Clearly some interest in What Microsoft has to say about Project XCloud today. Line is folding in on itself three times now.
I wonder why?
Thread, start!pic.twitter.com/fEyaknCJFc
You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more
What about latency? Microsoft says Azure is the answer, because it operates all around the world and addresses latency for other things all the time.pic.twitter.com/CrlUtzdoky
There's a big focus here on putting existing Xbox One games in the cloud, but PC games aren't off the table. Just not the immediate focus.pic.twitter.com/BR1LSUGBWN
XCloud wants to make it so Xbox devs don't need to modify the game they've already made, and add touch controls without heavy modification. But if you do want to make changes, there will be Cloud Aware APIs to enhance playability. Simple things like font size for smaller screenspic.twitter.com/8Ww99FNQ4N
You won't HAVE to use touch controls on your phone or tablet, but because everyone won't always have an Xbox controller nearby these features help make it easier to play everywhere.
There's a new generation of gamers where glass was the first controller, so making sure those people can enjoy Xbox games is important to Microsoft.
Generic glass controls will be available, but Microsoft let's developers make their own controls on glass as well. Putting all of these buttons on glass is hard,pic.twitter.com/sKIoHE2EJa
Here's the default glass controller layout for Xbox on a phone. It is... very busy.pic.twitter.com/4dHkU9Honl
"I think you guys can do better, and I think your communities deserve better" Here's an example of Dead Cells custom controller layout. Way better.pic.twitter.com/qgoymsshwS
Cuphead has custom controls too, making way more sense for that gamepic.twitter.com/bRhLFJM4mz
All of this comes from the Touch Adaptation Kit, which is a simple JSON file on your existing gamepic.twitter.com/7eaTmKU6vZ
Easily the most complicated custom layout so far, Forza Horizon 4. Gamers here can switch between different layouts to get the best experience for them.pic.twitter.com/JSIvRgFZ2k
Now we're taking about what makes a game Cloud Aware. Things like having save points scattered in a handful of areas in a big map is a problem for someone playing on a bus. Or making it so you can use your phone gyro to turn it control positioning.pic.twitter.com/m8XgmNnNKg
No need for a streaming version of the game, Cloud Aware tools can be detected and activated on run if you're in an XCloud space instead of on your Xbox at home. Content test app for devs coming soon, with network sim tools to optimize for different environmentspic.twitter.com/vqh9MT97IB
User research shows people using menus or maps on phones don't want to use the controller inputs. Cloud Aware lets you mix and match, so maps can have pinch to zoom and some maps can have Windows Touch just like on a W10 tablet.pic.twitter.com/job36SLz9z
Setting up multiple layouts is a thing you're going to want to do. Halo is the example given. Shooter mode. Vehicle mode. Back of the Warthog mode, and so on. All easy to do, all layouts can be available and activated when you want the player to have access to the.pic.twitter.com/KE28fFy3Vy
Also, obviously, removing the controls entirely when there's a cut scene so players can enjoy all of it without distraction.
Input logic, like whether you have a gamepad connected or if that controller is disconnected, all happens client-side. The game itself in XCloud doesn't care.
Developers have controls in Azure to make matchmaking easier. If you're on the same server as someone else, Azure will connect you two first. Beyond that, location takes priority to ensure quality.pic.twitter.com/IGPTOh874Y
Latency measurement tools are available, because XCloud will never be as good as local gameplay. But being able to see network details from users with extreme latency problems will make optimizing easier.pic.twitter.com/s2lLhmfcNe
Recap of the ways Cloud Aware Tools will help make your game extra double goodpic.twitter.com/Ae9LJnCpIl
SDK is in testing now, news about wider availability "soon"
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.