Xbox to focus on TV Apps, Expansion of Xbox Cloud Gaming, More as part of "20 Year Vision"

Originally published at: Xbox expands Xbox Cloud Gaming offerings, including release date of Samsung TV app - XboxEra

Xbox recently celebrated their 20 year anniversary last year and rather than resting on their laurels, have unveiled their strategy to kick off the next 20 years of Xbox as a platform for gamers around the world.

As announced today via their News Wire, they have announced a 5 prong approach to meeting the challenges of a post digital age.

  • Bringing the Xbox app to Samsung 2022 Smart TVs
  • Expanding Xbox Cloud Gaming to more countries
  • Bringing new gaming experiences to Microsoft Edge and Windows 11
  • Rolling out updates for Xbox Game Pass members
  • Introducing more options to express yourself with Xbox Design Lab

Starting with TV support, the long promised app is making its way onto 2022 Samsung TV on the 30th of June and hopefully will follow to other makes with full support for playing your Xbox Game Pass titles via the cloud and also support Free to play Games like Fortnite for all.

Xbox Cloud Gaming will also be available to these new TV users in 2 more countries, with support for Argentina and New Zealand added to the service.

Next up are optimisations for Edge users on Desktop, along with refinements to the gaming experience on Windows 11:

A new personalized gaming home page featuring news, game guides, live streams, game highlights, tournaments, upcoming and newly released games, and the Xbox Cloud Gaming library, including easy access to recently played games and related content.
Built-in Clarity Boost makes gameplay from the cloud look sharper and clearer when playing in the Microsoft Edge browser on Windows.
The new Games menu in Microsoft Edge offers easy access to free, popular games like Microsoft Solitaire, Atari Asteroids, Microsoft Jewel, and Microsoft Edge’s exclusive Surf game, plus helps players discover new ones.
Efficiency mode helps improve gaming performance on Windows 10 and 11 to keep them running fast and smooth by automatically reducing browser resource usage when a PC game is launched.

Microsoft

Optimizations for windowed games are currently being tested in the Windows Insider program. These are designed to significantly improve latency and unlock other exciting gaming features, including Auto HDR and Variable Refresh Rate (VRR).
A new HDR calibration app will enable players to improve color accuracy and consistency of their HDR displays.
The Game Pass Widget will allow players to browse and discover games from Game Pass and jump back into their recently played titles.
Controller bar features a list of most recent games, and shortcuts to popular game launchers, including the Xbox app. Controller bar enables players to jump back into their games or even access Xbox Cloud Gaming without the need for a mouse and keyboard. This is also currently being tested in the Windows Insider program.

Microsoft

Next up is reminiscent of the Steam Demo Fest, with access for developers to add early previews of their games via Game Pass to enhance developer to player relations alongside feedback control, user data and performance metrics allowing developers to tailor their games to the people that matter, those playing them.

Finally the Xbox Design Lab returns with not only the new 2022 Pride design available, but new colour options in Soft Pink, Soft Orange, Soft Green, and Soft Purple. On top of this there are Camo Top cases with matching side caps – Mineral Camo, Arctic Camo, Forest Camo, Sandglow Camo and Blaze Camo. The design lab is also available in 11 new countries: Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Norway, Slovakia, Switzerland with Taiwan due later in Summer.

Overall, this is just one part of the plans the Xbox team have in store, and more will be unveiled at the Xbox and Bethesda Game Showcase at 10am PT on the 12th of June.

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