Surface Duo and Xbox Cloud Gaming almost reach the Xbox handheld dream

Surface Duo Xbox Cloud Gaming Editorial Live Source: Zachary Boddy | Windows Central

The Surface Duo is an interesting little car, to say the least. It'due south the ultimate productivity device that isn't quite a phone, co-ordinate to Microsoft, and a fascinating concept that isn't quite ready, co-ordinate to most of the people who've used it. We're not talking today about all the pros and cons of Microsoft's first-generation dual-screen mobile device; instead we're hither to talk well-nigh the heady usage scenario that arises from combining Surface Duo with Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Microsoft recently added beta dual-screen back up on the Surface Duo with Xbox Deject Gaming. I decided to accept my newly purchased Surface Duo and spend some time testing Xbox Cloud Gaming to see how close this early on implementation gets to the fabled dream of an Xbox gaming handheld. Does having two screens make Xbox gaming on a telephone amend?

The Xbox gaming handheld dream

Surface Duo Xbox Cloud Gaming Editorial Live Source: Zachary Boddy | Windows Primal

The Xbox Serial X and Xbox Series S represent the hereafter and present of Xbox gaming at domicile, but the ever-growing Xbox ecosystem is and then much larger than but two consoles. Xbox Game Pass offers admission to hundreds of loftier-quality games on Xbox and PC, and Xbox Cloud Gaming through Xbox Game Laissez passer Ultimate elevates the Xbox brand to new heights. Using the power of the cloud and mod connections, Xbox Cloud Gaming gives you lot access to a huge (and growing) collection of Xbox games on your phone, tablet, and even non-gaming computer.

With the Surface Duo and Xbox Cloud Gaming, Microsoft has gotten closer to the dream than always before.

This opens upwards a globe of accessories since you can accept reward of some of the best Xbox Deject Gaming accessories, similar a controller or telephone mount. However, Microsoft fifty-fifty lets y'all skip the traditional controls and use your fingers with integrated and custom-built touch controls.

All of this highlights that Xbox is more than just a console, and covers a wide range of devices and inputs. The dream, however, is a portable handheld gaming device that takes the best of all of this and combines it into one premium package. Information technology's a device that would follow in the footsteps of the Nintendo 3DS or PS Vita, simply would be powered by the massive library of Xbox titles and the connected social features that come up with the mature Xbox platform.

Whether or non an Xbox gaming handheld would succeed in the competitive gaming marketplace that likewise includes the unstoppable Nintendo Switch is moot to the hardcore Xbox fans that dream of information technology. With the Surface Duo and its newly added support for Xbox Deject Gaming, Microsoft has inadvertently gotten closer to this dream than ever before. Or, that's what it seems like on newspaper.

The reality

Surface Duo Xbox Cloud Gaming Editorial Live Source: Zachary Boddy | Windows Central

If yous've read our comprehensive Surface Duo review, y'all'll know that as a phone, the Surface Duo is an all-around fantastic concept that more-or-less fails to execute on its vision most completely. While it can exist an enticing device for enthusiasts and those who can't look for a foldable, it'due south not quite ready for the mainstream in its first iteration.

How does it fare as an Xbox gaming handheld? This early implementation of dual-screen support for Xbox Cloud Gaming holds a lot of promise, but it's not a perfect experience.

Earlier I swoop into the pros and cons of Xbox Cloud Gaming on Surface Duo, a quick rundown on how it works:

If you are enrolled in the Xbox Game Pass (Beta) for Android, you tin can span the app beyond both of Surface Duo's screens. You tin then choose 1 of the many games that now support touch controls with Xbox Cloud Gaming. The game will begin to play on one screen, while the game'south custom (and customizable) touch controls will appear on the bottom screen. Out of all previous gaming handhelds, this is probably closest to the Nintendo 3DS' layout.

Surface Duo as Xbox gaming handheld: The good

Let's get the biggest facet of the Surface Duo out of the manner: its hardware is pretty incredible. Certain, it may be fragile compared to other mainstream phones, the bezels are "large" past modernistic standards, and information technology lacks many premium features that are a mainstay in other flagship devices like wireless charging. None of this is enough to detract from the total package that is the Surface Duo and its immensely satisfying hinge.

It's this hinge that ties the entire device together, and information technology's solely responsible for making the Surface Duo as expert as it is for Xbox Deject Gaming. The hinge smoothly rotates and can be stopped at whatever position, meaning you can tilt the Surface Duo'southward screen for the optimal viewing experience no matter how you're sitting, continuing, or laying. Any shortcomings with impact controls can even exist partially avoided past taking advantage of the Surface Duo in "tent" manner (with the screen facing you) or in "laptop" mode and connecting a wireless controller via Bluetooth.

Overall, the Surface Duo besides feels really comfortable to concord for extended periods, despite its thin frame and pronounced weight, and information technology's even better if you opt to use the included Surface Duo bumper (one of the best Surface Duo accessories) for added protection.

The Surface Duo is an all-in-one parcel for on-the-go game streaming.

The Surface Duo has decent (although non best-in-course) screens with corking contrast, colors, and resolution that make everything pop in a lovely way. Ane of the Duo's biggest weaknesses, software, has evolved by leaps and bounds since its launch to be more stable and reliable with meliorate operation, more consistent gesture navigation, and improved support for the aggressive dual screens. All of this together ways the Surface Duo is an all-in-one package for on-the-go game streaming.

None of this matters if the Surface Duo doesn't deliver when it's time for gaming, even so. Fortunately, I've had a ton of fun playing casual games on the Surface Duo. Many of the best Xbox Cloud Gaming games work wonderfully with affect controls on the Surface Duo, including gems like Minecraft Dungeons and Monster Sanctuary.

