What is the best? – GKZ Hitech

Countless companies have fallen on the quest to build the perfect cloud gaming service, making the idea more like a distant dream than an achievable reality. However, as advances in connectivity and processing power have reached new heights, the cloud gaming segment may finally be ready for peak viewing hours – at least, that's what Google and Microsoft promise. . We contrasted the first iterations of Stadia and Project xCloud to see how they stand on the path to the cloud gaming revolution.

To start

Unlike a conventional PC or console, you don't need a dedicated machine to access games in the cloud. All you need is a wireless Internet connection with a minimum download speed of 10 Mbps (although 35 Mbps is recommended) and a compatible screen.

In the case of Stadia, players can access TV content via Chromecast Ultra, any computer running a Chrome browser and the Stadia Application on Google Pixel phones; a larger extension of Android and iPhone is slated for later, though Google hasn't released an official calendar.

In terms of inputs, gaming on a Chromecast Ultra requires players to use an official Stadia Wi-Fi controller, while other screen formats can be combined with a mouse and keyboard (PC, Mac), a controller Standard Bluetooth (PC, Mac and phones) or the Stadia controller (all formats). Currently, the Stadia controller cannot be connected to a computer or phone via cable, although wider wireless compatibility should also soon be available for more devices.

Microsoft's Project xCloud is currently in a limited preview, which has been restricted to playback on any Android phone running version 6.0 or later via the Xbox Streaming Application. Before diving into a game, players should also pair their phone with an Xbox Bluetooth controller. In its initial presentation, Microsoft had promised that xCloud would eventually be playable on more screen formats, but no further details have been released yet.

Power and performance

At the time of the announcement, one of the highlights of Stadia is that it is built using custom AMD GPUs that can reach 10.7 traflops of power, which is more than the combined output of the PlayStation 4 Pro (4.2 traflops) and Xbox One X (6.0 traflops).

Microsoft hasn't released hardware specifications for xCloud, but they said that each server blade is made up of components from the Xbox One S. The One S per se can reach a whopping 1.4 horsepower.

During our tests, the games on Stadia are loaded a lot faster than on Project xCloud or Xbox One S. That said, Project xCloud also loads games faster than on a single Xbox One S, signaling that xCloud blades likely harness the power of multiple GPUs to boost performance above One One console.

Despite its superior power, the Stadia game library does not always control the platform in the most efficient way. For example, Destiny 2 is only capable of maximizing 1080p, while a similar gaming PC could easily achieve 4K quality. Admittedly, it is up to developers to adapt their games to Stadia's performance measures, but many have not yet taken advantage of its power.

Winner: Stadiums

Visual fidlit

As consumer devices grow and become richer in pixels, the ability to access ultra high definition content has never been more important. One of the highlights of the cloud game is that it can be set to a variety of different displays – sort of.

For the moment, Project xCloud achieves a soft 720p 60 FPS stream. This is not a big deal, as the public preview is only available on phones that don't need dense graphics to be crisp, but this visual hit will be visible on larger screens. During the first demos, Project xCloud was shown streaming 1080p content up to 60 FPS, so it's likely that the final version of xCloud will include a higher level of resolution, although no official announcements have been made. .

Stadia is capable of broadcasting content in three different resolutions: 720p, 1080p and 4K HDR for Stadia Pro subscribers – all 60 FPS, although this last note is accompanied by certain stipulations. As of this writing, streaming via Chromecast Ultra is the only way to access 4K content. This higher-level resolution would soon arrive on Stadia on the Chrome browser, but no official date has been set. In addition, even if Stadia Pro subscribers can activate 4K streaming, it is up to game developers to allow their games to play in this high resolution.

Winner: Stadiums

Selection of games

A game system is only as good as the games it can play, right? If this is the case, Stadia is a bit in trouble. At the time of this posting, Stadia players only had access to 27 games, most of which had been available on other systems for some time.

The xCloud project, on the other hand, can currently access 87 games for free, including many Microsoft exclusives like Halo 5, Forza Horizon 4 and many more. When xCloud is fully launched in the fall of 2020, it is expected to take over the entire Xbox game catalog without any developer intervention to get it up and running, which will be a huge boon for gamers who have already invested in the Xbox ecosystem.

This delay gives Stadia more time to add the essential games it needs to keep players interested. Stadia has no chance of amassing the entire Xbox lineup in a matter of months, but Google expects at least 120 games – including 10 exclusive ones – to land this year. At the moment, however, the xCloud project has a lot more content to offer.

