Microsoft has announced that its xCloud game-streaming service will finally be available to early adopters on the iPhone, iPad and PC as a beta.
Microsoft xCloud Beta Launching on April 20
The game-streaming service is launching as a beta across Microsoft's Windows 10 and Apple's iOS and iPadOS platforms on Tuesday, April 20, 2021, the company said.
As we shared at the end of last year, we’re bringing Xbox to more players on more devices via the cloud this year. Starting tomorrow, we’ll begin sending out invites to select Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to start testing the Xbox Cloud Gaming limited beta for Windows 10 PCs and Apple phones and tablets via web browsers.
Both the invite-only beta for xCloud and its final shipping counterpart will be readily accessible through the Edge, Chrome, or Safari browsers at www.xbox.com/play.
More titles will be added to the subscription service over time. Keep in mind that you must be an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriber to use xCloud.
Microsoft xCloud Pricing and Availability
The beta will launch in 22 countries, Microsoft wrote in a post on Xbox Wire.
The limited beta is our time to test and learn. We’ll send out more invites on a continuous basis to players in all 22 supported countries, evaluate feedback, continue to improve the experience, and add support for more devices.
The list of supported countries is available on the xCloud Game Pass website.
About a hundred games will be available at launch to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers at no additional cost, including day-one titles like Tell Me Why and hits like Destiny 2.
The service will open up to all Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members "in the coming months".
Using Microsoft xCloud on iOS
Due to Apple's strict rules guiding this-party development for its platforms, xCloud won't be available as a native app on iOS and iPadOS when it launches publicly. In other words, you'll need to use Apple's Safari browser to access the service on your iPhone or iPad.
No matter the platform, you will be playing these games using a paired gaming controller, with both wired and wireless connections supported. Alternatively, you'll be able to use custom touch controls for more than 50 games.
"In the early stages of the beta, we’ll be focusing on fine-tuning features and creating a consistent experience across platforms, while making sure games are running their best," the company wrote. xCloud is already available on Android smartphones and tablets.
Making use of Microsoft's Azure cloud computing services, xCloud lets you play games included in the subscription on supported devices without needing a physical Xbox console or any additional hardware. In that sense, xCloud is more of an extension of your current Xbox gaming setup rather than its complete replacement.