Last week, Microsoft announced that Project xCloud, the service allowing players to stream over 100 Xbox games to their mobile devices, would be officially launching next month on September 15. The Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription is a big deal for many excited fans of the innovation in gaming, and as of today, they can get a taste before the service's full release.
Along with the announcement of Project xCloud’s launch date, Microsoft, unfortunately, announced that xCloud streaming would not be coming to iOS devices. While a version of the streaming platform was being tested for Apple devices, the Project xCloud and Google Stadia apps were both blocked from the Apple App Store. Apple cited its stringent policies on games needing review before being made available on its platform as to why the apps were blocked.
However, Android users can jump in on the future of gaming over a month early. According to The Verge, players who have an active Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription can head to the Google Play Store and participate in the beta by downloading the Xbox Game Pass app or by updating the app if players already have it downloaded.
While Project xCloud (now known as Xbox Game Streaming) will feature over 100 games when it launches in September, this beta only features a list of about 30 games. This includes first-party Xbox titles like Gears 5, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, and Sea of Thieves, as well as titles from third-party partnerships like Destiny 2, Yakuza Kiwami 2, and Ark: Survival Evolved.
Android users will be understandably excited to get access to Xbox Game Streaming a month early, even with its limited beta library. Xbox has been putting a lot of effort into making this endeavor worthwhile for players and it certainly shows. With its dedication to giving players an expansive library of games to play at launch, and even releasing new Xbox mobile gaming accessories, it seems the company wants to ensure that this streaming option feels like a premium service and not just another gimmick or afterthought.
However, not all is well in the Xbox community when it comes to the streaming future. Xbox fans, both Android and iOS users alike, have banded together to launch a campaign retaliating against Apple for its block of Xbox Game Streaming. The movement comes from a post on Reddit where one user crafted a master post on the many ways consumers could launch complaints at the tech company. And while there is still no word on if Apple will reverse its stance on game streaming apps, this certainly seems like a step in the right direction for the future of gaming.
Source: The Verge