Xbox Cloud Gaming

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Xbox Cloud Gaming
Developer	Microsoft
Type	Cloud gaming/game streaming
Status	Released
Launch date	September 15, 2020
Platform(s)	Android, iOS, iPadOS, Windows, macOS, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Meta Quest, select Fire TV devices, select Samsung and LG smart TVs

Xbox Cloud Gaming (formerly known as Project xCloud) is a video game streaming service that allows users to play select Xbox titles on a variety of different platforms without the need to download them. The service has frequently been described as "Netflix for games". The service can be accessed with a Microsoft account that has an active Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription on almost any device with a high-speed internet connection.

The service was first made available on Android devices to select Xbox Insiders in late 2019, with a limited number of games being available. Cloud Gaming would launch on September 15, 2020, for Android and iOS devices. The service would eventually be brought to Windows, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S users throughout 2021 and made available on an expanding range of Smart TV's beginning in 2024.

In 2022, Fortnite was added to Xbox Cloud Gaming and could be played with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription. This came as a partnership between Xbox and Epic Games and allowed Fortnite to be played on mobile devices again following the games' removal from mobile app stores in 2020.

Platforms

Xbox Cloud Gaming is supported on almost any device that has access to a high-speed internet connection. Initially, the service was only available on mobile devices but has since expanded to Windows PCs, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S consoles, web browsers, and most recently specific Smart TV's and VR headsets.

The following is a full list of supported devices and web browsers from the Xbox Support website.

Web browsers

• Microsoft Edge
• Google Chrome version 85 or later
• iOS and iPadOS Safari 14.0 or later
• MacOS Safari 16.0 or later

Devices

• Amazon Fire TV
  • Fire TV Stick 4K Max (1st Gen)
  • Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2nd Gen)
  • Fire TV Stick 4K (2nd Gen)
  • Fire TV Cube (3rd Gen)
• Android (Android OS 12.0 or later)
• iPhones (iOS 14.4 or later)
• iPad (iPadOS 14.4 or later)
• MacBooks (MacOS 14.1.2 or later)
• Windows devices (Windows 10 version 20H2 or later)
• Samsung Smart TVs
  • 2020 and newer Samsung smart TV models with software version 1300 or higher.
• LG Smart TVs
  • Most 2022 LG OLED TVs and 2023+ LG Smart TVs will run the Xbox app, allowing you to play cloud-based Xbox games
  • Select LG TVs and smart monitors with webOS 24 or newer versions
  • 2024 and newer smart TVs
  • Select 2022 and 2023 TV models which have been updated to software version 23.20.01 or higher
  • 2022 OLED TVs
  • 2023 OLED, QNED, Nanocell, and UHD TVs
  • 2025 U8s and U7s smart monitors
• VR Headsets
  • Meta Quest 2
  • Meta Quest Pro
  • Meta Quest 3
  • Meta Quest 3S

Development

Prior to release, Xbox Cloud Gaming was known as Project xCloud. Work on the service has been reported to have been going on since 2013, five years prior to its official announcement at E3 2018. Games such as Halo 4 were able to successfully run on a range of smart phones during testing. Due to the service being too costly at the time, work was scaled down on xCloud.

During E3 2018, head of Xbox Phil Spencer officially revealed that xCloud was still being worked on and stated that they planned to expand it to the Xbox One range of consoles and the next generation of Xbox as well. While little detail on the service was announced at E3, much more information would be revealed in the months to come.

A few months later after the small tease at E3 2018, Project xCloud finally got an official announcement through Microsoft's YouTube channel. The video showed details of how the service would function and showcased numerous Xbox One games such as Forza Horizon 4 and Halo 5: Guardians being played on smart phones and tablets with and without Xbox controllers. During this video Microsoft confirmed that they planned to merge four custom Xbox consoles stripped-down into modular server blades to get the service to work. Combined with Microsoft's 54 Azure reigons across the world, more of the infrastructures are planned to be constructed across countries to keep the service running at a smooth rate all the time no matter where the player may be. 

During GDC 2019, Microsoft discussed how they are adapting games to work with xCloud, with their new Cloud Aware APIs that will allow developers to build upon existing Xbox One code with device-aware features, only enabled when streaming a title. 

During gamescom 2021, Xbox announced that the service would be expanding to Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S consoles in the future. Allowing users to play next generation titles on their Xbox One consoles, as well as playing any game in the service's catalogue without needing to download it. Testing for these consoles will be made available to Insiders some time in Fall 2021 with a full release expected for the end of the year.

Trials

At E3 2019 Microsoft announced that public trials would begin to role out later in the year. The dates for public trials were later revealed to be held in mid October, with only a limited number of people being selected to participate in the trial.

To apply for the trials users had to be from the United States, the United Kingdom or South Korea and have access to a Samsung smart phone. Three games; Halo 5: Guardians, Sea of Thieves and Gears 5 were the only titles available in the first test. An additional 50 games were later announced for the trial at X019, including Forza Horizon 4 and Crackdown 3.

In January 2020, Microsoft expanded trials to all regions that the Xbox One is available in.

