Xbox Cloud Gaming gets a monumental upgrade, and is now available on iOS and PC
The power of Xbox Cloud Gaming has been unleashed
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Xbox Cloud Gaming has received a substantial upgrade, and is now available oniOSdevices andWindows 10PCs,Microsofthas announced. Cloud gaming has been available solely onAndroiddevices for some time, so it’s great to see iOS and PC users can now get in on the action.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimatemembers can go toxbox.com/playon either Microsoft Edge, Chrome, orSafarion your mobile device or PC, and sign in to start playing hundreds of games.
You can play games using a compatibleXbox Wireless Controller, or use one of the many supported mobile gaming accessories such as theRazer Kishior even aDualShock 4 controller. If you don’t have a controller to hand, and are playing on a mobile or tablet, more than 50 games include custom touch controls, so you can ditch the pad and get playing right away. Apparently one-in-six players who play from the cloud only use touch controls, according to Microsoft.
Microsoft also revealed that Xbox Cloud Gaming is now powered by customXbox Series Xhardware, which means players will experience faster load times, improved framerates, and be able to stream at 1080p up to 60fps. We tried it ourselves and can confirm that the overall experience is vastly improved, with games loading quicker, image quality greatly improved and higher framerates across the board.
In a blog post onXbox Wire, Microsoft said: “Going forward we’ll continue to innovate and add more features to enhance your cloud gaming experience.” We’ll have to wait to find out what those new features are, but it’s clear that Microsoft is serious about it’s cloud gaming platform, as it’s a means to reach more players than ever before. The service is technically still in beta, too.
Cloud competition
The upgrade to Xbox Cloud Gaming means it’s now on par with the likes ofGoogle Stadia,Amazon LunaandNvidia GeForce Now, which all offer 1080p streaming at 60fps. However, unlike Stadia and Luna, you don’t have to pay for your games again when using Microsoft’s service, as you have access to hundreds of titles inXbox Game Pass. Your save data also carries over seamlessly between console and when playing in the cloud.
It’s important to note that Xbox Cloud Gaming is only available to those who subscribe to Microsoft’s highestXbox Game Passtier, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate costs $15 / £10.99 / AU$15.95 per month, but gives subscribers access to the entire Xbox Game Pass library on console and PC, EA Play, Xbox Live, Xbox Cloud Gaming and various perks and discounts.
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Adam was formerly TRG’s Hardware Editor. A law graduate with an exceptional track record in content creation and online engagement, Adam has penned scintillating copy for various technology sites and also established his very own award-nominated video games website. He’s previously worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor and once played Halo 5: Guardians for over 51 hours for charity. He is now an editor at The Shortcut.
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