Oliver Haslam on February 16, 2021, 10:16 pm

Microsoft xCloud Game Streaming In Web Browser Launching For iPhone And iPad Soon

Microsoft is now testing its xCloud game streaming service in a web browser, according to a new report. That testing is the next step in making the service available on both iPhones and iPads.

According to unnamed source speaking with The Verge, Microsoft is testing the service internally right now ahead of making it available as part of a public preview.

Microsoft hopes to make that happen this spring, although that timescale could well change in the future.

According to the same report, the web-based version of xCloud functions the same as the app-based one. That would suggest that the version of xCloud we get on iPhone and iPad will be just as good as those platforms that have apps.

Much like how xCloud currently works on Android tablets and phones, the web version includes a simple launcher with recommendations for games, the ability to resume recently played titles, and access to all the cloud games available through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Once you launch a game it will run fullscreen, and you’ll need a controller to play Xbox games streamed through the browser.

Microsoft’s xCloud has to go the web-based route for iPhone and iPad to allow it to exist. Microsoft has said that bringing the service to the App Store would be too difficult based on Apple’s requirements.