Latest news with #XboxCloudGaming
The Verge
a day ago
- The Verge
Microsoft hints at ‘more affordable' Xbox Cloud Gaming plan
Two years ago we learned, thanks to the FTC, that Microsoft was working on a separate 'dedicated' version of Xbox Cloud Gaming. Microsoft Gaming CFO Tim Stuart then hinted, a few months later, that there could be a free version Xbox Cloud Gaming in exchange for ads. Now, Microsoft is hinting at making Xbox Cloud Gaming 'more affordable' again. Jason Ronald, Microsoft's VP of Next Generation, has appeared on the company's official Xbox podcast today, to discuss Xbox Cloud Gaming, Xbox Play Anywhere, and Microsoft's next-gen chip partnership with AMD. At the moment Xbox Cloud Gaming is only part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, meaning you have to pay $19.99 a month to get access to xCloud. 'One of the things we see is there's a lot of players who use Game Pass Ultimate to access the cloud, whether that's the primary way they play, or an additional way to play on the go,' says Ronald. 'I think for us, it really opens up the opportunity to make it much more affordable, and make it more accessible to players. Whether that's going into new regions, or new ways to actually access the [Xbox] cloud.' Microsoft's hints of a more affordable version of Xbox Cloud Gaming come just hours before Nvidia has some 'major' GeForce Now news. Nvidia's cloud gaming service is far superior to Xbox Cloud Gaming, thanks to PC-powered performance, better bitrates, higher resolution gameplay, and lower latency. Microsoft has even integrated GeForce Now into its own Xbox game pages. Ronald stops short of announcing a new Xbox Cloud Gaming tier, but it's clear that's been Microsoft's thinking for a few years now. Microsoft started expanding Xbox Cloud Gaming beyond just the Game Pass library last year, with the ability to stream games you own as long as you're an Ultimate subscriber. There's an opportunity to bring that Ultimate paywall down, especially for mobile streaming. Microsoft had planned to sell games directly in its Xbox app for Android and allow customers to immediately stream those games directly to their phones and tablets, but a legal battle has put those plans on hold. Microsoft is currently preparing the next generation of Xbox Cloud Gaming, alongside its next-gen Xbox console work. 'Together with AMD, we're designing dedicated silicon and hardware to enable the next generation of gaming experiences,' says Ronald. 'We're investing deeply in the next generation of rendering technologies, such as neural rendering, which will bring a new level of quality to the games that you're having.' That next generation of Xbox hardware will likely see Xbox and Windows move even closer together, alongside the choice of different stores for Xbox owners. It's also an opportunity for Microsoft to bring more AI-powered features to the next Xbox. 'We're also investing in dedicated silicon to enable the next generation of AI capabilities, that will be transformative in how you actually experience your gameplay,' says Ronald. Microsoft will 'start experimenting' with some of these AI-powered features on the upcoming Xbox Ally X device, because it has a dedicated NPU chip just like Microsoft's Copilot Plus PCs. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All by Tom Warren Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Gaming Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Microsoft Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All News Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Tech Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Xbox
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Business Standard
22-07-2025
- Business Standard
Xbox PC app update adds cross-platform play history and filters: Details
Microsoft has rolled out new updates to the Xbox PC app for members of the Xbox Insider Programme, allowing users to view and access their recent game activity across devices, including cloud titles that were not built to run natively on PC. The company confirmed the changes in a press release, stating that the updates are part of its ongoing effort to unify the Xbox experience across platforms. Key features introduced A new cloud-playable filter has been added to the Library section of the Xbox PC app. This allows users to view all games currently playable via Xbox Cloud Gaming, including console-exclusive titles from the original Xbox to Xbox Series X and Series S. According to Xbox, these games appear in the library regardless of whether a user owns them or accesses them through Game Pass. The play history section now shows the 'Jump back in' list on the Xbox PC app home screen. Xbox states that this section includes recently played games across any Xbox-supported device — console, PC, or Windows handheld — enabling users to resume gameplay across platforms. The play history feature also includes cloud titles, which means console-exclusive games played on an Xbox can appear in the PC app and be resumed via cloud gaming, provided they support Xbox Cloud Gaming. Availability These features are currently available only to Xbox Insiders. Users interested in early access to experimental features can join the Xbox Insider Programme via the Xbox Insider Hub app on Xbox consoles or Windows PCs.
