Microsoft launches Xbox Cloud Gaming Beta on PC & iOS
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate users may now access Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming service (previously known as xCloud) on iOS smartphones and Windows 10 PCs. Microsoft launched an invite-only test for Xbox Cloud Gaming for iOS devices and PC in April, and it is now rolling out to anyone with a good Internet connection.
If you have an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership, you can access the Xbox Cloud Gaming library right now and play over 100 titles. The Xbox Series X, which Microsoft describes as an upgrade to the most powerful Xbox hardware, now powers Xbox Cloud Gaming.
This means that the game is actually operating on Xbox hardware in a data center while being streamed on your local device. According to the announcement, players will be able to broadcast games at 1080p at up to 60 frames per second across “the widest of devices.”
Xbox Cloud Gaming is now accessible to Game Pass Ultimate customers with Windows 10 PCs or iOS devices such as iPhones and iPads, according to Catherine Gluckstein, Vice President and Head of Product at Xbox Cloud Gaming.
To use Xbox Cloud Gaming and access over 100 games, users will need to use their browsers, such as Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, or Safari. The Verge was also able to get it to work on macOS, using Safari and Chrome. The service is currently offered in 22 countries, including Austria, Belgium, Germany, France, the United States of America, and others.
Unfortunately, India is not included on the list. Last August, Microsoft released a beta version of their game streaming service for iOS in the form of an app. Apple, like other game streaming services like Stadia and GeForce Now, stated it violated App Store regulations, forcing Microsoft to use a browser-based method instead.
On compatible devices, Xbox Cloud Gaming may be played with touch controls, approved controllers, or even the Backbone One controller for iOS. Players must have an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership, which costs $14.99 in the United States. Microsoft is now giving a huge discount, reducing the price down to only $1, and buying a one-month membership gets you two more months for free.