The two behemoths, Google and Microsoft spearhead into competition in the cloud gaming realm. While having similar offerings and gaming consumer models, the two companies have a different take on cloud gaming and both their streaming platforms are at different development stages.  
The race to the throne of the cloud gaming realm is fired up. You cannot keep both the platforms on a pedestal and determine their worth accordingly. Cloud gaming has a long way to go to secure the stature consoles and hand-held devices already have. Both the tech hegemons expect to outturn cloud gaming events their way, with Google out with the intention to bring forth cloud-based gaming and allow gamers to go cloud for good.
The Ideology of the Two
The notion of cloud gaming isn’t new. Sony did it before anyone else with its PS Now yet the service wasn’t able to acquire the levels of limelight Sony expected it to have. Fast forward to 2019, Google announced its take cloud gaming. It’s USP? To go cloud and set aside the need to own a gaming console.
While Microsoft too jumped on to the cloud gaming bandwagon, the ideology the tech giant has is different and correlates with its console Xbox. Project xCloud, as seen from its demo, will function with Microsoft’s console and will operate as its extension for mobile cloud gaming.
Streaming quality
Now we put the streaming quality of the two streaming services side-by-side and closely analyze each. Let’s give our two cents on what Google promised from Stadia and what we actually got. As well as what Microsoft is making the gaming community expect from xCloud.
The streaming quality offered by Google Stadia ascends to supporting 4K only if you are connected to a Spectrum high-speed internet connection. If not, the resolution quality will then lower from 4K to 720p. But mixed opinions have surfaced regarding how the 720p resolution isn’t standard as well. With even fainter connectivity, the resolution quality is only going to drop.
But Stadia has seen its release and the 4K resolution is the standard of high-res for now. This is likely to boost up to 8K resolution and with frame rates that escalate to 120 fps, not 60.
So what about Microsoft and what resolutions does it promise? The tech leader hasn’t officially announced the final resolution standards, as the service still being in its beta stages.
But Microsoft’s 54 Azure data center will be utilized for the streaming service. It means the resolution quality once connected to Bluetooth and having lower latency levels, the quality will match up to what you would usually get on your Xbox and PC altogether.
Pricing Model
The pricing model of both services cannot be equally compared. That’s because while Google Stadia has seen its full and final launch, xCloud hasn’t. It’s still in a beta stage with no definite release date yet.
The pricing plans for Stadia are a bit diverse for now. There is a pricing structure for different Stadia plans one can subscribe to. But the Premiere Edition costs $130 but in the same pricing plan you will get a dedicated Stadia controller along with a full 3-month subscription to Stadia Pro. But if you just pay $10 a month, you get Stadia Pro, the cloud streaming service that offers support for 4K resolution and a frame rate of 60 seconds.
And another pricing plan variant is Stadia Base. It’s free and unlike 4K streaming, you have to resort to 1080p resolution, again with a 60 FPS rate.
As for Microsoft, unlike its competitor Google, it is resorting to subscription-based gaming services for quite a while. Owning the Xbox console that has played a significant role in shaping the console generation into what it is today, xCloud is expected to see its release in 2020 but the pricing point isn’t confirmed as of now. However, Microsoft does plan to make it a paid service as well. Exactly what it has in store for pricing plans remains to be seen.
The current repository of xCloud is expected to include an Xbox Game Pass that is a 15-month subscription for a low price and with that, you also get Xbox Live Gold. Subscribers can download games with the $15 pass and not have to worry about paying extra or any hidden fees. The best part is that those who already own the Xbox Game Pass can stream games directly to xCloud.
To conclude
The two streaming services, while following similar routes, are destined to cater to different audiences. A thorough comparison cannot be made just as easily as xCloud isn’t released yet. Once it is, let’s see where both the cloud services stand then.