Microsoft’s xCloud or the cloud-based game-streaming service has been available on Xbox consoles and Android devices until now, but Microsoft is expanding this plan and somewhere around spring 2021, this service will be available across Apple’s iOS devices as well as Windows PCs too.
The main plan behind this expansion is to provide Microsoft game subscription services for all the people who love to indulge in a variety of games even if they do not own an Xbox console. That is why Microsoft is making this cloud-based game-streaming service a part of the ‘Xbox Game Pass Ultimate’ subscription plan. It is a game service that includes the benefits of Xbox Live Gold. It is compatible with all Xbox series X/S, Xbox One, Android devices, and Windows 10. The players can access more than 100 PC and Console games. Besides this, Microsoft keeps adding new game titles all the time. So, there is a lot of variety of games for users with exclusive member deals and amazing discounts.
The subscription costs around £10.99 per month, almost equal to $14.53.
So, through this move, Microsoft is trying to project Xbox and its gaming benefits to newer gamers. Also, this is going to widen the chances for game developers to reach out and present their games to more than three billion gamers all around the globe. Basically, it is a win-win situation for both the gamers as well as the game developers to connect through this cloud-based gaming service across a variety of devices and operating systems. It will provide the Xbox users the feasibility to log in from anywhere and experience the Xbox adventures from wherever they are, using any kind of device.
Microsoft’s Tussle with Apple
It is not that Microsoft did not try to expand its cloud gaming services to Apple before. It did try to bring this service across iOS devices too, but Apple said that it wanted Microsoft to submit each game from the Xbox Game Pass Unlimited separately to the App Store rather than jumbling up all the games in one app. Now, this probably meant that Microsoft would pay the 30% cut on each game separately. Even if this was not the intent, it still was not at all an ideal situation besides being extremely unfeasible for Microsoft. So, both the companies ended up in a feud over this issue, with Microsoft vowing to come back after finding an alternate pathway to bypass App Store completely and still make the service available on iOS devices.
Microsoft has found a way that it had promised for the iOS users.
The alternate pathway that Microsoft was looking for to avoid App Store and Apple’s restrictions and yet make the cloud gaming service available for iOS users is quite simple. Microsoft is providing a web browser through which iOS users can access the service without any hassle from the App Store.
This is the same pattern that another streaming service, GeForce Now has also adopted for its iOS users too. And Amazon is also planning to bring its upcoming Luna to iOS through the same technique.
This gives hope to Fortnite players after its ban from the App Store because of a feud over service and in-game payment issues between Epic Games and Apple.
On personal computers, this cloud gaming service will be available through browser-based streaming along with a version that is compatible with the Windows Xbox app.
User Engagement Has Doubled
Microsoft’s strategy to expand its cloud game streaming service by making it a part of the Xbox Game Pass system has proved to be perfect. The user engagement has doubled up since last year, and this year-over-year growth is quite reassuring that the company is heading in the right direction. Also, Microsoft is expanding its game streaming services to other countries including Mexico, Japan, Australia, and Brazil.
I’m Ava Paul, an experienced news website author with a special focus on the entertainment section. Over the past five years, I have worked in various positions of media and communication at World Stock Market. My experience has given me extensive knowledge in writing, editing, researching and reporting on stories related to the entertainment industry.
