Xbox Cloud Gaming, the streaming service that delivers more than 150 Xbox titles to Windows and Android devices, could expand to smart TVs, Chromebooks, Amazon Fire TV—and possibly rival consoles such as the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation, Microsoft’s gaming chief Phil Spencer said in an interview.
Current availability and catalog
The service, previously known as xCloud, is available in 22 countries and is included at no extra cost for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. The library includes recent and notable titles such as Tell Me Why, Gears 5, Grounded, Sea of Thieves, Forza Horizon 4, Battletoads, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Untitled Goose Game and Destiny 2.
Why Android first and possible platform expansions
Spencer explained the choice to launch first on mobile: “We opted [to launch Cloud Gaming] on mobile devices because there are a billion Android phones on the planet. It’s significantly larger than any console base.” He also said Apple’s iOS remains a platform they “still have to get to at some point.”
Besides the Game Pass catalog, EA Play is expected to integrate with the service later this year. Microsoft/Divulgação
After discussing mobile and iOS, Spencer named other device categories the team has considered: “There are smart TVs out there, there are Chromebooks out there, there are Fire TV devices out there, there are lots of conversations.”
Potential reach into competitor hardware
While prioritizing new players, Spencer did not rule out making the service available to users on competing consoles. He said he admires both the Switch and PlayStation and acknowledged they have “done an amazing job as part of this industry,” adding that those platforms might not be the immediate next user group but that Microsoft could be open to discussions.
Features that support play across devices
Cloud Gaming supports cloud save sync, enabling players to continue games started on their consoles from other devices. The platform also allows multiplayer titles that support crossplay to be played from different locations and devices.
Where Cloud Gaming is available at launch
At launch, the Cloud Gaming experience is accessible in these 22 countries to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Source: OnMSFT
