XBOX Cloud Gaming

Xbox Cloud

Xbox Cloud Gaming (xCloud) Preview
Type: Games-Inclusive
416
Games available
1080p@60 FPS
Graphic up to
$14,99 / month
Starts from

Xbox Cloud Gaming (xCloud) is offered by Microsoft as part of the Game Pass Ultimate subscription. As one of several Netflix-style approaches to cloud gaming that gamers can use, the service has shown itโ€™s a real contender in the cloud gaming space.

Xbox Cloud Gaming (xCloud) Preview
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Ultimate Guide

Xbox Cloud Gaming

Dive into how Xbox Cloud Gaming works, its pricing, game offerings, device compatibility, how and where you can use it.

Last updated on 12. October 2023

What is Xbox cloud gaming?

Xbox Cloud is Microsoftโ€™s cloud gaming service. Itโ€™s included in the Game Pass Ultimate subscription and aims to offer great games to a large range of devices. As a Netflix-like subscription, you not only get access to an Xbox console in the cloud, but to a large list of games as well.

What is Xbox Cloud Gaming?

How does Xbox cloud gaming work?

Simplicity is at the heart of Xbox Cloud. Through a single monthly subscription, you gain access to a sizable library of games that you beam via an internet connection to an Xbox console, a PC, a smart TV, or a mobile device.

As with all cloud gaming services, the games are not downloaded and run on your own device. Instead, the game is executed on a Xbox cloud server and streamed to your device of choice. Games are launched in your browser by accessing the Xbox.com website. Alternatively, certain devices can access the service by using the official Xbox app, such as the one that comes pre-installed on Windows computers.

How much is Xbox cloud gaming?

Xbox Cloud comes packaged with the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription. There are two membership options on offer:

  • 1-month subscription: $14.99 / โ‚ฌ12.99 / ยฃ10.99
  • 3-month subscription: $44.99 / โ‚ฌ38.99 / ยฃ32.99

Xbox Cloud is not available as a separate service and is also not included with other Game Pass options, such as PC Game Pass.

Xbox Cloud Gaming Prices & Plans

Are games included in the subscription?

Yes, thereโ€™s a large number of games included to play on Xbox Cloud. While not every game that is included in the Game Pass is available to play in the cloud, the collection of titles that are supported contain an impressive number of AAA games and indies. Check out our complete list of games available on Xbox Cloud to see if your favorites are included.

New games are also constantly added. Xbox Cloud users can access games that are day 1 releases on Game Pass, including highly coveted titles from Bethesda and other studios that are under the Xbox Game Studios umbrella.

To top it all off, your Game Pass Ultimate subscription comes bundled with EA Play at no extra cost. EA Play gives you access to EAโ€™s releases, like Battlefield V. Most of those can be streamed and played via Xbox Cloud.

This all leads to a total of over 300 games available under one subscription, ready to be played via Xbox Cloud. 

As of August 2022, there are rumors that Ubisoft Plus will also be joining the Game Pass family, upping the value of the service even further.

Xbox Cloud Gaming Games

What hardware specs does Xbox cloud offer?

Xbox Cloud runs on servers that are based on the Xbox Series X hardware. In other words, by playing on MSโ€™s cloud gaming service, you gain access to the best console specs on the market.

When the service originally launched in beta, the servers were based on the less powerful Series S specs. However, thanks to the upgrade, Xbox Cloud can now stream a buttery smooth 1080p resolution at 60 frames per second.

Microsoft is even working on unlocking the Series X hardwareโ€™s full 4K capabilities for cloud streaming, but no date has been set yet as of this writing.

On which devices can I use Xbox cloud gaming?

You can run games on Xbox Cloud via the following devices and platforms:

  • iOS via Safari
  • Android Game Pass app
  • Google Chrome browser
  • Microsoft Edge browser
  • Safari browser
  • Windows Xbox App
  • Smart TV app (Samsung)
  • Xbox console (Series X/S, One)
Xbox Cloud Gaming Devices

What do I need to play on Xbox cloud?

To play on Xbox Cloud, youโ€™ll need the following:

  • One of the devices listed above
  • A stable internet connection. According to Microsoftโ€™s requirements, youโ€™ll need a minimum of 10 Mbps to play on mobile devices, and 20 Mbps to stream to consoles, PCs, and tablets. The company also recommends a 5GHz WiFi or mobile data connection.
  • A controller connected via USB or Bluetooth. Microsoft officially recommends one of the following types:
    • Official Xbox gamepad
    • Controllers labeled as โ€œDesigned for Xboxโ€
    • Controllers labeled as โ€œVerifiedโ€ for Xbox

On mobile, you can play certain games by using touch controls though the number of titles that have this function is limited.

