Live streaming is increasingly becoming a feature of major importance on consoles. For example, despite Microsoft’s Mixer platform being shut down, it was competitive when it came to total streamers and streaming hours. Xbox users love to stream, they just didn’t have many viewers. With that in mind, Microsoft is ensuring that its next-generation Xbox consoles are prepared for livestreaming. That includes confirming that the Xbox Series X will fully support streaming at up to 4K at up to 60fps.
Microsoft hasn’t expounded on this feature so far, as it was only officially confirmed via a fact sheet provided to the media. A table notes that the Xbox Series X exclusively offers the ability to both livestream and record gameplay at 4K resolution with up to 60fps. That’s compared to the Xbox Series S, which doesn’t have the console’s streaming and recording limitations explained in the fact sheet. Presumably, it will offer at least 1080p at 30fps with a possibility of 1440p at a higher fps.
For comparison’s sake, the Xbox One X also supports streaming and recording at 4K resolution. It’s used relatively little, but it’s certainly available. It doesn’t support 60fps, however. It’s limited to 30fps. Considering the Xbox One X is some years old now and offered a feature that the Xbox Series X is offering, that’s still rather impressive.
The addition of a 4K 60fps streaming option on the Xbox Series X is somewhat funny, though. Only two different streaming services have offered the ability to stream at 4K 60fps in the past. Those being YouTube and Microsoft’s now-defunct Mixer streaming service. It’s unfortunate that Mixer was one of the only platforms that could have been able to use such a great future-forward feature like 4K 60fps streaming. YouTube will be pleased that Microsoft made the effort, at least.
That YouTube is the only streaming platform to support 4K 60fps at the moment doesn’t mean it’ll be the only one to do so in the future, however. A console generation can last a very long time. Twitch will implement a 4K 60fps eventually, so it’s good of Microsoft right now rather than not having the feature available when more platforms support it.
There’s one unfortunate truth that needs to be acknowledged, of course. That being that most people, at least in the USA, can’t reliably stream 4K video, let alone at 60fps. Even if other platforms than YouTube supported it, that doesn’t mean more people would be able to view it. And that, unlike Twitch adding support eventually, isn’t likely to change in the next console generation. Infrastructure doesn’t get expanded that quickly. Still, it’s a nice thought.
The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S release November 10.
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