm sure Sony could work with that. Maybe need some parts of the OS back end opened up, and likely hardware sufficient enough to handle a controller input device. BlueTooth or some Wifi Standard, the latter of which could be handled by almost any wifi controller chip nowadays. A USB dongle add on for a controller as an option for TV's that don't directly support any controller. Basically, the controller should remain wireless.

I think with Ryan pushing PSNow more, we'll see Sony be more aggressive in this area going forward. They're already on some google devices, and iDevices. If MS and Google are going to push into the TV market, Sony would be foolish to not do so as well. It is the one market that has the most growth potential, because I fell those with a capbable PC or console(which is where Sony is currently at), will have limited appeal and accessibility to current users, who already have a means to play games.

[Thundercat77]

I don't think it could be "huge".

[Unspoken]

So far this has been the best gaming news in weeks. Streaming Xbox games to any devices is pretty big but then again look who posts in Xbox articles.

[Thundercat77]

Yeah of course, just as big as the power of the cloud. Xbox is not the first doing this but let's wait til next E3.

[Immorals]

I noticed the Xbox media player now has more integration with Samsung phones. Something is coming, not a clue what it is.

[rainslacker]

That's more an adroid thing isn't it? I've seen some of the new builds since last year, and it seems like the Media player, which is also part of the Windows media player family, is more integrated into the system. It kind of surprised me since Google does YouTube, but then I realized google doesn't really have a good all around media player, and MSMP is pretty robust in terms of compatible content, scalability, and customization to systems.

[timotim]

Xbox Everywhere™

[originaljohn]

Does that mean Xbox will get HDR 10+ support?

[frostypants]

That would be underwhelming. Dolby Vision is better and available on more TVs than HDR 10+, and HDR 10 is plenty for most people. HDR 10+ is proprietary and inferior to Dolby Vision though. No strong reason to support it.

[originaljohn]

It's Samsung's proprietary version of HDR 10, I'd say that's a big reason to support it.

[frostypants]

@originaljohn, you didn't explain a reason. Yes, it's a proprietary version of HDR10 that will only work on Samsung (and Panasonic...lol) TVs, and is only very marginally better than HDR10. And very inferior to Dolby Vision, an HDR10 alternative that already has much broader support (but is almost as pointless itself). In the AV community HDR10+ is almost universally considered a waste of everyone's time. It's the HD-DVD of HDR standards. Nobody would be hyped for that.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

They should team up with everyone that makes Roku TVs. Have it as a default app.

[frostypants]

TCL is about the only manufacturer with Roku built in. They're good TVs for the price though.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

Hisense

[Outlawzz]

Hopefully it's not anything exclusive to their hardware. I find their phones to be overpriced and their TV's are pricey as well.

[gamer7804]

they need to just focus on android and iOS. , then tvs that have android built in. to me thats more of a game changer than just supporting one of the many brands of tvs.

[rainslacker]

GoogleOS is quickly becoming the dominate OS on TV's. Google may not want to work with MS on integrating this as a default feature(either with a included app or back end support) due to them wanting to push Stadia. If there are back end things that need to be opened up on an OS level to allow this to work, these companies are forced to work with hardware manufactuerers as the hardware makers can modify the systems to their liking since it's designed for such things. Apple for sure probably needs this for iDevices.

On the bright side, Google has to tread carefully with what they allow and don't allow. They can't prohibit opening up of things that might be needed, while also using the same OS services themselves for their own competing product. Google and MS are being kind of bitter towards one another right now, because they're competing heavily for the cloud market, and now they're going to be competing in the streaming market, so it's possible MS and Google can't come to terms, or don't want to work together for whatever reason.

Ultimately, an open app that could run on any TV that has the proper OS would be the goal. Then it's just a matter of the TV having the proper hardware to run the app, and accept an input device.

[Profchaos]

Seems to work on an app level so no blocks in place would exist.
Controller drivers are already in Google tv os for the Xbox gamepad and the ds4 to be connected via Bluetooth.

Can't really see a limitation if it works on phones it will work on TVs

[rainslacker]

Apps sometimes still need access to things that may not exist on the system. A somewhat related software OS example, the Vita having YouTube removed because Sony didn't want to write in HTML5 support at a system level, so when YT switched standards, the app wouldn't run. Some things just can't be run at an app level because they require hardware or OS services or processes that may not exist, or are blocked from use. Many of those things can be made to work with the help of the OS vendor, but an app can rarely do that on their own. That's why you need the vendor support from say Samsung, who can rewrite the OS to their liking, because its designed to do such a thing.

