Microsoft Prepares 1440p and HQ Streaming for Xbox Cloud Gaming

Can Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming catch up with Nvidia GeForce Now? New streaming modes promise better image quality. Read what resolutions are planned and why the improvements were long overdue.

Code analysis reveals new streaming modes

Microsoft apparently prepares significant improvements for his Xbox Cloud Gaming service. The developer Redphx known for the third-party extension Better XCloud, when a code analysis, came across new streaming quality levels. The discovery shows three additional options: 720HQ, 1080HQ and 1440P, which would expand the previous offer of 720p and 1080p.

The HQ designation indicates a higher bit rate, while the 1440p option would enable a resolution beyond Full HD for the first time. So far, Microsoft has not communicated an official schedule for the introduction of these improvements. The group continues to run the service as a beta version, although it has been publicly available under the original name XCloud since 2020. Sarah Bond briefly explains the future of the Xbox platform

Significant deficit to the competition

The planned improvements come at a critical time. Xbox Cloud Gaming is technically significantly behind the competition, especially Nvidia’s GeForce Now. While Microsoft’s service currently offers a maximum of 1080p, GeForce Now already supports resolutions of up to 5k with 120 frames per second or up to 360 FPS with reduced resolutions.

The main problem lies in the inadequate bit rate of the Xbox service. While a soft 720p picture may still appear acceptable on smartphone displays, the lack of sharpness on larger screens such as 55-inch TVs is clearly visible. The HQ modes could help here if they actually offer an improved data transmission rate.

Part of the multi-platform strategy

Xbox Cloud Gaming is a central component of Microsoft’s multi-platform approach, which is supposed to bring Xbox games to as many devices as possible. The service is included in the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription for 17.99 euros per month without any additional costs. Microsoft has continuously extended access to other platforms and regions in recent years.