Winner: XCloud project

Versatility of the platform

One of the main selling points of cloud gaming is the fact that gamers are not limited to a console, PC or machine in their home. They can access quality gaming experience on any screen that can establish a data connection – or at least, that is the promise.

As it stands, Project xCloud can only be read on Android phones; however, this is subject to change once the service is fully launched. When Microsoft first announced its cloud gaming initiative, it said being able to play on different screen formats was a goal for the platform.

Stadia, on the other hand, is much more versatile in the category of screen formats. Content is already available on Google Pixel TVs, computers and phones. This places Google’s service closer to the future of the ubiquitous cloud game that is so appealing to gamers, although wider support for Android phones and tablets is currently lacking.

Winner: Stadiums

Pricing

The pricing between the two cloud gaming services is not a fair comparison because Microsoft has yet to release its full business model for Project xCloud. However, we do know Google’s pricing options.

Stadia is available for first time users who have pre-ordered the Founders Edition kit or who purchase the Premiere Edition kit for $ 130. Both come with a Stadia controller, Chromecast Ultra and three free months of Stadia Pro.

Pro subscribers have access to a number of free rotating games that they can claim and keep as long as their subscription remains active. Other games can be purchased directly from the Stadia store. Once the first three months of Pro's free are finished, players can choose to keep or cancel their subscription for $ 10 per month, on which players will lose all free games they have claimed until they surrender.

Stadia also plans to launch a free base level sometime in 2020. This version would allow players to purchase and play games on Stadia at no monthly cost, although the quality of streaming is limited to a resolution of only 1080p.

Winner: determine

Availability

While this next generation of cloud games has been in vogue for years, we are only at the dawn of its full potential. Technically, the two services are still in different phases of early access, although it is easier to get one.

Stadia is currently on the market in a paid beta version. Anyone can activate the service as long as they buy a Premiere Edition kit for $ 130. After that, players can buy games and stream content to their hearts – at least until the expiration of their three free months of Stadia Pro, and they have the choice to renew or cancel. A full public launch of Stadia Base (free) should be available this year.

The only way to try Project xCloud is to register here for the preview. After that, potential players will have to wait until they are selected by Microsoft to participate, which is not guaranteed. The xCloud project is also expected to be available to the public later this year.

Winner: Stadiums

Last thoughts

Right now, there are many reasons to love the two cloud platforms, and there are many imperfections that hinder their gaming experiences.

The xCloud project does many things. It is made by a glove of the game which has a solid catalog of contents, a community of devoted players and a lot of experience in the game industry. At the same time, its slow and regular approach of the play in the cloud – which may be the smartest route to take – has allowed competition to get a head start.

The current version of Project xCloud lacks processing power, does not yet have a pricing model and is currently limited to mobile devices. The ultimate test for Project xCloud will be how the Microsoft team boosts performance and makes xCloud available on every other screen in our lives (laptops, desktops, tablets and TVs). If the company is able to make this experience evolve at a competitive price, it should cause a sensation with the players.

Stadia has exactly the opposite problem. The material on which it is built is truly extraordinary – the games open at lightning speed and loading times are considerably reduced, sometimes even eliminated. The fact that you can move from one screen to another without problems is simply great.

Despite these glorious moments of power and prestige, Stadia is seriously lacking in the department contained. Google does not have decades of developer relationships that the Microsoft Xbox team can boast of, and it shows. Stadia starts from zero. he Needs solid developer support and an abundant game library for a chance to succeed in the long run.

Verdict

As an Xbox player who has invested a lot of time and money in the Microsoft ecosystem, it is difficult to choose between these two platforms. The xCloud project is the ideal option, because it would allow me to keep all of my saved games and data. For this reason, many other potential cloud players will also choose this option when xCloud is finally launched.

At the same time, Stadia has so much potential that it is impossible to ignore it. With absurdly good performance drawn from Google’s AI prowess, this service can allow developers to create new types of gaming experiences that could transform the industry – but only if it gains enough traction to stay.

As it stands, Stadia is much toffer than Project xCloud. It is more powerful, more advanced in development and more widely available. Yes, his game library is seriously missing, but I had a lot of fun discovering games I forgot on Xbox. For these reasons, Stadia wins this proof of particular strength.

But this story is not over. Later this year, xCloud will be launched in its entirety, and we will have a real war of games in the cloud, and we will certainly return to this subject. Until then, check out Stadia if you have the chance. For all the mistakes that Google made, they chased the fundamentals of cloud play from the park.