Microsoft announced yesterday that it's shutting down its Mixer streaming service on July 22, and that it's also teaming up with Facebook to enable to the Mixer community to transition to Facebook Gaming.
As part of this, Xbox head Phil Spencer talked more about how Project xCloud will be integrated as part of Facebook in the future, with the company planning to debut "click-to-play scenarios" within the Facebook Gaming and Instagram communities through the power of the service:
"Gaming is already part of our social fabric, and Project xCloud can take you from discussing a new game – whether it’s a funny in-game moment posted by a friend, an ad, or an ongoing stream – directly to playing it. In the future, through the power of Xbox Live and Project xCloud, we see there being just one click between 'I’m watching' and 'I’m playing.'"
In the meantime, we will continue to invest time, energy, and resources to bring Project xCloud to global scale through Azure. We’re always testing new features and learning, and we’re excited to explore further as we look to debut click-to-play scenarios within the Facebook Gaming and Instagram communities.
In a follow-up interview with The Verge, Spencer explained that the new deal with Facebook Gaming was "about finding a partnership that was the best things for the [Mixer] community and streamers,” and noted that it'll naturally be a great place to launch more Project xCloud content due to its large user base:
“When we think about xCloud and the opportunity to unlock gameplay for 2 billion players, we know it’s going be critically important that our services find large audiences and Facebook clearly gives us that opportunity."
Do you think Facebook Gaming will be beneficial for Project xCloud? Share your thoughts below.
[source theverge.com, via news.xbox.com]
Comments 9
All the recent developments regarding Google, Facebook and Amazon entering the gaming market in various capacities are interesting but I genuinely wish that Xbox doesn't side too strongly with Facebook. Facebook already dominates the entire social media with WhatsApp,Facebook and Instagram. To see them also own a big chunk in gaming is just painful
I don't like this, if this is the way Microsoft is going I might hold off on the series X.
Yikes, can't say I like any part of that. Xcloud is great was just on it yesterday, but aligning with Facebook isn't a good idea imo.
I wonder if the new Xbox will have native facebook integration at this point. Mixer and related things to it were a constant eyesore on the xbox dashboard, so will that be replaced by facebook gaming versions on next gen?
Are we going to have to merge Xbox and facebook accounts (the latter of which I don't even have) to use certain features?
This is not a good look, I know people already getting put off by the idea of Facebook being involved in Xbox products.
I'll be 'urined' if I have to join Facebook to get a decent looking skin or one off in game item. I ain't joining them.
@Nexozi I’m sure MS won’t force anyone to use Facebook. They likely will just make the “easy integration” default or work only with FB streaming, but MS can’t stop anyone from streaming their desktops or hooking an El Gato to their Xboxes and stream via Twitch, and to be fair, given platform holder limitations, that is the recommended way to stream games anyways.
The one thing that might be good out of all this: maybe Microsoft allows game developers to add optional VR features that somehow work with an Occulous VR device connected to an XBox.
@Tharsman Oculus... Who knows?
Anyway, my understanding after reading yesterday's new is that what Microsoft wants is that the one billion people that use Facebook and Instagram have the option to click and play on xCloud. What Facebook gets is the Mixer streamers.
EDIT: I just read today's article and it's just what I said but 2 billion people. LOL
"When we think about xCloud and the opportunity to unlock gameplay for 2 billion players".
@Menchi No, Microsoft just confirmed that won't happen.
I guess it could be a way to get oculus onto the Xbox. But glad Facebook is not going to be forced on you.
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