Microsoft launching Cloud Gaming beta for iOS and PC browsers tomorrow
There’s no secret that mobile gaming popularity is at an all time high. From using devices like the Galaxy Z Fold 2 thanks to the enormous screen, to gaming-specific devices like the ROG Phone 5 or RedMagic 6, there are plenty of options for mobile gaming.
Late last year, Microsoft officially launched “Cloud Gaming”, graduating from the xCloud Gaming beta program that had been taking place. Until now, however, xCloud gaming via Game Pass was limited to those using an Android device. This left PC users, along with iOS, iPad, and macOS users in the dark due to there not being an official xCloud app due to Apple’s App Store constraints.
If you’ve been waiting impatiently for this to launch, the wait is almost over. Today, Microsoft announced that xCloud streaming is coming to select users in a “limited beta” starting tomorrow. The beta operates within Chrome and other browsers, meaning that if you’re selected for the beta program, then you should be able to use this on almost any computer or tablet with Chrome or Microsoft Edge.
Starting tomorrow, we’ll begin sending out invites to select Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to start testing the Xbox Cloud Gaming limited beta for Windows 10 PCs and Apple phones and tablets via web browsers. We’re launching xbox.com/play where invitees can play over 100 Xbox Game Pass titles through Edge, Google Chrome, or Safari.
It remains to be seen whether this means that Chromebooks or tablets like the Lenovo Chromebook Duet will be able to use this. As you might expect, Microsoft is rolling out this feature in waves, and is only offering this in a limited capacity. The company is only sending invites to “select Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to start testing the Xbox Cloud Gaming limited beta”.
Even though I’m using a PC and have access to plenty of games already, storage is at a premium so being able to load up a game in my browser to fire up some of the best Game Pass games will be a dream. We’re hoping that this limited beta program doesn’t last forever, but we won’t be surprised if the final rollout doesn’t happen until this Fall.