While the Surface Duo'south wide 4:3 screen aspect ratio means there are some black bars on the top and bottom when y'all're playing games, it also provides ample space to fine-tune your touch controls. Information technology can exist mildly frustrating trying to observe the perfect setup for touch controls in some games, simply Microsoft has made information technology easy and painless to customize them. Players tin reposition touch on controls wherever they want, resize them to fit their needs, rotate them to shift push positions, and more using natural-feeling gestures.

Afterward cursory adjustment periods to tailor controls, I had no problem keeping up with the action in games like Minecraft Dungeons.

The Xbox Game Pass app as well made information technology easy to discover new games to play, with convenient categories for touch-enabled titles and an intuitive design. Spanning the Xbox Game Pass app (making it appear on both screens) is withal a trivial rough correct now with some inconsistencies in some parts of the app similar sure scrolling lists, but overall information technology works really well.

If all of this still doesn't entice yous to utilize touch on controls, you tin still claw upwards a wireless controller via Bluetooth, like many of the best controllers for Xbox. This lets you drop the need for touch controls and awkward phone clips (made even more than awkward past the Surface Duo'south width). Yous tin can fifty-fifty prop the Duo upward wherever y'all want using the engineering marvel that is its hinge.

Surface Duo as Xbox gaming handheld: The bad

Some of the Surface Duo's biggest advantages as a mobile device also get weaknesses when seen solely equally a gaming handheld. The Duo'south precisely balanced weight, for case, tin can cause the height screen to feel "heavy" in sure positions over time. The 3DS, on the other mitt, sits virtually of the weight in the players' hands where it's more comfortable.

Other hardware oddities include truly lackluster speakers that provide little weight to on-screen activity, relatively dim displays that tin can be overcome by direct sunlight, and big bezels that may get in the way of smaller hands reaching the affect controls. The Surface Duo also doesn't provide best-in-class connectivity with only Wi-Fi v and 4G LTE back up on board. This isn't a huge deal for most players, just the lack of Wi-Fi six or 5G even so weakens the Duo's ability to stream games reliably, particularly in the future when both standards become more than common.

The biggest weakness when using the Surface Duo are the inherent flaws of touch controls.

Hands down, the biggest weakness when using the Surface Duo with Xbox Cloud Gaming are the inherent flaws of bear on controls. Microsoft has done a ton of work to make touch on controls feel as seamless as possible, and information technology works great with certain games. However, touch controls provide no tactile feedback when pressed, an oversight fabricated considerably worse past the small amounts of latency that are unavoidable with game streaming. This leads to missed or double presses. Information technology'southward likewise easy to "lose" where the touch controls are, especially when you're focusing on the video game and non constantly checking where the controls are.

Microsoft could massively better this if hereafter Duos use the vibration motor to provide tactile feedback for impact controls, similar to how Apple uses the fantabulous Taptic Engine in their iPhones. The electric current Duo'due south haptics are not that great, though, so large hardware improvements would be necessary to make this work.

Of class, there are also the games to have into consideration. Many games work great on the Surface Duo, especially more coincidental games that don't necessarily require about-zero latency to play. The listing of games that back up touch controls through Xbox Deject Gaming is steadily growing, too, so the Duo's itemize will simply get bigger from here. Still, lots of games either don't support touch controls or unfortunately don't work great with them due to the complication of the game, number of controls, or requirement for fast reactions and low latency.

This problem isn't sectional to the Surface Duo and applies to whatsoever phone combined with Xbox Deject Gaming, but it also isn't a problem that affects other gaming handhelds like the Nintendo Switch with its advisedly cultivated library of supported games and integrated hardware controls.

Xbox gaming on the get: The verdict

The pairing between the Surface Duo and Xbox gaming represents the first generation of many things for Microsoft: The starting time generation of dual-screen devices, the offset generation of a return to mobile phones, and the first generation of portable Xbox game streaming. The end result is expectedly mixed. There is a ton of promise here, and if you're already invested in the Duo, there'due south a lot of fun to be had. In that location are also a lot of issues, which can be rectified by Microsoft's continued investment into Surface Duo and Xbox Cloud Gaming.

The Surface Duo tin can truly feel similar a portable Xbox gaming handheld, and it's awesome to see information technology receive Xbox Cloud Gaming support. This combination already feels superior for mobile gaming than using a normal phone with touch controls, and it feels like it'southward just the beginning. In the current version, the Duo's hardware deficiencies, the rough edges of its software, and the bug with touch controls means I don't advise going out and paying full toll for a Surface Duo just for Xbox Cloud Gaming or mobile gaming. Xbox Cloud Gaming, too, could stand to improve its latency and consistency with planned upgrades to its server hardware.

However, with steady improvements to the maturing software experience and future iterations of improved hardware, Microsoft could truly be on to a winner with the Surface Duo and Xbox Deject Gaming as the de facto Xbox gaming handheld.

Xbox on the go

Surface Duo Reco New

Microsoft Surface Duo

Two screens are meliorate than one.

Microsoft delves into the future of foldables with an ambitious dual-screen device featuring two ultra-thin 5.vi-inch AMOLED displays bound by a 360-degree swivel. Combined with Xbox Cloud Gaming, the Surface Duo makes a compelling case for an Xbox gaming handheld.

A catalog of games

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

All your gaming needs, in one subscription.

Is the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate the best value in all of gaming? Information technology's possible. Ultimate bundles your Xbox Alive Gold subscription, an Xbox Game Laissez passer subscription for both Xbox consoles and Windows PCs, and Xbox Cloud Gaming for on-the-go. Combined with Surface Duo, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate gives yous access to the closest thing to an Xbox gaming handheld.

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