Microsoft today announced that it will launch its browser-based Xbox Cloud Gaming service in beta to selected beta testers on the iPhone and iPad on Tuesday.
As we shared at the end of last year, we’re bringing Xbox to more players on more devices via the cloud this year. 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. Offering cloud gaming through the browser and having a simplified, universal landing page presents a great opportunity to make cloud gaming approachable to more players in more places over time.
The limited beta is our time to test and learn; we’ll send out more invites on a continuous basis to players in all 22 supported countries, evaluate feedback, continue to improve the experience, and add support for more devices. Our plan is to iterate quickly and open up to all Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members in the coming months so more people have the opportunity to play Xbox in all-new ways.
While the game streaming service, formerly known as Project xCloud, was beta tested on iOS, the iOS launch was indefinitely postponed, as Apple App Store rules do not allow game streaming apps like Game Pass, as Apple believes that its inability to review each game in the service’s library is a potential security risk. Game Pass streaming would only be allowed if each game was available as its own app under Apple’s rules.
However, Microsoft came up with a browser-based workaround that would allow them to side-step the App Store.
The new browser-based cloud gaming platform will be available at xbox.com/play, and is compatible with Safari, Google Chrome, and Microsoft Edge. Microsoft plans to open the service up to all Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members in the coming months.
Microsoft’s games streaming service is a part of the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription for $14.99 per month.