xCloud to Launch on September 15th on Android

Details Revealed About Microsoft's Project xCloud

While it's hard to necessarily say that Microsoft is winning the current and next-gen console wars, it's even harder to deny that the company has been spending a lot of time and effort trying to innovate. The company's GamePass system is already changing the way that gamers look at buying games, but something even more impressive may be on the horizon. Thanks to Microsoft's new Project xCloud, it may be possible for fans of Xbox's games to play their favorite games on the go - without even having to use their own systems.

Project xCloud will be available in 22 countries, but no iOS support at launch.

Microsoft game streaming service is due to launch on September 15th exclusively on Android devices. Project xCloud will be available in 22 countries, but no iOS support at launch. For $14.99/month, xCloud will be bundled with the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription and is to include access to over 100. So, get ready Android and tablet users - here is what you are in for.

Gaming in the Cloud

Microsoft's Project xCloud Game Streaming Service | Credit: xbox.com

At its heart, Xbox's Project xCloud is another attempt to break into the cloud gaming market. Microsoft isn't the first, with other players like Nvidia and even Google attempting to get into this space. Where Microsoft is really changing things up, though, is through the delivery system.

If you have a compatible Android phone or tablet, playing some of your favorite Xbox games will be as easy...

Instead of requiring players to buy new software or hardware, Microsoft is looking to leverage the kinds of devices that most consumers already own. If you have a compatible Android phone or tablet, playing some of your favorite Xbox games will be as easy as logging into your favorite high-speed internet connection and choosing the game that fits your mood.

A New Frontier

Microsoft's Project xCloud Game Streaming Service | Credit: xbox.com

As the race to release the next generation of gaming hardware continues, Microsoft's focus on xCloud really shakes up the way that the consoles wars work. The company has been exceptionally clear that it's not the hardware that they're necessarily looking to sell at this point, but rather the recurring subscriptions to Microsoft's ecosystem. xCloud, much like GamePass, is a remarkable tool for tying players even more deeply into the overall Microsoft family of products.

xCloud will be bundled with the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription and is to include access to over 100.

It should come as no surprise, then, that playing games on xCloud requires a GamePass Ultimate subscription. The good news, though, is that players don't need anything else - not even their own Xbox. As long as they have an active account and they're up to date on their subscription services, players will get access to all of the games that are available on xCloud.

Bumps in the Road

Microsoft's Project xCloud Game Streaming Service | Credit: xbox.com

Of course, it's not always easy to get a new service off the ground. xCloud's biggest hurdle right now isn't gaming rival Sony, but rather software rival Apple. Apple has thus far banned services like xCloud from iOS, stopping iPhone users from getting a chance to experience this service. With this huge roadblock in the way, xCloud will miss out on a huge part of the market.

Apple has thus far banned services like xCloud from iOS...

The other big issue, of course, is cloud gaming itself. With services like Stadia largely being non-starters, there are already plenty of cautionary tales. Microsoft has, to its credit, seemed to learn from those who have come before them.

A New World of Gaming

xCloud is a much bigger deal than some might think. By decoupling next-gen games from consoles, it's become easier than ever to get players to buy into these expensive ecosystems. If Microsoft's efforts work as well as they hope, the future of console gaming may finally be in the cloud.