Indian Express
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Play anywhere: Xbox now syncs game progress across console, PC and Windows handheld
Microsoft recently introduced an aggregated gaming library in the Xbox PC app for Windows 11, enabling players to launch their favourite games from Xbox, Game Pass, and Now, building on the update, Xbox is getting a new feature, which, according to Microsoft, makes 'your library as the go-to destination for your games.' In a blog post, Microsoft said gamers who are part of the Xbox Insiders will now see all their cloud-playable games added to their play history and Library in the Xbox PC app. Irrespective of whether you own a game or access it from Game Pass, all your cloud-playable titles, including console exclusives from the original Xbox to the Xbox Series X|S, will now be accessible from a single window. Microsoft also added a new filter called 'cloud playable' to the Xbox PC app Library, which allows you to see which games are supported. Moreover, game history, preferences and progression will now sync across devices via a new play history tile, allowing gamers to pick up where they left off, no matter which device they are on. This means that the game you left at a certain point on your Xbox console can be continued on another device. To do so, simply open the Xbox app on the device of your choice, and you will see your play history at the end of the 'Jump back in' list. The same list also appears on the Xbox console interface, hinting that Microsoft might add a new feature that lets you play PC games via Xbox Cloud Gaming. The Xbox Cloud Gaming platform is currently powered by special servers maintained by Microsoft, but according to internal emails which came out during the FTC vs Microsoft case, it looks like the gaming giant is also working on letting players stream PC games over the internet. If you are not a part of the Xbox Insider Program, open the app store on your Xbox or PC, search for 'Insider' and download and install the Xbox Insider Hub to access the newest features.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Seismic Xbox Game Pass upgrade could change the way you game forever
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Quick Summary Xbox Cloud Gaming could soon receive a number of key enhancements to make it a much better service. There are also suggestions that it could be available outside of an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription too. Microsoft is reportedly working on several big upgrades to its Xbox Cloud Gaming service to make it run closer to playing games on local hardware. And that could include a bump in resolution and frame rates. Currently part of an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, Xbox Cloud Gaming offers 100s of games that players can stream over a data connection to multiple devices. This includes phones, tablets, Smart TVs from Samsung and LG, and even Amazon Fire TV Sticks. As long as you have an Xbox controller or Bluetooth equivalent, you can play a whole host of big name games, as well as many you might not have heard of before. Some even come with touchscreen controls, for playing on an iPhone, iPad or Android device without a dedicated gamepad. Day one releases are available on the service too, even the likes of the recently released Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 +4, Doom: The Dark Ages, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. While subscribers can also play many of their own purchased Xbox games through the cloud. In fact, it's a well-rounded, extremely accessible service that works well as an accompaniment to conventional console and PC gaming. It just isn't quite ready to replace them. That's where the upgrades come in. Renowned Xbox expert Jez Corden of Windows Central believes that Microsoft is currently working on next-gen technologies and features for Xbox Cloud Gaming to make it a more attractive rival to traditional gaming platforms. A reduction in latency He suggests that a further reduction in latency is key, with measures being taken to eliminate the lag between controller motion or button press and the action being shown on screen. One of those is to release a new Xbox Wireless Controller that connects directly to the a home network when playing cloud games, rather than needing to send control codes to a device, which are then sent on to a remote server. By cutting out the middle-man, so to speak, it'll help reduce latency. This is something Google attempted with its failed Stadia service, and Amazon achieves with its Luna gamepad. In addition, Corden claims that Microsoft