Feature: Microsoft Could Compete With PS Now By Bringing A Similar Cloud-Powered Service

Not too long ago Sony announced that PS Now would be rolling out across North America and that players would be able to play over 100 games for a set price per month, a deal that seems too good to be true.

Powered by the overseeing ‘cloud’, PS Now allows players to stream games Netflix-style as and when they wish, so long as they have a compatible device and a decent broadband connection.

Many are heralding Sony’s innovation as the future of gaming. No lengthy downloads, no installs; you don’t even need a games console to play as the service will be available on Smart TV’s and mobile phones in the future.

Microsoft, Sony’s direct competitor in the gaming space may be looking to bring their own cloud-powered game streaming service to the millions of Xbox players around the world.

It’d be a smart move by the firm to go head-to-head with Sony in this area as fellow Japanese firm Nintendo has shown that not being current with the latest technology trends can have major impacts on the business side of things.

Microsoft already has the tools available to make such a service and we’re in no doubt that the Redmond-based platform holder is probably working on a similar solution as we speak.

Microsoft spent a great deal of time hyping up their ‘cloud’ service for the Xbox One with claims that the non-physical presence would be beneficial to gamers and developers. The firm claimed that the cloud would be the next-stage of innovation in the gaming space, something that has yet to be displayed by the firm.

So they’ve got the tools, they’ve got the motivation and they’ve certainly got the user base who would appreciate new ways to play games, not to mention the shareholders who would more than appreciate any revenue stream for the Xbox gaming division.

The firm recently revealed that they’re looking to support the Xbox 360 for a years to come and are looking to create new experiences for the almost-decade old console. Could the cloud be the best cost-effective way of supporting the console? It does seem a likely option, much more likely than Microsoft creating new IP’s for the older console when the Xbox One is out on the market competing with the PlayStation 4.

Personally, I’m please that Microsoft are keeping the Xbox 360 a relevant bit of kit and would more than likely use a cloud-streaming service along the lines of PS Now to keep the Xbox 360 a viable gaming solution.

However, as history has shown, Microsoft’s attempts to match the competition haven’t always gone to play. The Kinect was the reply to Nintendo’s motion-controlled Wii. Unfortunately, as fun as the peripheral can be, it’s not seen the great games that could have been possible using the technology. Sony’s PS Move, whilst not perfect by any means, provides a much more similar experience to the Wii’s and actually has a fair line-up of games that work well. Oh, and it never got accused of being a spying device…

Then there’s Microsoft’s Games With Gold, a direct reply to Sony’s PS Plus. To be fair, the service started out on the wrong side of rubbish, but over time the service has added some stellar titles that are worth the hard drive space and make paying for Xbox Live a little less bitter.

So if Microsoft can bring a reply to PS Now and with a comparable amount of content at a competitive price, they could be onto a winner.

Would you pay into an Xbox Now service? Or do you see Netflix-style gaming as nothing more than a gimmick. Share your thoughts down in the comments section below.

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