For companies that used closed OS's, you definitely need to have them provide the tools necessary, although this kind of thing isn't as common anymore.

The only hardware issue I see would be the input device. I wasn't aware the TV's with Google OS had Bluetooth though. Or maybe not all of them do, and it's a manufacturers decision, but I do believe Bluetooth is available in all the Google TV's OS, just not available if they don't have the receiver or controller in the TV itself. If they all have it now, then it won't be an issue.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

Roku is more popular than Android or Google OS

[Christopher]

200m smart TVs sold in 2018 alone.

32m Roku active users as of May 2019 (versus 35m in 2015 for Chromecast devices).

@343 Not sure that's accurate anymore. It's up there, but to say more popular I think is inaccurate.

[gamer7804]

Good point. For now anyways. When stadia enters the google graveyard maybe they’ll partner up with Sony and Microsoft.

[LordJamar]

Go big or go home this so the difference in cloud and streaming section between Sony and Microsoft. Sony keeps tip toeing with the idea while Microsoft is putting its money where it’s mouth is going all in and making it the best it can be. Microsoft knows it has this advantage and is definitely gonna keep it.

[IRetrouk]

Sony has been building psnow for years, they were the first console manufacturer to do any cloud streaming, they have already put their money where their mouth is...twice so far, onlive and ghakai or whatever that company was called. Plus they own plenty of patents for streaming, How that equals tip toeing I'll never understand.

Do you use psnow and xcloud? I do, want to know the difference? There isnt one, both stream at 720p, both have issues with input lag and stuttering at times, So more like making it as good as what's already been available...

What advantage does ms have exactly that they will keep? Azure? Sony can use those servers, along with any other companies that offer that service. It's not an advantage if you offer your main competitor use of your servers too is it?

[LordJamar]

And Microsoft has invested billions upon billions in cloud and streaming likely more so then Sony and it shows the real problem like I said is Sony tip toeing with the idea while Microsoft is going full steam ahead just look the proof is reality we have now.

The rest you said is just downplay and your own bias with Microsoft maybe get over it? Anyway it’s clear as day who is gonna lead the streaming charge and it’s not Sony.

[i3eyond the Circle]

Xcloud streams over 720p, works away from your home, natively integrated with the at home Xbox across a multitude of devices now including Samsung TVssz.. meaning I can put my phone down and pick up where I left off at home with all my saves and achievements tied to my account.

So yeah... not the same and it’s only in beta.
Keep telling yourself it’s the same.

[IRetrouk]

Jamar, are you really one to be calling anyone bias? just because someone disagrees with you doesnt make them bias towards ms, it just means they dont agree with what you wrote.
The proof and reality we have now is sony has had and continues to have, the longest running game streaming service, saying they have been tip toeing when they entered the market first, bought two companies and continue to work on it behind the scenes is the more bias view no? What I said was downplay? Where? Lol, you said ms had advantages over sony, but they dont, they own a cloud business that others can use and xcloud runs no better or worse than psnow, this is from experience not wishful thinking or downplay.
The game streaming charge? they are already leading the charge, have been for years.
IR3TR0UK, that's my xbox username, I'm soooooo bias that I play xbox almost daily....

I beyond
Xcloud does not stream at a higher resolution than 720p, you dont get options for resolution at all. Are you maybe talking about the console streaming?
You can transfer save files on ps now too, not as easy as xcloud though,
Yes eventually you will be able to use xcloud on tvs, phones maybe even other consoles, what's stopping sony from doing the same thing? right now it's only android and iOS for xcloud and pc and ps4 for psnow, the experience of actually playing games over the net is exactly the same.

[LordJamar]

We will see I definitely know where I got my bets placed on who will lead streaming and who are focused more on it and making bigger moves for it I’m sure you know who that is to and it’s not Sony but you will never admit that or give Microsoft any credit just down play down play but I’m very much sure reality will prove me right Microsoft will lead cloud gameing/streaming.

[IRetrouk]

Well they dont right now do they jamar? They havent been leading the charge and still aint🤷‍♂️you can like facts or not, doesnt make them downplay, that's just your bias🤷‍♂️

[Christopher]

Easy to say when Sony had this years before and Xbox is just now getting it. I agree Sony needs to improve their service, but let's not act like Sony hasn't invested in this for years or that Xbox suddenly doing it should ignore what they did to begin with.

