The Microsoft Surface Duo can now function as a portable Xbox after an update to the Xbox Cloud Gaming (xCloud) Android app added native support for the device’s dual screens. The update is available on the Google Play Store.
With the new xCloud features, Surface Duo owners can run Xbox games streamed from the cloud while using one screen to show the game and the other as a virtual gamepad. Microsoft had hinted at dual-screen gaming possibilities around the device’s announcement nearly two years ago, and this release implements that concept.
How the dual-screen experience works
The update allows a variety of on-screen control layouts tailored to different titles. In practice, players can place virtual controls on one panel while keeping the main action unobstructed on the other, reducing finger interference with important visual elements.
Microsoft has been adding touch controls to more than 50 Xbox games in recent months, including Sea of Thieves, Gears 5 and Minecraft Dungeons. A full list of titles that support touch controls has been published on the console’s website. For games that do not include touch layouts, users may still connect a standard controller over Bluetooth.
App improvements for Surface Duo
Beyond the split-screen control option, Microsoft made additional adjustments to the Xbox Cloud Gaming app to improve the experience on the Surface Duo. The company says the update will make content easier to view, simplify menu navigation and add column-based layouts optimized for the dual displays.
Device specs relevant to gameplay
The Surface Duo features two 5.6-inch screens that combine into an 8.1-inch display when opened. The device measures 4.8 millimeters thick when open and 9.9 millimeters when folded. Although announced in 2019, the Surface Duo launched officially in 2020.
Users who have tried Xbox games on the updated Surface Duo have praised the experience, noting that positioning controls on the lower screen keeps fingers out of the primary gameplay view and provides a way to play Xbox titles without a dedicated console.
Via: The Verge
