How To Stream Xbox To Mac

Sony is expanding the PlayStation 4’s Remote Play feature to PC and Mac, letting users stream their console games to laptops and desktops.

Xbox Cloud Gaming runs inside the Safari web browser, since Apple is taking a stubborn stance with cloud-based game streaming services and doesn't allow them to have their own apps. Before you can stream from your Xbox Series X or S, you need to download the Twitch app. It has a purple icon with 'Twitch' written in black and white letters. Use the following steps to download and install the Twitch app: Press the Xbox button in the center of your controller. Navigate to the 'Apps' section of the Xbox store.

The new feature is part of a PlayStation 3.50 software update that’s set to launch on Wednesday. After getting the update, PS4 owners can download the Remote Play PC installer from Sony’s website.

To stream games, users will need a PC running Windows 8.1 or higher, or a Mac running OS X 10.10 or higher. A DualShock 4 controller must be plugged into the computer via USB.

Why this matters: Until now, Sony has required either a PlayStation Vita handheld or PlayStation TV set-top box to remotely stream PS4 games. Neither device has been a strong seller, so expanding Remote Play to PC makes sense. While there’s nothing like playing a game natively on a big TV, PC streaming can be helpful when someone’s using that TV for something else, or you want to hang out in a different part of the house.

PC streaming: Xbox vs. PlayStation 4

The PlayStation 4 isn’t the only console to support streaming on a PC. Last year, Microsoft added a similar feature to the Xbox One, and it’s in some ways better and worse than Sony’s version.

Unlike Microsoft, which requires a PC running Windows 10, Sony is also supporting Mac and Windows 8.1. Remote Play for PlayStation 4 works over the Internet as well, so you can stream games from outside the house. The Xbox One only supports home network streaming, unless you rely on an unofficial, complicated workaround.

However, the Xbox One currently supports a higher streaming quality than the PlayStation 4, with up to 1080p and 60 frames per second on its “Very High” setting. Sony’s Remote Play tops out at 720p and 60 frames per second, and defaults to 540p and 30 frames per second.

In my experience, Xbox One to PC streaming has been smooth and nearly lag-free, even on Very High settings. (Valve’s PC-to-PC In-Home-Streaming has also worked well.) Hopefully Sony can provide a similar experience when PC Remote Play launches on Wednesday.

A report earlier this week indicated that Microsoft’s new Xbox app would come to iOS with support for streaming Xbox games to your iPhone. The app is now available in beta, and The Verge has a hands-on look at how it works.

First and foremost, what’s important to note here is that the new Xbox app is not the same as Microsoft’s xCloud streaming game service. Here’s how the two compare:

The new Xbox app lets you stream games from your Xbox One console to your iPhone
Microsoft’s Cloud service lets you stream games directly from servers, no Xbox One console required.

Microsoft and Apple have engaged in a public dispute over whether or not streaming game services should be available through the App Store, with Microsoft balking at Apple’s stringent requirements. The new Xbox app is a new solution that at least brings remote gaming capabilities to Xbox console owners.

The Verge details how the app connects to your home Xbox One console:

You will be able to access an Xbox console over Wi-Fi, or even an LTE or 5G connection, too. As this app takes control of your home Xbox, you can remotely start your console outside of your home. The Xbox will start up without a sound or the Xbox light at the front, and when you disconnect, it goes back into standby after a brief period of inactivity.

In addition to playing games from your Xbox on your iPhone, the new Xbox application also allows you to download and share game clips and screenshots, manage settings and storage, and delete games.

Here is a short video showing how the Xbox app works on iPhone, including how to connect directly to the Xbox One console and play:

Xbox Remote Play Apple Tv

Stream Xbox One To Mac

There’s no public release date for the new Xbox app for iPhone users just yet, but it should be available soon. The beta is running through Apple’s TestFlight platform, but there are currently no open spots.