Microsoft has fully opened its Xbox Cloud Gaming platform to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers on Apple iOS devices and Windows PCs through browsers. announced the company Monday. Xbox Cloud Gaming, also known as xCloud, was previously only available to Android device users, though one Beta phase by invitation only opened to certain Apple and Windows 10 users this year.
Now any Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriber can access the service through the Xbox website at www.xbox.com/play. From there, players can access a selection of games directly in their browser, with some options between controller- or touch-based play available. With this announcement, Microsoft also said it has improved the cloud gaming experience by upgrading its data centers with “custom Xbox Series X hardware.” Catherine Gluckstein, vice president and head of product at Xbox Cloud Gaming, said it means “faster load times, improved frame rates and a new generation of gaming experience.” Xbox Cloud Gaming is streaming at up to 60 frames per second at 1080p, she said.
Microsoft appears to be focusing its efforts on cloud gaming as part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate – a way to make games more accessible to people who don’t have access to a high-end gaming computer or console. It’s starting to focus on cloud-native gaming, with portal and left 4 Dead Developer Kim Swift joins the Xbox Cloud Gaming team as Senior Director, building a team focused on new cloud-based experiences.
However, one of the main problems was Microsoft’s inability to break into Apple devices. Apple’s App Store policies previously banned the launch of cloud-based gaming services on its devices, but new rules were enacted in 2020 that technically opened the gate to Microsoft and other platforms. Microsoft replied at the time that Apple’s rules were “a bad experience for customers”.
Instead of creating a catalog-based app that is individually linked to games, Microsoft decided to run its Xbox Cloud Gaming service on iOS devices through browsers – something that made it possible to bypass the App Store rules.
