Microsoft’s cloud streaming launch lineup revealed
- by Nick Cohen
- in Industry
- — Sep 18, 2020
Microsoft has announced that its cloud gaming service, also known asxCloud, will launch on 15 September with over 150 games as part of the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Subscription service, for both Android tablets and phones. From Crusader Kings 3, one of the renowned strategy titles, to the beauty of Microsoft Flight Simulator, all for just a low-price monthly fee. Microsoft is releasing an upgrade to the Xbox Game Pass app on Android in 22 nations tomorrow, consisting of Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Microsoft said its vision was to "provide [consumers] with choice in how and when you play games", potentially opening up more titles for optimized experiences and added convenience.
Notably missing from the list of games are EA Play titles. Extra video games will likely be added within the months forward, with some EA titles coming as EA Play joins Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in Vacation 2020. Game selection varies over time.
To get started with streaming on an Android mobile/tablet or other device you need to grab the app. Previously, the service had its own beta app, but it has now been integrated into the Game Pass app, which once was only used for setting up downloads on your console or PC.
Xbox Game Pass offers three different gaming plans with different benefits and price points. With this, you can connect an Xbox One controller to your phone via Bluetooth and play any current console Game Pass games on the go. If you're looking for the ultimate mobile gaming bundle, Microsoft can sell you a controller for mobile gaming along with the Galaxy Note 20 flagship. Click on it, and your controller's light will stop flashing.
Due to an ongoing dispute between Apple and Microsoft, you can't stream Xbox games to iOS devices.
KitGuru Says: Getting the full Game Pass lineup through the cloud is a smart move and should bring additional value to the service. Once done, the game will start. Also, as stated above, your internet connection will decide how well the game's latency and overall performance works.