Keyboard and mouse arenโ€™t supported as input on Xbox Cloud for PC players. While there are 3rd party solutions available to enable KB+M support, stability and functionality are not guaranteed.

Xbox Cloud Gaming Requirements

Is Xbox cloud gaming worth it?

As a bundled service for Game Pass Ultimate, Xbox Cloud is an add-value proposition that aims to make accessing its massive games library more flexible.

Pros

Thereโ€™s no question that the biggest upside to Xbox Cloud is the giant collection of games on offer for a simple monthly fee. Access to over 300 games at a fraction of what a fully priced AAA title would cost is nothing to sneeze at.

Thanks to save syncing, you can kick things off on one device and then take your game on the go without losing your save file. 

On top of that, Xbox Cloud makes access very simple. Even if you donโ€™t have any of the apps for PC and mobile, you can quickly launch a game by using a supported browser and hitting up Xbox.com. All you need is a connected controller and youโ€™re off to the races. 

Finally, you can try the service and play all of the available games for a month for just $1. This includes all of the benefits that come with Game Pass Ultimate, including EA Play games, Xbox Cloud, and save syncing. More importantly, there are no limitations to your streaming sessions and quality. This is a great offer to see if Xbox Cloud works for you, without having to pay the full price up front. 

Cons

One downside is that the service is currently exclusively for games that are available on Game Pass Ultimate. That means you can only stream titles that are available in its collection. Granted, itโ€™s a pretty sizable number of games – but still, youโ€™re somewhat limited in what you can play. This also comes with another caveat. 

A lot of games donโ€™t remain available on Game Pass Ultimate – and by extension Xbox Cloud – forever. Like Netflix, titles are rotated and sunsetted out after some time. Itโ€™s hard to tell how long each game lasts once it joins the platformโ€™s library. Some games have been available since the inception, others got removed after only a couple of months. The saving grace is that MS informs you about games that are about to leave the service in time, allowing you to start or finish a playthrough in case you were interested in playing them.

Apart from PC and mobile, Xbox Cloud is only available on Xbox consoles. This means you canโ€™t stream your games on a Playstation, for example. When it comes to running the service on Smart TVs, your options are limited as well. At the moment, none of the available streaming devices, like Chromecast and Amazon TV, are officially supported.

Finally, as mentioned before, you are limited to playing with a controller, even in Singleplayer games. This isnโ€™t a problem for most games, but especially for shooters, PC gamers might prefer KB+M input.

Conclusion

Itโ€™s clear that the value proposition of Xbox Cloud is there so long as youโ€™re interested in paying for and maintaining a Game Pass Ultimate subscription. Even if you donโ€™t own an Xbox device, being able to stream a beefy collection of games – some of which are among the hottest titles on the market – to any PC and mobile device with a single subscription is good value for money.

Where is Xbox cloud gaming available?

Xbox Cloud is currently available in the following countries:

  • Argentina
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Finland
  • France
  • Germany
  • Hungary
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • Mexico
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Norway
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Slovakia
  • South Korea
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • United Kingdom
  • United States

Itโ€™s important to not confuse Xbox Cloud availability with that of Game Pass Ultimate. While the latter may be available in more countries, such as Greece, Taiwan, and the UAE, it doesnโ€™t mean players in these countries can use the cloud gaming component.

What are the alternatives to Xbox cloud gaming?

As a platform that streams games from a pre-determined library, Xbox Cloud has a few alternatives:

Frequently asked questions

Currently, you can only stream supported games included in your subscription. As such, it ultimately doesnโ€™t matter if you already own the games – you can only play those that are currently supported, and those are free to play for subscribers.

However, this might change soon. Ashley McKissick, general manager of Xbox game pass, has recently announced that you will be able to stream games youโ€™ve already purchased, even if they are not included in the Game Pass Ultimate catalog. You will still need a Game Pass Ultimate subscription to access the cloud gaming service, but this step would vastly increase the amount of supported games.

You can play Fortnite for free on Xbox Cloud. All you need is a Microsoft account, a Game Pass subscription is not needed. Furthermore, there are no limits regarding how often or how long you can play. 

Yes. In fact, controllers are mandatory to play on Xbox Cloud Gaming as other control methods are not supported.

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