Many people using any of the best Android phones have tried Microsoft’s Game Pass streaming service, and most people think it’s a hit. It’s nothing new — NVIDIA started streaming full-on console and PC titles to Android long ago, and now even Google is in the game with Stadia. Microsoft’s edge is its extensive library of titles that people want to play, and it has reasonable rates: $15 each month gets you streaming on your console, PC, and Android phone, plus Xbox Live Gold and EA Play membership. Not. Too. Shabby.
Plenty of content goes into detail about Game Pass and why you should think about trying it if you haven’t. If nothing else, it is a great way to play high-quality games on almost every screen. It could be the future of mobile gaming and might even be a reason not to buy an expensive console. Almost.
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It’s almost the part that Microsoft is determined to change because it wants you to be able to use Game Pass on every screen — which means your television — without turning down big money on a new Xbox. During the week that was E3, Microsoft had this to say in a blog post on its Xbox Wire page:
Xbox works with global TV manufacturers to embed the Xbox experience directly into internet-connected televisions with no extra hardware required except a controller. Xbox is building its streaming devices for cloud gaming to reach gamers on any TV or monitor without needing a console.
This isn’t any breaking news; chances are you’ve already read it in an article like this one. But this doesn’t tell but half the story because I’m almost sure that if Microsoft were to build a cheap (and yes, it will need to be reasonable) HDMI stick or dongle that lets you use Game Pass on any telly, it would run Android and do a lot more than play Xbox games.
OK, this is pure speculation because I contacted the Xbox team and asked them about the software on this upcoming device. You can guess what the answer was: We have nothing more to say at this time. Fair ’nuff, that’s precisely what we all expected Microsoft to say. But I’m not alone in thinking that Android would be involved, and with it would come more than just a way to play games.
Android Central also contacted Evan Kubes, the president of Rumble Gaming and a brilliant guy in the gaming industry, with a couple of questions. Since Microsoft doesn’t directly employ Evan, he can be more candid and say what he thinks. We asked two questions that are suitable for the heart of the matter:
Is it in Microsoft’s best interests to build a version of its own Xbox software that will work with low-spec devices, or is using a pre-built solution like Android a simple and better solution?
Developing and owning IP – especially software – will almost always be the preferred route. This is because it will generally offer more flexibility and freedom for the engineers to update and scale the product. R&D can be costly and time-consuming. Sometimes, it’s just easier to license 3rd party products that are sufficient and achieve a similar result. In this case, I can’t comment on whether Xbox using Android is a better solution, but it is likely a more cost-effective and time-efficient solution.
Do we expect inexpensive Game Pass stand-alone devices to have streaming media capabilities? If so, does this make using a solution like Android even more straightforward because the apps and services are already in place?
The transition from linear to digital media is happening very quickly. Younger generations, in particular, consume almost all of their content through digital means (OTT, Netflix, Twitch, YouTube, etc.). And arguably, nothing has benefited more from this transition than streaming platforms. I’d be shocked if Game Pass stand-alone devices did not have streaming media capabilities if, for nothing else, it could print money and acquire users quickly. So it makes sense to use Android solutions because the apps and services are fully developed and seamless.
Now stuff gets interesting because a cheap (I’m thinking under $100) TV box or dongle or HDMI stick or whatever from Microsoft would be the best Android TV (not to be confused with Android TV proper) experience of all of them. So yes, it would make total sense to see Microsoft use Android to power an upcoming HDMI stick, and because of that, it could put the same type of streaming media services in place that you would find on the Xbox itself. It would be better for Microsoft to find a way to shoehorn some Windows build onto super-low spec hardware, but that’s not resource or time-friendly.
Microsoft has seen the writing on the wall and knows that at least Xbox is its revenue stream. Almost every business uses Windows computers, and a gazillion exist, but you don’t buy a desktop PC every year. Unless you’re like me and find new ways to break things. But a Game Pass subscription is something that many people will happily pay for every month, and after X number of subs are gained, the rest is pure profit. Microsoft can and will ensure the cost of any Game Pass-ready device is reasonable and has features that make all of us want to buy one. Buying today? Get a Shield TV. Buying tomorrow? See what Microsoft has for sale first.
If you ask me today what Android for the television experience you should buy into — and again, I’m not just talking about Android TV, the platform, but a way to get Android working on your telly — I would say you should buy an NVIDIA Shield TV. They’re not cheap but powerful and can play local Shield-optimized games. They can also stream Games from any gaming PC with an NVIDIA card, and you get access to all the streaming apps Android offers. Only one of these things is essential to most people: the “all the streaming apps” part. The Shield stands out because NVIDIA seems keen on keeping it updated until the end.
That last bit is also why you should never buy a TV with built-in Android TV. If you’re an Android fan, you want things to be updated. Most companies hate to update stuff because it’s not free. Just buy a Shield TV until the Xbox Game Pass HDMI stick is available.
Yes, Stadia is a thing, and there will always be ways to make whatever Microsoft offers work on various devices, including grandma’s old Jitterbug phone and a spliced AV cord. And if that’s what you like to do, go for it because that’s 1.) cool as hell and 2.) fun. But most people want to listen to Spotify, watch Netflix or Disney+, and maybe even play Halo Infinite or Fallout 4 (OK, I’m the only one who wants to play Fallout 4 but whatever). Microsoft is going to kill this. I’m ordering one as soon as possible because I know it has potential.
