At last, iPhones and iPads will be able to play Xbox games via a web browser

Microsoft promised late last year that its cloud-based game streaming service – previously known as Project xCloud – will make its way to iPhones and iPads via a web browser in Spring season. In case you’re unfamiliar, Apple initially blocked services such as xCloud and Google’s Stadia from being listed on the App Store for policy violation, as Apple wanted to review each game offered by these subscription-based services individually, which was not deemed acceptable by Microsoft. True to its word, the software giant has now announced that it will start sending beta testing invites for its cloud-based game streaming service to select iPhone and iPad users starting tomorrow.

Chrome, Edge, and Safari will help you access over 100 Xbox titles

Of course, you’ll need an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription to enjoy games on your iPhone and iPad once you get the invite. But do keep in mind that this is not a wide rollout. Instead, the Xbox team is taking a cautious approach here and is sending out invites to players in all 22 supported regions in a phased manner as a beta, ensuring that bugs can be taken care of and performance tuning can be done.

Those who have been invited to try out the cloud-based game streaming service on their iPhone and iPad can visit the xbox.com/play to enjoy over 100 Xbox games on their Apple phone or tablet. Additionally, you can pick between a compatible controller (wired or Bluetooth) and touch-screen controls that are now available for over 50 games. As for the browser that you choose to enjoy games, you can pick between Edge, Google, Chrome, and Safari.

Microsoft's game streaming service is ready for Windows 10 PCs too via a browser

In addition to iPhones and iPads, Microsoft is also extending its cloud-based game streaming service to Windows 10 PCs. What this means is even if you don’t have a fire-breathing gaming PC, you will still be able to have a smooth experience of playing games on your business laptop without having to worry about your machine choking. That is because Microsoft is offloading all graphics processing duties to server blades that employ Xbox hardware, which means all you need is a Windows 10 machine and a stable internet connection to tear through some monsters in Doom Eternal.

View Xbox Game Pass UIltimate membership at Best Buy
View iPhone 12 Pro at Amazon
View iPad Pro at Amazon

The post At last, iPhones and iPads will be able to play Xbox games via a web browser appeared first on Pocketnow.

Apple says cloud gaming services like Stadia and xCloud violate App Store policies

Microsoft’s xCloud game streaming service arrives on September 15, but merely weeks before its debut, Microsoft halted its testing on the iOS platform. On a similar note, Google’s Stadia service is also yet to make its way to an iPhone or iPad. While there have been rumors galore, Apple has finally given a concrete reason for their absence from its ecosystem – these services violate the App Store policies.

Apple says all App Store submissions are reviewed against a uniform set of guidelines to protect consumers and provide a level playing field for developers. However, Microsoft has reportedly not submitted each game that is available with xCloud for review before Apple, which is why the app that allows users to play these games over the cloud has been blocked from publishing on the App Store.

“Our customers enjoy great apps and games from millions of developers, and gaming services can absolutely launch on the App Store as long as they follow the same set of guidelines applicable to all developers, including submitting games individually for review, and appearing in charts and search,” an Apple spokesperson was quoted as saying by Business Insider.

The post Apple says cloud gaming services like Stadia and xCloud violate App Store policies appeared first on Pocketnow.

Microsoft’s xCloud game streaming service will be free with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

Microsoft has today announced that its Project xCloud game streaming service will be offered as a free addition to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members. In an official blog post, Xbox division head Phil Spencer revealed that xCloud will arrive at no additional cost for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers in September.

What this means is all titles that are available in the Xbox Game Pass library will be playable on your smartphone and tablet as well. Plus, you will also be able to join in on the fun with millions of other gamers with multiplayer mode support irrespective of the machine you are playing on, provided the title supports cross-platform gaming.

In case you’re not aware, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the company’s subscription-based service that provides access to over 100 games that you can play on both your console as well as PC, alongside perks such as free games every month and multiplayer capability. Right now, you can purchase an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription for $14.99 in the US.

Source: Xbox

The post Microsoft’s xCloud game streaming service will be free with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate appeared first on Pocketnow.