Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Cloud Gaming Launches on Android Today in 22 Countries

Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass Ultimate cloud gaming initiative launches on Android devices today in 22 countries. Subscribers of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will have access to a diverse lineup of over 150 games to play via the cloud on Android smartphones and tablets.

What was one under the guise of Project xCloud, Microsoft’s cloud gaming has left its limited testing phase and been rolled into its highly valued Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription. Working off a model similar to Netflix, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate has a rotating and growing list of games to be played. This also includes all first-party Xbox Game Studios titles such as Gears 5, Tell Me Why, Battletoads, and Forza Horizon 4.

New subscribers can sign up to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for $1 for the first month and $16.99 per month after that. In order to begin streaming games via the cloud, players will have to download the Xbox Game Pass app through the Google Play Store or Samsung Galaxy Store. Additionally, a Bluetooth-enabled controller will be essential to play most titles.

Last week, Microsoft announced that EA Play (EA’s very own subscription service) would be rolled into Xbox Game Pass later this year as well for no additional costs. Once included, more than 60 EA published games including FIFA 20 and Titanfall 2 would be available. EA Play also grants limited trials of 10 hours for new games such as Madden NFL 21. This perk is expected to continue as it is incorporated into Xbox Game Pass.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate’s cloud gaming is now available in Canada, the US, UK, Germany, France, Korea, and many more countries. A full list can be found here.

Unfortunately, Microsoft’s cloud gaming will not be available on iOS devices. Project xCloud was unable to make it out of its testing phase on iOS due to App Store guidelines. Since then, Microsoft has been vocal of how Apple’s guidelines targets game streaming services and how it’s “a bad experience for customers”.

While the dispute between Microsoft and Apple is ongoing, for the time being, game streaming will live on and grow on the Android ecosystem.

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