What you need to know
- Currently, Xbox Cloud Gaming only supports games on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, but that changes starting in November 2024.
- Xbox Cloud Gaming is finally getting the ability to purchase games on its own outside of Game Pass, as confirmed in a thread by Xbox head Sarah Bond.
- However, it won’t give you access to your entire digital Xbox console game library right away, and will be rolled out gradually over the coming weeks and months.
It finally happened. The long-awaited release of cloud-to-own Xbox games is coming in November, 2024 (next month!), but there are a few details to be aware of.
Microsoft first announced its long-term vision for Xbox cloud gaming back in 2019, when it set a goal of bringing its entire Xbox games catalog to the cloud. Since then, we have been waiting Unbelievably A long time to confirm the program’s release window, and Xbox head Sarah Bond said in a thread yesterday that the project is finally moving forward. However, some details are still missing from the equation.
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So, what’s going on with Xbox cloud gaming?
So, what’s going on with Xbox cloud gaming?
In the thread above, Sarah Bond, the latest Google Vs. Epic praised the US courts’ decision in the case, which forced Google to open up its app platform to third-party stores and product sales. Google Play’s policies prevent sites from selling content directly through their own apps, which is why, for example, you can’t buy Kindle books directly through the Kindle app on Android. However, thanks to this US court ruling, that may now change.
As for Xbox, Microsoft may start selling Xbox games directly in the US through its shiny new Xbox Android app. While Google appears to have skirted around the EU’s similar legislation on the topic, it won’t be long until the chips fall there as well. Currently, you can only play Xbox Game Pass Ultimate games on Xbox Cloud Gaming. But starting next month, you’ll be able to build your own cloud library using games from the Xbox Store as well.
Related: Full list of Xbox Game Pass games
In fact, one of the main questions I’ve had so far about this new feature is “What about iOS? What about outside the US?”
Is Xbox Cloud Gaming “Buy Own” available on iOS, PC, or outside the US?
Best Devices for Xbox Cloud Gaming
First, right now, yes, our sources indicate that Android in the US will be the only version of the Xbox app to get this new capability, at least initially. Apple’s app platform is still (inexplicably) locked down, so don’t expect it on iOS. And Google can even overturn an earlier decision on appeal. Google might even find some arbitrary fine print way to throw the Xbox app out of the Google Play Store, as Google did the other day when it pulled the YouTube app for Windows Phone API keys.
Yes, you will too Xbox Game Pass Ultimate To access your cloud games – Maintaining server infrastructure is not cheap. However, we believe Microsoft is working on a cloud-only Xbox subscription plan for the future based on our evidence. But you are required Android device?
Microsoft seems to be planning to bring these features Xbox.com/play Also on the internet. Even if Google somehow tries to sabotage this feature, or you’re unlucky enough to own an iPhone, you’ll still be able to access your Xbox games through the web version. Additionally, the Xbox app is enabled Amazon Fire Stick 4K ($29.99 at Amazon) Devices and Samsung TVs that support Xbox Cloud Gaming are already based on the website, so they should flash this functionality at the same time. It looks like the Xbox app on PC will also get this functionality naturally.
In which regions is Xbox Cloud Gaming “Bring Your Own Games” available?
It seems that in addition, While Android is the only version in the United States with this functionality, the ability to play your own games via the cloud will expand to other Xbox cloud gaming markets at Xbox.com/play. However, the exact time frame for this is not clear. Initially, Microsoft will start with the US and move to light up other markets over time.
You can check on the website to see if your region supports Xbox Cloud Gaming via Xbox Game Pass Ultimate xbox.com/regions. The current regional list is as follows:
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 and USA.
Will Xbox Cloud Gaming support all my games on day one?
Another important thing to note is that Xbox Cloud Gaming is available even in the US Doesn’t support your entire game library at launch. One reason why some publishers are simply opting out is because they may have exclusive deals with other services, or they may seek to build their own cloud platforms in the future. Another reason is more technology. Xbox’s cloud servers are based on Xbox hardware, and sometimes stream cloud titles if needed. I’ve said in the past that when queues appear in Xbox Cloud Gaming, it’s sometimes caused by the server node pulling the game down from network-attached storage if another player on that node hasn’t used it recently.
Until now, Xbox’s cloud servers are expected to have 300~ or so games available thanks to Xbox Game Pass, but now they plan to expand that list to thousands of titles. It’s terabytes of extra network-attached storage that’s needed, so I’m sure the rollout of the existing Xbox cloud gaming library will come in batches. As NVIDIA GeForce Now cuts contracts with license holders and expands its own storage facilities, it may look similar to how Steam announces new games hitting its service.
So yes, while the launch won’t give you instant access to your entire library, it’s an important step towards a future where you can access all of your Xbox games anywhere, anytime.
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Future in the Xbox Cloud
In a universe where platform owners are trying to figure out where the next wave of growth will come from, cloud gaming seems like a promising option. As sales of physical media decline in the wake of Steam and the popularity of digital platforms such as iOS and Android, players are increasingly cloud-based and digitized. Now that people expect their content to be available when moving between devices, that’s certainly a growing universe of next-generation potential consumers.
Related: Xbox Cloud Gaming Requirements and Setup
Xbox hopes it can stay ahead of the curve in this new market, but significant challenges remain. Xbox cloud gaming and cloud gaming in general are network dependent. Even if you have good bandwidth, you should make sure to use 5 GHz Wi-Fi or sometimes Ethernet to get the best experience. Not everyone is willing or able to accept the requirements involved in cloud gaming. Microsoft is targeting ordinary people who don’t want to own a home console AllThere is definitely a gap when you consider the technical complexity of upgrading your home network. While most enthusiasts already buy Xbox Series X|S consoles or Windows PCs for native gaming, I wonder how much appeal something like cloud gaming will really have to console-shunned audiences.
However, even if the “cloud” becomes another way for mainstream users to access their Xbox content, I’m all for it. I’m not sure that Xbox cloud gaming will deliver the new audience that Xbox is hoping for, but technological advances with Wi-Fi and mobile networks will close the access gap. If Microsoft becomes more popular, it’s important to keep a foot in the door. I’d say they already have a big leg up there. It’ll be a nice addition to save Xbox Portable storage…that’s for sure.