From Flight Simulator to Fortnite: With Xbox Cloud, Microsoft offers a gaming streaming service that lets you play a variety of AAA titles.
The game streaming service offers gamers many ways to play trendy games at any time and on different devices. Get an overview of the Xbox Cloud:
What is Xbox Cloud Gaming
Xbox Cloud Gaming, or xCloud, is a special streaming service from Microsoft that lets you play a variety of games over the Internet as a stream. This requires only the encoding of the video feed and no expensive hardware such as current CPUs or GPUs to render the images of the more graphics-intensive games. More than 300 game titles are already available, consisting of Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox 360, or original Xbox games. And all of these are playable on systems like PC, Mac, Samsung Smart TVs, iOS, or Android. Even though the service has been around as a Beta since the end of 2019, many gamers have not heard of it.
Xbox Cloud is the contemporary extension of the subscription-based Game Pass service, but with xCloud, it uses the computing resources of data centers around the world not only for distribution but also for rendering the games. Latency plays a crucial role in gaming and not least in streaming: Microsoft seems to have found a good compromise with the choice of their centers, as the experience feels very smooth.
What do you need for it?
In order to use the service, you need a stable Internet connection for your device and an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. For Android, the Xbox Game Pass App has to be downloaded from the Samsung Galaxy Store or Google Play. With the iPad or iPhone, xCloud is available through the App Store. If you want to use the cloud on your Samsung smart TV, you have to make sure that your TV supports the Samsung Gaming Hub:
PC users can simply use the native Xbox app. Chrome, Safari, and Microsoft Edge are all compatible. Cloud Gaming with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is available as a service in 28 countries.
Playing with an Xbox phone controller on your Android device or iPhone
Xbox controllers can be conveniently connected to your iPhone or smartphone using a Mount and Bluetooth. This way, you can still play and enjoy your favorite games on the go. Microsoft recommends the PowerA MOGA XP5-X Plus Bluetooth Controller for Mobile & Cloud Gaming.
The Benefits of Xbox Cloud Gaming
- Saving resources
You don’t have to download your games, but can stream them directly over the Internet and start playing. The smart use of global data centers also ensures that you mostly don’t feel any latency when gaming. - Available on many devices
Whether on the PC, your Xbox Series X|S, or your smartphone, play your favorite titles where and when you want. The processing power of your device no longer plays a role. If you feel like using a dedicated device for it, maybe the Logitech G Gaming Handheld is the right one for you. - 300+ selected game titles
An incredible range of titles is always at your disposal. Moreover, the library is constantly being expanded with new games for you to discover. Below we have listed five particularly recommendable titles.
Our Top 5 of Xbox Cloud Games
- Sea of Thieves
- Ark: Ultimate Survivor Edition
- Forza Horizon 4
- Halo Infinite
- Fortnite
The Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription costs $14.99 per month, but you can try the service for just $1 in the first month.
In case you need some more inspiration on what to play next, feel free to check out our rankings for the best open-world games on PC, or the 10 best free FPS games.
What are your hot games right now that you play on Xbox Xcloud? Feel free to leave us a comment below.
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