Release

In 2017, Phil Spencer estimated the Xbox streaming service will hit the market "in the next three years" setting its full release date for 2020, or prior. 

On July 16, 2020, Phil Spencer revealed in an Xbox Wire post that xCloud would launch in all supported countries in September. The blogpost also revealed that xCloud would be included with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate at no additional cost. 

In another Xbox Wire post published on August 5, 2020, it was announced that xCloud would launch for Samsung devices with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on September 15, 2020, with over 100 games being available at the services launch.

Games

There are currently over 600 games can be played via Xbox Cloud Gaming. Initially only select titles from Game Pass were compatible with the service, with more being added over time. In November 2024, Xbox announced that users would now be able to play select titles from outside of Xbox Game Pass through Cloud Gaming. Fifty titles including Cyberpunk 2077, Assassin's Creed Mirage, and Baldur's Gate 3 were the first that players could stream from their game library through the service. This list would be expanded over time and as of April 2025, there are currently over 120 titles that players can stream from their own game library.

In March 2021, sixteen titles from the original Xbox and Xbox 360 were added to the service.

Supported controllers and input

Regardless of the device being played on, titles can be played with an Xbox Wireless Controller or another supported third-party controller. On mobile devices and tablets, touch controls are supported on several games. Additionally, keyboard and mouse is also supported on various titles.

The following is a full list of the controllers that are supported with Xbox Cloud Gaming. Please note that some controllers may encounter issues or not work correctly when using it on a device with a USB connection.

• Microsoft
  • Xbox Wireless Controller (Bluetooth or USB connection)
  • Xbox Elite Series 2 Controller (Bluetooth or USB connection)
  • Xbox Adaptive Controller (Bluetooth or USB connection)
• 8BitDo
  • SN30 Pro Controller for Xbox Cloud Gaming on Android (Bluetooth connection)
  • N30 Pro 2 (Bluetooth or USB connection)
• ASUS
  • ROG Rakiri (USB-wired only)
  • ROG Raikiri (USB-wired only on Xbox, wired, Bluetooth, or wireless with USB dongle on PC)
• Backbone
  • Backbone One (iOS only with Lightning port)
  • Backbone One Xbox Edition (iPhone 15 models or higher, Android 6.0 or higher)
• Gamesir
  • X2 Pro Mobile Game Controller (USB connection)
• Gamevice
  • Gamevice for iPhone (Lightning port only)
  • Gamevice for iPad (Lightning port only)
  • Gamevice for Android
  • Gamevice FLEX for iPhone (Lightning port only)
  • Gamevice FLEX for Android (USB-C only)
• HyperX
  • Clutch Gladiate (USB to console)
• Ipega
  • 9023s Extending Game Controller (Bluetooth)
• Logitech
  • G-Cloud
• MYGT
  • Gamepad (Bluetooth)
• Nacon
  • Nacon MG-X
  • Nacon MG-X Pro
• PowerA
  • MOGA XP5-X Plus Bluetooth Controller for Mobile & Cloud Gaming Android/PC (Bluetooth or USB connection)
  • MOGA XP7-X (Bluetooth)
  • MOGA XP-Ultra (Bluetooth or Xbox Wireless)
  • MOGA XP5-A Plus Bluetooth Controller for Android/Windows (Bluetooth or USB)
• Razer
  • Kishi for Android (USB)
  • Kishi V2 Pro for Android (Xbox) (USB)
  • Kishi V2 for iPhone (Xbox) (Lightning port only)
  • Raju Mobile Gaming Controller for Android (Bluetooth or USB)
  • Junglecat (Bluetooth)
  • Edge
• RiotPWR
  • RiotPWR Cloud Gaming Controller for iOS (Xbox Edition) (Lightning port only)
• Sony
  • Dualshock 4 Wireless controller (Bluetooth)
• SteelSeries
  • Stratus XL for Windows, Android, and VR (Bluetooth)
• Turtle Beach
  • Recon Cloud Hybrid Game Controller (USB or Bluetooth)
  • Atom Controller (Android) (Bluetooth)
• Victrix/PDP
  • Pro BFG Wireless controller (USB, Bluetooth for mobile, Wireless for console)

Name and branding

When the launch date of the service was revealed by Phil Spencer, the final name of the service was also discussed.

“	This isn’t the official name, but you should think about it as Game Pass streaming or Xbox streaming, something like that, we actually don’t have the final name just yet, but it won’t be Project xCloud	”
—Phil Spencer discussing the final name of xCloud.

During this time it was revealed that a final name for xCloud has not been decided on yet. Xbox Cloud Gaming was later revealed as the services final name.

Videos

Project xCloud Preview

What Is Project xCloud?

Project xCloud Gaming with you at the center

Inside Xbox Introducing Project xCloud

Project xCloud Public Trials (ft. Gears 5, Halo 5 Guardians, Killer Instinct and Sea of Thieves)

Play over 100 Xbox games on Android mobile with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on September 15

Gallery

See also

• xCloud Test Game
• Xbox Game Streaming preview

External links

• Project xCloud (Preview) on Xbox.com
• Project xCloud on Window Central