The launch of Project xCloud, the long-awaited deployment of cloud gaming for Xbox, is here. Ports for various Xbox titles will be fully playable on mobile devices when the service launches tomorrow. Project xCloud, or more accurately Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for Android, will be playable on Android devices sporting Android 6.0 Marshmallow or later, and those that have Bluetooth 4.0 or greater.
The number of games supported at launch for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on Android is kind of slim to some, but has some nice variety. The full listing can be seen over on the Xbox website. For starters, we’re getting titles such as Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Yakuza 0, Yakuza Kiwami and Yakuza Kiwami 2, Untitled Goose Game and many, many more.
Games on the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for Android launch will have both optimized controls for touchscreens, as well as support for controllers to be plugged into phones via USB and Bluetooth.
You can use any controllers that can support Bluetooth, or any that can connect via USB-C. There are ranges of xCloud ready controllers like PowerA’s MOGA XP5-X, the 8Bitdo SN30 Pro for Xbox, or Razer’s Kishi for Xbox, each of which includes a clip or other spot for your phone.
As for technical requirements, it’s recommended to run the games via a 5G network with 10 Mbps speed as a baseline. WiFi speeds should be similar if not better for optimal experiences.
The service has been in beta for some time, and responses seemed pretty good, with no major backlash like the flubbed launch of Google Stadia. It works very simply. To join in, start by downloading the Xbox Game Pass app on the Google Play Store or the Samsung Galaxy store. From there you can play the games library with cross-platform play with consoles, phones and PC on many titles.
There have been more plans revealed for the platform of Xbox Game Pass too. The launches planned for the wider platform include Company of Heroes 2 on September 17 for PC, Destiny 2 Shadowkeep and Forsaken on September 22 on Android and Console, Halo 3: ODST on PC and Android on September 22, Night in the Woods on Android, Console and PC and Warhammer: Vermintide 2 on Android and Console on September 24. In total there will be 100+ games on the service.
There will be more “waves” beyond this as well, as this is the second wave for September 2020, and it’s very likely that Microsoft will look into getting more games onto Game Pass in the coming months. Especially around the holiday season we should expect more news on that front.
If you want to see how it all works, check out the trailer released showing off Minecraft Dungeons below.
