Microsoft to stream PC games to Xbox One

One of the best new features of Windows 10 is the ability to stream Xbox One games to your PC. Now, Microsoft is planning to offer the reverse and beam PC games to your console. 

The PC is a declining force in gaming, as players continue to migrate to consoles and mobile devices. However, Microsoft’s initiative to beam games from PC to console could give Windows gaming a much needed shot in the arm.

Microsoft unveiled its plans in an interview with The Verge, although the company admitted there are technical challenges to overcome before it can implement PC games streaming. “We understand if you’re going to go PC to Xbox, we need to get keyboard and mouse working completely so you could play those games,” said the head of Microsoft’s Xbox division, Phil Spencer. “In terms of where we want to go with our platform, those are absolutely in scope of things that we want to do.”

There are other hurdles, too, most notably the variable bandwidth required to stream games from PC to console, as the graphical capabilities and resolutions of PC set-ups vary enormously. “It’s actually a little more challenging doing the encoding on the PC side to the Xbox, but challenge is good,” said Spencer.

The Xbox chief didn’t provide a timeline for the new feature. The Xbox One interface is set to receive a massive overhaul in the autumn, and Microsoft will eventually migrate the console’s code base to Windows 10, too, allowing the Xbox One to run the same universal apps that are available on PCs and (eventually) smartphones.