Xbox Cloud Gaming (xCloud) is officially powered by Xbox Series X now, expands iPhone and PC access to everyone
Xbox Cloud Gaming continues to impress as it grows over time.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
What you need to know
Xbox Cloud Gaming (xCloud)is already one of the more complete game streaming platforms, with a large library of high-quality games at its disposal. Today, Microsoft’s mobile-bound service is receiving two major upgrades.Xbox Cloud Gaming is now officially powered by Xbox Series X, and is available on even more devices.
We reported just over a week ago thatsome users were apparently seeing the Xbox Series X upgrade for Xbox Cloud Gaming, and now that transition is official and complete. Across the board, Xbox Cloud Gaming users can benefit from all the features and power of theXbox Series Xconsole, including:
Players have been awaiting this change for ages, and the upgrade should massively improve the overall Xbox Cloud Gaming experience, regardless of the device you’re using or your internet connection. This also opens up the possibility of bringing current-gen-only games likeMicrosoft Flight Simulator for Xboxto Xbox Cloud Gaming, and even using Xbox Cloud Gaming to bring those games to the older Xbox One consoles.
Alongside the upgrade to custom Xbox Series X server blades, Xbox Cloud Gaming is also expanding its reach. Access to Xbox Cloud Gaming through PCs and iOS phones and tablets was restricted to a handful of insiders, but is now available toallXbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers in 22 countries throughxbox.com/play. Users on iOS devices and PC will immediately benefit from the upgrade to Xbox Series X hardware.
Of course, Xbox couldn’t leave matters there. The “one more thing” for today was an expansion of the Designed for Xbox program, which guarantees a level of quality and compatibility for all Xbox gaming accessories. TheDesigned for Xbox program now includes Xbox Cloud Gaming accessories for iOS, with a handful already announced today. The new products include:
If you’re interested in any of these Xbox Cloud Gaming Designed for Xbox accessories, you can find all the links below.
Xbox Cloud Gaming, previously known as Project xCloud, is backed byXbox Game Pass, and is one of the services offered to an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriber. With today’s upgrades, Xbox Cloud Gaming is now available on Android, iOS, and PC devices, and is powered by Xbox Series X. To get the most out of thebest Xbox Cloud Gaming games, you might want to consider one of thebest Xbox Cloud Gaming controllers.
Get the Windows Central Newsletter
All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.
Xbox Cloud Gaming also lets you leave the controller behind for some games and use custom touch controls instead. For the complete list of games that support touch controls, check out our ultimate games list for Xbox Cloud Gaming.
The iPhone is the latest console.
Not only is Xbox Cloud Gaming more widely available for iOS users, it also got a major boost with an upgrade to powerful Xbox Series X hardware and greater accessory support. The Designed for Xbox program is expanding again, and three new accessories make it easier to game on your iPhone.
All your gaming needs, in one subscription.
Is the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate the best value in all of gaming? It’s possible. Ultimate bundles your Xbox Live Gold subscription, an Xbox Game Pass subscription for both Xbox consoles and Windows PCs, and Xbox Cloud Gaming for on-the-go. That means access to hundreds of games, with more added all the time, for a single monthly subscription cost.
Zachary Boddy (They / Them) is a Staff Writer for Windows Central, primarily focused on covering the latest news in tech and gaming, the best Xbox and PC games, and the most interesting Windows and Xbox hardware. They have been gaming and writing for most of their life starting with the original Xbox, and started out as a freelancer for Windows Central and its sister sites in 2019. Now a full-fledged Staff Writer, Zachary has expanded from only writing about all things Minecraft to covering practically everything on which Windows Central is an expert, especially when it comes to Microsoft. You can find Zachary on Twitter@BoddyZachary.