Microsoft will launch its game streaming service, known as Project xCloud , on September 15 exclusively on Android devices .
Project xCloud will be integrated into the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription , which costs $14.99 per month, and promises more than 100 games available on Android tablets and phones. iPhone and iPad users will have to wait, as Microsoft's game streaming service will initially only be available for Android users.
“Our ambition is to scale cloud gaming through Xbox Game Pass available across devices, but we have nothing else to share at this time regarding iOS,” a Microsoft spokesperson said in a statement to The Verge.
The lack of iOS support at launch will be disappointing for iPhone and iPad owners, but it doesn't come as a huge surprise. While Microsoft is testing xCloud on iOS, the company previously revealed that its testing was limited due to Apple App Store policies.
Microsoft hasn't revealed what Apple policies are preventing the service from launching on iOS, but Google 's Stadia service also isn't available on iPhone or iPad. Valve 's Steam Link app took nearly a year to get Apple's approval, even though it primarily streams games from your PC.
Microsoft is now moving forward with the launch of its xCloud service on September 15, although it appears the company is referring to it as the “cloud gaming” feature of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. It will launch in 22 countries next month, specifically: 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, with more coming soon.
Cloud gaming, or xCloud, will also launch as a beta while Microsoft works to scale the game streaming service to the millions of users it expects to use it. The company will end the free xCloud preview on September 11th and plans to release an updated Xbox Game Pass app with game streaming on September 15th.
Microsoft is also working with Razer, PowerA, 8BitDo , and Nacon to create accessories and controllers for xCloud. You'll also be able to use your existing Xbox One controllers or even Sony's DualShock 4 controllers to play. Microsoft doesn't detail all the games that will be available, but it does provide a list of 36 titles that are coming:
- Ark: Survival Evolved
- Bleeding Edge
- Costume Quest 2
- Crackdown 3 (campaign)
- Destiny 2
- F1 2019
- Forza Horizon 4
- Gears of War: Ultimate Edition
- Gears of War 4
- Gears 5 Ultimate Edition
- Grounded
- Halo 5: Guardians
- Halo Wars: Definitive Edition
- Halo Wars 2
- Halo: The Master Chief Collection
- Halo: Spartan Assault
- Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice
- Killer Instinct Definitive Edition
- Max: The Curse of Brotherhood
- Minecraft Dungeons
- The Outer Worlds
- Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition
- Ori and the Will of the Wisps
- Quantum Break
- ReCore: Definitive Edition
- Ryse: Son of Rome
- Sea of Thieves: Anniversary Edition
- State of Decay 2: Juggernaut Edition
- Sunset Overdrive
- Super Lucky's Tale
- Tell Me Why
- The Bard's Tale Trilogy
- Wasteland 2: Director's Cut
- Wasteland 3
- Wasteland Remastered
- Yakuza Kiwami 2
