Video game development has been widely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic this year, leaving some games delayed or put on hold. However, a report from Bloomberg reveals that some game studios have been using Microsoft's xCloud streaming service to continue development.
Microsoft created the Project xCloud streaming service to let players stream PC and Xbox games on mobile devices. According to the Bloomberg report, Microsoft repurposed aspects of the streaming service for developers to remotely develop video games safely from home during the pandemic. The streaming service turned things around, as developers were able to access their office computers and continue game development during this difficult time.
When the pandemic started, Microsoft had to make quick some changes, and the company's recovery was possible due to employees working remotely and recovering manufacturer supply chains. However, the company's employees didn't have access to the computers necessary for game development. Microsoft and its development partners tried using cloud computing tools to remotely access the office computers which was fine but not optimal. Then a team at Xbox proposed using the xCloud service to help.
The xCloud project streaming service had an app that could test games over the internet, and Microsoft repurposed what it needed. The developers were able to access the office equipment better than before. With the right adjustments, xCloud could now run higher resolution and surround sound, letting close to 60 game studios resume work.
The repurposed xCloud service allowed Microsoft's teams to emulate the office environment by letting employees link computers together for greater collaboration. The teams could compare notes, comment on art, make changes when needed, and even have video conferences too. While not perfect, the xCloud app allowed Microsoft's teams and game studios to resume development on high-profile games such as the new Halo Infinite and the upcoming Forza Motorsports game.
In the report, Alan Hartman, the studio head of Turn 10 studios, commented on the adjustments to resuming development for the new Forza Motorsport game before using xCloud. Hartman mentions that the studio had to drastically adapt to the virtual work environment, and how the pandemic disrupted their usual work traditions. The studio's developers even tried carrying out office equipment in carloads in order to resume game development.
When Turn 10 studios was able to start using the retooled xCloud service, the studio was able to run early prototypes of the next Forza game. For now, there's no release date, but the team is continuing development on the game. While the COVID-19 pandemic heavily affected game developers, Microsoft's xCloud service was able to get the ball rolling again for some studios.
Source: Bloomberg