is considering switching the hosted games to PC versions rather than Xbox. This could enable the games to be more scaleable in terms of settings, while servers could be faster and less hamstrung by console technology. When it comes to console exclusives, they could run through emulation. It could also allow the service to offer higher resolutions and frame rates. Xbox Cloud Gaming is currently locked to 1080p at up to 60 frames per second, whereas Nvidia's major rival, GeForce Now, offers an Ultimate tier with up to 4K and 240fps streaming (albeit not at the same time). This would be dependent on users' own network connections and an increase in bit rates, but it's doable – as Nvidia has proved. Xbox Cloud Gaming subscription The other route that Corden suggests Microsoft could go in is to launch new, cloud only payment plans. You can currently only subscribe to Xbox Cloud Gaming through Game Pass Ultimate, which doesn't really make much sense if all you want is to play games on a Fire TV Stick. In that case, you don't need a library of games to download onto an Xbox Series X/S or PC, nor many of the other benefits membership adds. GeForce Now has three tiers – Free, Performance, and Ultimate – with different levels of streaming quality and priority access. Microsoft could adopt similar in the future. Xbox Cloud Gaming is still just in public beta mode at present – it has been since launch – so enhancements and upgrades could come with a push to a final release model. Certainly, with non-gaming manufacturers like LG and Samsung adding the service to their TVs, there's a market for more casual gamers to enjoy the latest and greatest without needing dedicated hardware. Maybe if the changes are as seismic as hoped, some of the more dyed-in-the-wool gamers will consider it too.
The Sun
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I ditched £500 consoles for £15 ‘virtual Xbox' that works on ANY telly… It's great cheap alternative for gaming-mad kids
BUYING a console can be pricey – and that's even before you start paying for games on top. But I'm obsessed with a cheaper alternative that costs just 50p a day - a 'virtual' console. 11 It works instantly, and you don't need to buy a physical console or any games. You'll be able to keep the family entertained on the cheap – and you can ditch it for free any time if you get bored. It's called Xbox Cloud Gaming. It's a bit like Netflix but for computer games. Normally, you'd need to buy a £350 to £500 console (or even more), lug it home, plug it into the telly, buy games and stick them in the disc tray, and then pay a monthly subscription just to get online. I'm tired just writing it. Instead, you can sign up for Xbox Cloud Gaming, launch an app, and away you go. It's a literal game-changer, and it's the perfect option for Brits on a budget. What you need to get going is Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. This is a monthly subscription that costs £14.99 a month and gets you several Xbox-related perks. But the main one here is access to Xbox Cloud Gaming. This lets you play a vast library of over 350 video games without paying a penny extra. HOW DOES A 'CLOUD' CONSOLE WORK? Normally, video games need a console with a powerful graphics card inside to create the visuals you see on your TV screen. Regular TV doesn't require that, because telly isn't interactive, so it can be created in advance and shown to you. But video games don't know what you'll do next – they're interactive – so the visuals need to be rendered as you're playing. This is very intensive work, which is why you've been paying money for powerful consoles. It's these powerful bits of hardware in that machine that make it so expensive. Now in 2025, internet speeds are so fast that tech companies like Xbox can render the visuals far away on their own powerful machines – and then beam them back to you. You're basically streaming them like Netflix. All of this happens in a flash: it's so instantaneous, you feel like you're just playing a regular game on a console in your living room. But you don't need a console at all. And because it's Xbox sorting the visuals out on their powerful machines, the graphics can look incredible. HOW TO GET STARTED To play, you'll need a couple of things. First, you'll need a compatible TV device. Lots of modern Samsung and LG TVs support Xbox Cloud Gaming. But it's also available on Amazon Fire TV Sticks, which is what I'm using. That way, you can use it on basically on TV with an HDMI port. That's pretty much any telly bought in the last 20 years. I tried it with an Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max, but