In 2020, Microsoft launched Xbox Cloud Gaming and allowed players to stream games from their Xbox Game Pass library. But not all games are available on Game Pass, which limits the games that can be accessed. Now Microsoft is reportedly planning to expand its streaming service to include games that are not part of Xbox Game Pass, as long as they belong to the player.
According to a report by The Verge, Microsoft plans to start testing this new option with Xbox Insiders on the Xbox Cloud Game Server as soon as next month. The report points out that Microsoft has been achieving this goal for some time by upgrading Xbox cloud gaming capabilities to handle thousands of games. But the company has to make sure these expanded features can withstand the pressure before rolling them out to Game Pass subscribers.
Earlier this week, Xbox confirmed that starting in November, players will be able to purchase or play Xbox games on the Xbox app on Android. Once the new streaming option becomes available, content purchased on Android will be immediately available for streaming, regardless of the device players are using. As part of Epic Games’ victory in its lawsuit against Google, Microsoft will be able to avoid Google Play and avoid giving the company a cut of sales.
In addition, Microsoft still plans to build its own Xbox mobile store application. The focus will initially be on offers and in-game items, before eventually including Microsoft’s first-party games. However, the new Xbox Mobile Store isn’t ready to launch yet.
