Xbox Cloud Gaming: everything you need to know

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Formerly known as Project xCloud, access to Xbox Cloud Gaming has only a few barriers to entry to overcome. You must subscribe to the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate tier, have a strong internet connection, and have a supported device to play the games on. If you meet all of these criteria, you can start gaming without needing an Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S console or even an Xbox Wireless Controller.

If you are interested in the benefits Xbox Cloud Gaming can offer you; after that, we’ve prepared a guide with everything you need to know about the cloud-based service. We also explain why it’s a feature you absolutely shouldn’t sleep on, especially since you can access it at no extra cost through your Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription on the latest Xbox consoles.

And there are more than a few reasons why you should definitely give Xbox Cloud Gaming a try, as it can be a worthwhile alternative to simply downloading games to your console or buying one of the best gaming PCs. Firstly, save data transfers seamlessly between platforms, meaning that when you start playing via the cloud, you can pick up right where you left off.

Are you giving your console to someone else? If your game is supported by Xbox Cloud Gaming, it’s instantly accessible so you can resume it on another device without losing any progress.

Then read on to learn all about Xbox Cloud Gaming, its requirements, and the benefits and features it can offer over a more traditional console experience.

Xbox Cloud Gaming: straight to the point

• What is it? Xbox’s cloud gaming platform playable on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, mobile devices and PC.
• When is it out? Out now
• What does it cost? $15 / £10.99 / AU$15.95 per month, the cost of an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription

Xbox Cloud Gaming: What You Need

As mentioned above, access to Xbox Cloud Gaming requires an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription first. At $14.99 / £10.99 per month, it’s a bit more expensive than the basic plan, but the extra cost will benefit you by granting access to Xbox Cloud Gaming and the PC Game Pass service.

You also need a device that supports Xbox Cloud Gaming. These include both Android and iOS smartphones such as the Samsung Galaxy S22 or iPhone 13. But Xbox Cloud Gaming also works on tablets such as the iPad, iPad Pro 12.9 and Microsoft’s own Surface Go devices. For smartphones and tablets, you’ll also need the Xbox Game Pass app, which lets you access and stream supported games with just a few taps.

A short list of supported devices can be found at Xbox website (opens in new tab). But in general, if you have a modern laptop, or a smartphone or tablet running iOS or Android, you should be able to play games through Xbox Cloud Gaming. Xbox Cloud Gaming titles can also be played on PC, via the desktop app or your favorite internet browser, including Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge and Firefox.

At the Meta Connect 2022 event, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella joined Mark Zuckerberg in confirming that Xbox Cloud Gaming is coming to Meta Quest 2 and Meta Quest Pro. Unfortunately these games remain a flat screen experience, you can’t suddenly jump into a VR mode for Forza Horizon 5. As such, the platform is slowly expanding into new horizons and you can plug in your Xbox controller. It also means that Meta Quest can beat PSVR 2 for one simple reason.

Don’t have a supported portable device? Don’t worry, you can also play games from the cloud directly from your Xbox Series X/S console. Although in this case we recommend just downloading the games you want as you can play beyond Xbox Cloud Gaming limitations such as the inability to stream at 4K resolution.

Touch controls are supported on touch screen devices, but you can also use controllers connected via USB or wirelessly via Bluetooth, including the Xbox Wireless Controller, Razer Kishi Mobile Game Controller and even Sony’s Dualshock 4.

Microsoft also recommends a high-speed internet connection for optimal gameplay when using Xbox Cloud Gaming. You’ll need down speeds of at least 20 Mbps and a 5 GHz Wi-Fi connection for an entry-level cloud gaming experience. Naturally, faster speeds provide a more solid connection to your streamed game, which lowers latency and reduces quirks like screen tearing and the occasional blank screen.

Xbox Cloud Gaming: Stream Quality and Performance

Streaming through Xbox Cloud Gaming means you can play supported games directly on your chosen device, without having to download the game to your device’s storage. Of course, instant delivery does not come without costs.

To maintain consistent performance, Xbox Cloud Gaming streams at 1080p resolution at up to 60 fps. That means you can’t stream games at a higher resolution of 1440p or 4K, but 1080p is more than usable on the smaller screens you’re likely to use for Xbox Cloud Gaming. While a 1080p limit makes streaming Xbox Cloud Gaming more manageable for your bandwidth, you’ll still want a fast connection for a consistent experience.

Fortunately, if you meet the criteria for a smooth streaming experience, you’ll find that games played through Xbox Cloud Gaming offer sharper visuals and much better load times than the same games played on the previous generation Xbox One. Load times in particular are comparable to the remarkably fast Xbox Series X/S SSDs.

Xbox Cloud Gaming: What Can I Play?

Xbox Cloud Gaming lets you play a wide variety of games from the Xbox Game Pass library. Not every game on the service is streamable, but by using the app you can access a special “Cloud” subsection that lists all the games you can play through the Xbox Cloud Gaming service.

The range of titles available to play through Xbox Cloud Gaming is also quite large. From big budget first party titles like Forza Horizon 5, Gears Tactics and Halo Infinite to some of the best indies out there like Hollow Knight, Ori and the Will of the Wisps and The Outer Wilds.

You can also stream some of the best third-party games available on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S, including Dragon Quest 11, Mass Effect Legendary Edition, and Mortal Kombat 11. There’s plenty to play on Xbox Cloud Gaming and you can find the full list of games here (opens in new tab). You can even play them right from your browser, provided you have a supported controller connected to the device.

Xbox Cloud Gaming: Final Thoughts

Xbox Cloud Gaming offers a very solid alternative to downloading games to storage. It’s one of the best game streaming platforms available right now, especially when compared to competing services like Nvidia GeForce Now and (the soon-to-be-defunct) Google Stadia.

You won’t be streaming games in 4K anytime soon, but what Xbox Cloud Gaming loses in image quality it more than makes up for in connection stability, fast loading times, and a wide range of supported devices and controller configurations. Another advantage is that you don’t have to own the very best Xbox to fully enjoy cloud gaming. That means even Xbox Series S specs can enjoy a cloud-based gaming experience similar to the Xbox Series X.

There are some notable barriers to entry, of course, such as a subscription to the relatively expensive Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and a reasonably fast internet connection, but if you fit the criteria, Xbox Cloud Gaming could be your doorway to experience the very best Xbox Game Pass games, or whether you are at home or on the road.