Microsoft will expand its cloud gaming efforts to mobile Safari on the iPhone and iPad as promised, with an expected launch in spring 2021.
- To play Xbox console games from the cloud on your device you’ll need the following: i. An active Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership in a supported region ii. A supported device including Windows 10 PCs, Apple or Android phones and tablets iii. A compatible controller connected via Bluetooth or USB. Select games can be played with Xbox touch controls.
- While Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate do offer some games that aren’t available on xCloud gaming (meaning you have to download them to an Xbox console), xCloud does not require an Xbox at all.
Cloud gaming is the next frontier on mobile and while Apple's rules restrict these games to streaming in Safari platforms are still jumping on board. Microsoft previously promised to push its project xCloud to iOS and iPadOS, and now we have a timeline.
Xbox Vice President Jerret West shared the plans for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in a blog post. The post covers how quickly Xbox Game Pass is being adopted and how this will push their initiative to expand to more devices.
Starting in spring 2021, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will arrive on iOS and iPadOS devices in beta. Users will access the service via the Safari web browser, which is a requirement set by Apple's game streaming guidelines. In order for the service to exist natively on iOS, Xbox would need to submit all of the games available on Game Pass to the App Store for review, which isn't ideal.
Nvidia GeForce Now was one of the first game streaming services to launch on mobile Safari with the ability to play compatible games purchased on Steam. Amazon Luna launched in October with a limited sign-up program and a proprietary controller. Other services like Google Stadia have already promised future compatibility with mobile Safari, though Playstation Now remains a holdout.
AppleInsider has affiliate partnerships and may earn commission on products purchased through affiliate links. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content.
Xbox Game Pass To Support PlayStation Controllers. Xbox Game Pass's official Twitter account have shared a photo of a child playing an Xbox game, but wait for it: they were using a PlayStation Controller. Not the PlayStation 5's DualSense controller but the Playstation 4's DualShock controller. Still, it's certainly a start for Xbox.
After several months of limited beta testing, Microsoft today is officially launching the public and open beta of its new Xbox Cloud Gaming Platform. This includes support in Safari on iPhone and iPad for playing a subset of Xbox Game Pass games by streaming them from the cloud.
As first announced in an Xbox blog post, Microsoft has officially debuted its new Xbox web interface for accessing the public beta of Xbox Cloud Gaming. The website touts that you can play “over 100 high-quality console games” directly in your browser with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription and a compatible controller.
Starting today, Xbox Cloud Gaming is available to all Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members with Windows 10 PCs and Apple phones and tablets, via browser, across 22 countries. If you’re a member or want to become a member, simply go to xbox.com/play on Microsoft Edge, Chrome, or Safari on your PC or mobile device to start playing hundreds of games from the Xbox Game Pass library.
Microsoft says that cloud gaming on Xbox.com is supported on iPhone and iPad devices running iOS 14.4 or higher. Other requirements include a 10Mbps minimum internet connection and a Bluetooth or USB controller. The company also touts improvements to the Xbox Cloud Gaming experience:
We’re also making significant improvements to the overall experience: Xbox Cloud Gaming is now powered by custom Xbox Series X hardware. We’ve been upgrading Microsoft datacenters around the globe with the fastest, most powerful Xbox hardware to give you faster load times, improved frame rates, and an experience of a new generation of gaming. To ensure the lowest latency, highest quality experience across the broadest set of devices, we will be streaming at 1080p and up to 60fps.
An Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription will run you $14.99 per month, but you can get your first three months for $1 as part of a limited-time promotion. As our colleagues over at 9to5Google note, support for browsers and iOS devices means the service now matches Google Stadia.
Xbox Cloud Gaming Sign In
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.More.