Microsoft’s xCloud, the cloud game streaming component of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate that doesn’t require a console to use, is rolling out fully to iOS devices, including iPhones and iPads, as well as PCs and macOS computers via the web. It’s been in an invite-only beta period since mid-April 2021, but Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can now access games right from their devices.
Microsoft says that on PCs, xCloud can be accessed through the Edge browser and Google Chrome. We’ve gotten it to work within macOS on Microsoft Edge and Safari. More than 100 games are available, and the service is compatible with Bluetooth controllers or ones connected via USB. On iOS, it’ll work as a web-based app via Safari, and you’ll have a choice between a controller or touch controls for certain games. Microsoft also shared in its blog post that xCloud is now powered by Xbox Series X consoles, setting the streaming at 1080p at up to 60 frames per second with a fast enough internet connection.
Starting today, Xbox Cloud Gaming is running on custom Xbox Series X hardware, and available to all @XboxGamePass Ultimate members with Windows 10 PCs and Apple phones and tablets, via browser, across 22 countries. https://t.co/HYuvbHGBUg#XboxGamePass
SN30 Pro Controller for Xbox Cloud Gaming on Android (Bluetooth connection) Verified. N30 Pro 2 (Bluetooth or USB connection) 8BitDo support. Backbone One (Compatible with iOS via Lightning port only) Backbone support. Microsoft’s xCloud, the cloud game streaming component of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate that doesn’t require a console to use, is rolling out fully to iOS devices, including iPhones and iPads, as. Source: Rebecca Spear / iMore. Xbox Game Pass, also known as Xbox Cloud Gaming or xCloud, just recently came to iOS in the form of an invitation-only beta. It's been available on Android for a while now, so we're delighted to see it come to Apple devices. With this game streaming service, iOS users will be able to start or continue. In addition to the broad availability of Xbox Cloud Gaming (formerly code-named xCloud) to all subscribers, Microsoft has upgraded the servers that run the games in the cloud to new hardware based. Join Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Get your first month for $1, then $14.99/mo. Subscription continues automatically. Play over 100 high-quality games with friends on console, PC, phones, and tablets. Play games from the cloud. New games added all the time. Xbox Game Studios titles the same day as release.
— Xbox Wire (@XboxWire) June 28, 2021The road to getting xCloud on iOS was a bumpy one, with Apple’s App Store guidelines initially blocking not just Microsoft but also Google’s Stadia and Nvidia’s GeForce Now cloud streaming services from launching on the App Store. Apple eventually carved out some loopholes to allow them to operate via the web (but not without caveats).
To celebrate the launch, Microsoft put its “Designed for Xbox” badge on one of the best mobile gaming accessories around: Backbone’s One controller. This new version is physically identical to the preexisting model that has been available since late 2020 because it’s technically the same. What’s changed is the physical packaging that now calls out its Xbox compatibility, and despite no increase in price ($99.99), it comes with a complimentary three-month trial to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which usually costs $45 on its own. It’s available through the Microsoft Store and Backbone’s website.
Backbone has recently updated its app with some deep Xbox integration, like tagging gameplay that you’ve recorded through xCloud. You can edit footage within the app and upload it as a link. It also features a new dynamic Xbox Game Pass feed to tell you about new games to try out and other suggestions based on your friends’ activities.
Since its launch, Xbox Cloud Gaming has only supported 720p game streaming. This was to save bandwidth and server resources. A 720p stream was not a massive deal for Xbox Cloud Gaming, as it mainly only worked on the small screens of Android phones and tablets.
Free Cloud Gaming Services
However, with the possibility of Xbox Cloud Gaming soon being made available through browsers, an increase to the resolution cap is most certainly necessary.
Xbox Xcloud Macbook
According to Windows Central, 'reports have suggested that Microsoft is planning to upgrade the Xbox cloud streaming servers from Xbox One architecture to Xbox Series X architecture over the course of this year, and we may have started to see some of the fruits of that labor.'
In a screen capture from these trusted sources, we can see that the game is running at 1080p resolution, which is up from the standard 720p resolution. The update to the server hardware will also increase gaming performance and loading speeds. Improved performance and an increased resolution will make the games look and run even better on your mobile devices and any future devices that Xbox Cloud Gaming may support.
A 1080p stream from Microsoft's cloud gaming service will bring it in line with competing services like Google Stadia, GeForce Now, and Amazon Luna, which have supported 1080p streaming since launch.
Play Xcloud On Mac
Since this is currently in the internal testing and development phase, there is no set date for when Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will be able to utilize the new architecture for their gaming streams. So as of currently, you will still have to deal with 720p game streams.
