I’m sure you heard of Microsoft Project xCloud and wondered what it was? There was a lot of different information about there but I’ve looked into myself and wanted to make it as easy as possible for you and me to understand.
Project xCloud is Microsoft’s competition to Google Stadia, it is a cloud subscription gaming service that allows you to stream 50 + Xbox One games using an Xbox controller on your PC, tablet. or Phone. It launched in Beta in 2020
Project xCloud is Microsoft’s first step into the world of cloud gaming and it is looking at fantastic value for money, all the prices and features of the software will be discussed below.
Check out this comment straight from Xbox’s official website about the amazing lineup for this streaming service
With Project xCloud (Preview) players can play over 50 Xbox games on their mobile phone or tablet directly from the cloud with the Project xCloud (Preview), including favourites such as Devil May Cry 5, Tekken 7, Gears 5, Forza Horizon 4, and many more — no waiting for downloads.
Xbox official website
Check out the official launch of Project xCloud from the official Xbox youtube account.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKlfuTFN1Fc
So What Is Project xCloud?
Project xCloud is the words of the head of the corporate vice president of Project xCloud Kareem Choudry “takes the power of Xbox and everything that comes with it straight into your phone or tablet“.
Now this includes
- saved games
- achievements
- Your Xbox friends and social network
- your gaming progression( e.g like Call Of Duty ranks)
By itself that is a fantastic achievement as you literally will have an Xbox and the entire ecosystem in the cloud and you know what the best part is? You don’t need an XBOX to quality for Project xCloud! That’s insane right! The over 50 game collection that contains some fantastic titles like Tekken 7 and Gears 5 are all available instantly in the cloud no downloads are needed for any of the titles.
Downloads can often take a long time certain games like Red Dead Redemption 2 will take around 90 minutes to download so the ability to login and stream such a large collection of AAA titles instantly is a huge plus for Project xCloud.
How Much Is Project xCloud
Microsoft has been quiet around the price as no details on price have been released and whether the subscription will be related to current Xbox Live subscriptions or is another service entirely. Possibly it might be included on the Xbox game pass ultimate which is a subscription that includes everything in Xbox live gold with an additional 100 plus high-quality PC and console games. Check out the game pass straight from Microsoft here.
If Project xCloud was included in the pass it would make it FANTASTIC value.
Project xCloud Release Date
There has been no official release date for Project xCloud but Microsoft has been hosting a preview/beta program since October 2019 and I would bet Project xCloud will be released sometime in 2020 as Microsoft doesn’t have any bugs at launch and can use the preview period to get real-life user feedback on one beta testers like and don’t like, so Microsoft can implement this feedback further in the project.
This is in direct contrast to Google’s own gaming streaming platform Google Arcadia that has been met with issues at launch including poor gaming selection and connection issues. Project xCloud is a direct response to Google’s streaming service but the former obviously has a lot of experience in the gaming industry something that Google simply lacks, and knows what gamers want. The simple answer?
Games. Duh.
Project xCloud Preview How To Sign Up Guide
Signing up for Project xCloud is completely free but be very wary you don’t exceed your data limits as data penalties are very expensive and you don’t need an Xbox to participate. However, there are some entry requirements you must have.
Project xCloud Beta Minimum Requirement
- Phone/tablet must run Android 6.0 or higher and have Bluetooth 4.0
- You need a free Microsoft Account
- Bluetooth enabled Xbox One Wireless Controller
- 5GHz Wi-Fi or mobile data connection 10Mbps down
- Xbox Game Streaming App (Preview)
Project xCloud will be available via the Microsoft game streaming app that is currently available on the android play store. Any mobile/cell phone service in the US and UK works with Project xCloud and other countries.
T-mobile was chosen by Microsoft to be it’s official U.S technical partner which you can read more about in the official post from T-mobile. Having a global powerhouse in T-mobile showcases Microsoft is taking digital streaming seriously and you really need to fear for Google stadia and how it can compete with a gaming giant who actually knows what it’s doing and has experience in the tough industry.
Project xCloud Preview Application Process
- Create a Microsoft account for free or login to your existing. You need one to participate so click here to create a free Microsoft account
- Apply for Project xCloud beta stage and Microsoft will begin a technical preview and see if you’re accepted into the program then you will be sending emails informing you of the next steps. You might have to wait a few months for a response
Microsoft in the initial test only has a limited number of participants due to server bandwidth so they will admit new players spread throughout the year to get as much data as possible and I believe improve the Project xCloud program as newer product testers come through.
3. Install the Xbox Game Streaming(Preview App) and go to the Project xCloud part of the application and login with the same account you used to register for the preview
4. Follow the steps in the app and pair your Xbox Wireless controller with your Bluetooth in your mobile device/tablet or computer. You can choose to clip the controller onto your phone as shown in the photo above
5. Select from over 50 titles in the library and start enjoying them on your mobile device or tablet. Microsoft wants you to provide feedback which is why the preview was done in the first place, so be helpful and provide feedback on the official Reddit forum here.
What Games Are Included In Project xCloud?
The following games are included all for free in Project xCloud most notably are the AAA games Gears 5, Halo 5: Guardians Tekken 7 Devil May Cry 5 and many many more.
Check this video out that explains 17 of the game in detail so you can get a better look into titles you must not have heard of, but catch your eye in the video
| ARK: Survival Evolved Absolver Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown Battle Chasers: Nightwar Black Desert Online Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Borderlands 2 Borderlands: The Handsome Collection Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Conan Exiles Crackdown 3: Campaign Darksiders III Dead Island: Definitive Edition Devil May Cry 5 F1 2019 Forza Horizon 4 Gears 5 Gears of War: Ultimate Edition Halo 5: Guardians Halo Wars 2 Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice Hello Neighbor HITMAN Just Cause 4 Killer Instinct Madden NFL 20 Mark of the Ninja: Remastered Mutant Year Zero: Road to Ede Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition Overcooked Puyo Puyo Champions RAD ReCore: Definitive Edition SOULCALIBUR VI Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition Sniper Elite 4 Sea of Thieves State of Decay 2 Subnautica Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition Tekken 7 TERA The Bard’s Tale IV: Director’s Cut theHunter: Call of the Wild Vampyr Warhammer: Vermintide 2 West of Dead (BETA) World of Final Fantasy Maxima World of Tanks: Mercenaries World of Warships: Legends World War Z WRC 7 FIA World Rally Championship WWE 2K20 Yoku’s Island Express |
Will Project xCloud Have Any Exclusives?
Nothing is concrete yet but corporate vice president of Project xCloud Kareem Choudry has hinted at the possibility of Project xCloud exclusives but stressed that exclusives will not be available any time soon as they are focusing on making xCloud run as well as possible during launch when honestly makes perfect sense-making that streaming is a priority as it’ basically a gaming version of Netflix so streaming is everything.
He’s also revealed Xbox is in talks with third and first-party developers for xCloud exclusives
“In terms of [Project xCloud] exclusives, we’re in early talks with first- and third- parties, but we don’t have any announcements to share. New content and IP takes eighteen months to two years [to develop].”
Kareem Choudry vice president of Project xCloud
So definitely expect exclusives but not for around 18 months in the future when Microsoft has made changes to the platform to make it stream games as well as possible, so the exclusives game can be played to there absolute potential.
