XCloud


xCloud is the working title of Microsoft's Xbox cloud gaming service. Released in beta testing in November 2019, it expected to launch in September 2020.

Development

Microsoft teased the service at E3 2018 and formally announced Project xCloud several months later, in October 2018. They demonstrated the service in March 2019 with the racing game Forza Horizon 4 playing on an Android smartphone with an Xbox One controller. Xbox head Phil Spencer used a private server during this time to test games on a remote connection. The service entered its home testing phase in May 2019, when it could be used outside the lab environment. It is slated for public testing later in the year and an unveiling at E3 2019.
xCloud runs via Microsoft's 54 Azure cloud computing centers, hosted in 140 countries. The service is designed to work with phones, either with touchscreen controls or Xbox controller over Bluetooth. Microsoft said that its Xbox content library will make its service more appealing than competitors such as Stadia. The hardware at launch was based Xbox One S blade servers, but it is expected to transition to Xbox Series X servers by 2021; the Xbox Series X's backward compatibility will allow xCloud to retain the existing library of Xbox games while adding new games from the Xbox Series X.
Trials of the service began in October 2019, and as of November 2019, the service hosts 50 games, with support in testing for Apple Inc.'s iOS mobile devices, and for Sony Interactive Entertainment's DualShock controllers.
On February 12, 2020, Project xCloud launched on Apple’s mobile operating system.
On May 5, 2020, Project xCloud comes to Spain in preview.
Microsoft announced that XCloud will be released in September 2020. Additionally, the XCloud service will be added free to the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription at the same time.