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As promised earlier this month, Microsoft today announced that it is opening up Xbox Cloud Gaming to all Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers, including on the web, to 22 countries. This means that users will be able to stream games from the cloud using Edge or Chrome on Windows 10 and Safari on Apple devices, along with the Xbox Game Pass app on Android.
Catherine Gluckstein, Vice President & Head of Product, Xbox Cloud Gaming, says that the firm wants users to “have new opportunities to play the deepest, most immersive games whenever and wherever [they] choose”. The ability to stream games from Microsoft’s servers means that users on any of these devices will be able to access games in the ever-expanding Xbox Game Pass library via their subscription.
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In addition to opening up cloud gaming to all users, the firm also announced that it has upgraded its data centers with “custom Xbox Series X hardware”, a step up from the Xbox One consoles. The firm says that these upgrades allow for “faster load times, improved frame rates, and an experience of a new generation of gaming”.
However, to limit latency issues and maintain quality, the firm will stream games at 1080p resolution capped at 60 frames per second. This might not be a huge deal considering that most mobile displays are Full HD units, and do not need the resolutions as high as those for TVs connected to real consoles. Additionally, the company recommends internet speeds of 10Mbps or higher.
The Redmond giant also revealed that one in six players that stream from the cloud use touch-based controls that are available for “more than 50 games”, including the likes of Minecraft Dungeons. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members who want to try out Cloud Gaming can head to this webpage from their Windows 10, iOS, or iPadOS devices to get started. Users can use a Bluetooth or USB controller, or touch-based controls in supported games. There is no mention of support for keyboard and mouse, though. For iOS devices, the company is also introducing new Designed for Xbox Mobile Accessories (shown in the header image).