[Christopher]

***Sony acquired existing solutions like Gakai and Onlive. Rebranded to PlayStation Now.***

And they've done updates to it since then, including getting it so that it can actually play from a massive server farm of PS3 systems since x86 CPUs aren't capable of running digitized versions of PS3 games.

***MS literally have the infrastructure to support their own implementation.***

Then where the heck is it? Sony had PS Now in 2014. It's been over 5 years. What is taking the people who have all that infrastructure so long?

Furthermore, Sony has invested in that same infrastructure: https://www.theverge.com/20...

Which is funny considering now all Phil wants to tell us is that it's not longer about Sony at all, just them versus Amazon and Google.

Only one company has any results in this arena from the companies being discussed. Only one company has a working history of providing the service. Only one company is actually providing what is being discussed instead of people online talking about "how awesome it's going to be when Microsoft actually does something."

Parroting what Microsoft says when they show nothing for it is completely ignoring what Sony has already done. I'm not saying Sony is perfect, but I'm not going to believe *anything* about what Microsoft is going to do until they actually start showing us and put it out there.

Because, right now, Microsoft's biggest issue in cloud infrastructure has absolutely nothing to do with gaming, it has to do with military contracts and third-party service provision. That last bit is something that Sony is a part of, btw.

[LordJamar]

Just telling you what I see in reality right now and Microsoft is leading the charge not Sony on the cloud/streaming front it doesn’t matter who did what first but who does it BEST and it goes back to what I said before Sony is tiptoeing around cloud/streaming while Microsoft is going all in it is what it is the fact that Sony needs help from Microsoft for this and will be paying Microsoft for it even tho Sony apparently had a 5 years head start by your logic is kinda telling tbh.

[IRetrouk]

🤦‍♂️

[Christopher]

Edit: you know what, i can't even with this. You're going to say whatever you've been saying. It's pointless to debate and it's just going to lead you to say the same things over and over like a broken record

[ps360s]

Well it wont be ‘huge’ as it is hyped up to be lol

It might bring in a few customers for the Xcloud but I won’t expect it to be a game changer.

Comeback to this comment in 1-2 years if you don’t believe me :P

[Muzikguy]

Mobile gaming is the going to kill consoles off for good! /s

[THC CELL]

They been saying that for years and I'm still waiting to see it happen

[Whitey2k]

Well if Microsoft teamed up with Samsung then sony should team up with tech giant LG

[i3eyond the Circle]

The adaptation to 4K will almost seem mandatory this time around come PS5/XSX. Holiday time I see Samsung TVs flying by the boat load. They’ve had consoles bundled over the years but none have had a major push for finally leaving 1080p behind that these new consoles will usher in. Killing 2 birds with one stone (upgrading to 4k which many haven’t and upgrading to next gen) I see this being the year that promo might even shine in my eyes... along with the added marketing of Xcloud streaming (Xbox in room and TV in living room? No problem. Kid took the Xbox to a friends house? No problem.)

Their slow procedural approach won’t make Xcloud replace local but I hope they get a stable product that’s becomes a convenient Option for those folks interested. Like me... I’m on break now wishing I could be playing Plague Tale a game I would’ve never played without it dropping on Gamepass.

[Father__Merrin]

Direct X 12,
Esram,
Secret sauce (yes really),

Now Samsung.....what could Samsung do

[OG_TK_Cole]

Microsoft is pulling from their old Windows OS playbook. They are trying to form a "Monopoly" with XCloud and their ecosystem.

[rlow1]

I found a interesting article and according to the data MS is second behind Amazon in cloud services, I know thats not just.

[zahdab]

i bet thas the reason stormy daniels got with D Trump .... she thought it could be huge too ... .

[Az1ner]

That's a joke?

[Sophisticated_Chap]

With this news, and what seems to be a deepening relationship with the two companies, I wonder if Microsoft will support Samsung Ultrawide PC monitors with the Series X, as Samsung has apparently been pushing microsoft to support those resolutions.

https://n4g.com/news/232288...

[Az1ner]

Xcloud possibly interested into Samsung TVs? Galaxy phones? That would be massive. Now with xcloud in test phase on iOS. I been enjoying it on my Galaxy tab.

[l33t_haxx0r]

not really