Microsoft’s Xbox chief Phil Spencer stated he is open to allowing players to purchase individual games and stream them via Project xCloud without holding a Game Pass subscription, signaling a possible shift in how the service could be accessed in the future.
Purchase option could join subscription model
Today, players invited to test Project xCloud who subscribe to Game Pass can stream games from the cloud to Android devices using a Bluetooth controller. Spencer said on Major Nelson’s podcast that Microsoft has discussed giving customers the option to buy games outright and still play them through xCloud, rather than requiring a Game Pass subscription.
“Our long-term aspiration is to make xCloud a great way for new players to enter the ecosystem. Now, we want to give people the option to buy. We’ve talked about that. We don’t want to make it just a subscription, because we know some people may want to buy their games and still play them via the cloud,” Spencer said.
Limits of the current proposal
Spencer did not outline a concrete model in which a one-time purchase would guarantee cloud access from any device. Microsoft previously tested a related concept with Play Anywhere, which allowed customers who bought a game in the Microsoft Store to play it on both Xbox and PC at no extra cost.
Integrating xCloud into that model could extend Play Anywhere to cloud streaming, but Spencer noted that Microsoft would likely need permission from multiple game studios before offering their titles via streaming without a subscription.
How xCloud works today
Project xCloud can be used anywhere with an internet connection, including mobile networks, and runs on Android phones and tablets through the Xbox Game Streaming (Preview) app available on the Google Play. Apple mobile support is expected in a web-based form due to the company’s App Store policies, which Microsoft has criticized.
Players can use a Bluetooth controller or on-screen touch controls, and cloud saves allow progression to carry across devices. The service is currently in a testing phase; interested users can sign up on the dedicated site to participate and provide feedback.
Source attribution
Initial reporting on the topic was cited from OnMSFT.