it'll also work with a Fire TV Stick 4K or Fire TV Cube. Then just download the Xbox Cloud Gaming app. You'll also need a joypad. You can use an official Xbox one, but loads of regular wired or Bluetooth controllers will also work. I used an Xbox joypad as I had one lying around. The only real blocker for this working for you is your internet connection. If you've got bad Wi-Fi, it's game over for you. Literally. Xbox recommends an internet download speed of 20Mbps. Millions of British homes can easily manage that. If you're not sure, go to or to check your speed. Then just sign into the app, activate your Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership, and away you go. IS IT ACTUALLY ANY GOOD? Xbox Cloud Gaming really is very impressive. It's absolutely packed with top games. Right now, some of the titles include: Fortnite Assassin's Creed Odyssey EA Sports FC 25 Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Far Cry 6 Forza Horizon 5 Grand Theft Auto 5 Halo Microsoft Flight Simulator Mortal Kombat 11 Sea of Thieves Spyro Reignited Trilogy Starfield But there are hundreds to choose from. 11 HAVE KIDS? TRY THESE TITLES Here are The Sun's tech editor Sean Keach's pick of the best Family Friendly options on Xbox Cloud Gaming... Overcooked! 2 This bonkers co-op game sees you running a busy kitchen trying to create dishes to order – in very challenging environments. It's colourful, engaging, and requires fast thinking. But the learning curve is gradual, so it's easy to get started. You won't want to put the controller down. New Super Lucky's Tale This bright and playful platformer sees you controlling adventurous fox Lucky as he explores a selection of strange and unknown worlds. It's classic gaming fun with a whimsical cast of characters. We Love Katamari REROLL+ Royal Reverie You'll love this 2023 remaster of the original 2005 action-puzzle game where you roll around as a tiny ball that collects objects to grow in size. It's mad, but relentlessly fun. Disney Dreamlight Valley This is a half-sim, half-adventure game set in the wonderful world of Disney. It's stuffed with iconic characters and places, so it's a must for any Disney-loving households. Picture Credit: Xbox Once you're set up, you can play pretty much straight away. I was into Halo: The Master Chief Collection, playing the iconic game series in seconds. This is one of Xbox's biggest franchises – a console staple. But my Xbox is nowhere to be seen. Then I hopped into Fortnite, straight into an online match. Despite the fact that I was "cloud" gaming, I was able to enjoy multiplayer without any serious lag. And when I loaded up Call of Duty, the graphics were basically indistinguishable from the regular console version. Hardly a surprise, given that the visuals are being rendered on serious computers far away from my living room. I've bought loads of consoles over the years. And sometimes, I just won't touch them for months. Life gets in the way. That means I've chucked a load of cash at a giant plastic brick that sits in the corner gathering dust. The beauty of Xbox Cloud Gaming is that this just doesn't happen. If you're bored with it, just cancel your membership. It's as easy as that. Then you can come back in four months or a year when there's something new that you want to play. And when you think about the quantity of games on offer here, it's hard to argue with the value for money. Also, this isn't just for TV. If you want to play these games on your iPhone or your laptop, it'll still work with the same subscription. You just need a joypad. The only real downside to all of this is that you need an internet connection. If your Wi-Fi is down, you won't be able to play. But other than that, your gameplay is effectively unlimited. If you don't want to invest in a console, this is your best option for top-tier gaming on a budget. A CHEAPER OPTION If you want to save even more money... There's an even cheaper option called Amazon Luna+. It works a lot like Xbox Cloud Gaming, but it has a smaller selection of games. Amazon says Luna+ offers more than 100 titles, whereas the Xbox Cloud Gaming library features more than 350 games. But Luna+ is significantly cheaper at £8.99 a month – that's only 30p a day. So if you're a hardcore gamer, you might still want Xbox Cloud Gaming for the bigger library (and the bonus perks that come with it). More games means you're less likely to get bored. But the best budget option is Luna+. It's hard to argue with £9 a month. You can get it on Fire TV devices, select Samsung and LG televisions, plus mobile devices via your web browser. Picture Credit: Amazon
