Notebookcheck Logo

OneCast enables Macs to join in for some Xbox One fun

OneCast streaming Xbox One on a MacBook. (Source: OneCast)
OneCast streaming Xbox One on a MacBook. (Source: OneCast)
Mac owners can now stream and play Xbox One games directly to their computers using the OneCast app — a feature only natively available for Windows 10 users. The app is available for a 14-day free trial after which it costs US$11.79 (till April 1) for a standalone license.

A new app called OneCast promises to bring Xbox One game streaming to Mac users — something that Windows 10 users have been enjoying since the introduction of the OS in 2015. OneCast eliminates the need to use workarounds such as Parallels for Mac or Bootcamp to enjoy Xbox One streaming via Windows 10. The app promises crisp 1080p streaming with minimal lag and almost zero performance issues. 

The Verge's Chaim Gartenberg took the app for a spin and seems to be pretty happy with how well the app is working. OneCast apparently performed a "clean room reverse engineering" of the Xbox One streaming system and implements the same protocol as the Windows client. Garternberg said the only thing he had to do was download the app and login with his Microsoft account, and he was already able to run Battlefront II. He notes that the performance was very good save the occasional resolution glitches and connection freezes. 

There are few caveats to be mindful of before purchasing the app. Currently, the app does not support microphone input and vibration feedback if the Xbox controller is connected to the Mac, although, with a direct connection of the controller to the Xbox One console, both features work as usual. The app works only with the Xbox One family of consoles — the Xbox 360 is not supported. Also, since it's a paid reverse engineered app, things could break if Microsoft decides to shut the service down.

The app is available as a 14-day free trial and can be upgraded afterwards to the full license by paying US$24 for a single user on one or more Macs. OneCast can availed at a 50% discount till April 1 by paying just US$11.79. 

Source(s)

static version load dynamic
Loading Comments
Comment on this article
Please share our article, every link counts!
Vaidyanathan Subramaniam, 2018-03- 4 (Update: 2018-03- 4)