In what is touted as a consumer-friendly move, Microsoft has just announced that Android users who are also Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will now be able to play more than 100 games from the cloud via Project xCloud at no additional charge starting this coming September 15. Some notable titles included in the vast line-up are Destiny 2, Gears 5, Minecraft Dungeons, Tell Me Why, and Yakuza: Kiwami 2. Also, games from Xbox Game Studios will also be available via Project xCloud starting on day one. An example of this is the upcoming action-adventure platformer sequel Psychonauts 2.
In a blog post on the Xbox website, Microsoft went in-depth on how it will work and what features Project xCloud will have. First off, the launch on September 15 is described as a beta for 22 markets “to ensure stability as we scale the feature to millions of gamers”. As with any cloud gaming service, the biggest selling point of Project xCloud is giving its users the ability to game anywhere and everywhere, easily on their mobile device. Consistency is the key factor in this being a success, so with xCloud, they have guaranteed that “all the experiences you expect on Xbox and your gaming profile travel with you on mobile, including your friends list, achievements, controller settings, and saved game progress.”
For those who are interested, they can download the Xbox Game Pass app from the Google Play Store, Samsung Galaxy Store or ONE Store. xCloud will be available for the following regions: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Also, since xCloud could open up an entirely new demographic of gamers, Microsoft has collaborated with Razer, PowerA, 8BitDo, and Nacon to release all-new accessories for cloud gaming. These include phone clips, travel controllers, and exclusive, Xbox-branded controllers that attach to the side of your phone. For those who already own consoles, the Xbox One Bluetooth Wireless and the PlayStation Dualshock 4 controller can also be used.
