Xbox Cloud Gaming Feature: Phil Spencer Announces Its Imminent Arrival in 2024

Keeping their promise with an exciting update for gamers globally, Phil Spencer of Microsoft has announced that a highly anticipated Xbox Cloud Gaming feature, promised half a decade ago, is now set to arrive for Xbox Cloud Gaming devotees. The long-awaited capability to stream individual game collections is scheduled to launch in 2024, representing a notable achievement for the platform.

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About the Xbox Cloud Gaming

Xbox Cloud Gaming, previously known as Project xCloud, is a cloud gaming service offered by Microsoft’s Xbox division. It allows players to stream and play Xbox games on various devices, including smartphones, tablets, and PCs, without the need for high-end gaming hardware. Through Xbox Cloud Gaming, subscribers can access a library of Xbox Game Pass titles and play them remotely over an internet connection, enabling gaming on the go or on devices that wouldn’t typically support gaming. This service utilises Microsoft’s Azure cloud infrastructure to deliver high-quality gaming experiences with low latency and responsive controls.

Keeping the Said Promise

🚨 BREAKING NEWS 🚨

As our very own @lGarrettAtkinsl has speculated in the past, the man, the myth, the legend himself, Phil Spencer has confirmed to a fellow Xbox gamer via Xbox DMs that we should be able to play ALL of our Owned Games in My Games & Apps via Cloud Gaming (Beta)… pic.twitter.com/Pl1f9rVVQm

— Game Pass Tracker (@gamepasstracker) February 18, 2024

The anticipation for this Xbox Cloud Gaming feature traces back to November 2019, during the X019 event in London, which occurred shortly after Project xCloud initiated public beta testing in the U.S., U.K., and South Korea. At the event, Microsoft revealed plans for users to stream both Game Pass titles and “Xbox games that they already own or will purchase” starting in 2020. However, the subsequent year saw the company solely roll out xCloud for the Game Pass library, with later expansion to include Fortnite, possibly influenced by the onset of the global pandemic or other factors.

The New Xbox Cloud Gaming Feature Coming in 2024

As for now, Microsoft are still maintaining their silence regarding this feature. However, unofficially, a recent interaction in an Xbox chat between Phil Spencer and a curious fan unveiled that the capability to stream purchased games is expected to debut “Sometime in 2024”. Although Spencer did not provide further details on this matter, it is presumed that accessing one’s personal library through Xbox Cloud Gaming will likely necessitate an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription.

Phil Spencer says that Owned Games will be playable on Xbox Cloud Gaming this year 👀

He answered the question through Xbox Chat

Via @jhe007 pic.twitter.com/EoXi4Pvf1N

— Esportscenter (@_esportscenter) February 18, 2024

Also Read: Microsoft Ponders Empowering Expansion, Considering Xbox-Exclusive Games for PlayStation 5 Integration

The Challenges Faced

While the global pandemic may have contributed to the delay in implementing this sought-after feature into the service, it’s evident that it isn’t the sole reason for its four-year postponement. The extensive regulatory scrutiny faced by Microsoft’s cloud gaming aspirations, particularly following the early 2022 agreement to acquire Activision Blizzard, likely played a more significant role in the company’s cautious approach within this domain.

Microsoft faced additional hurdles beyond technical ones before enabling users to stream their personal game libraries. Contrary to popular belief, such offerings entail significant legal groundwork in the form of licencing agreements with third-party publishers. This is also the reason why platforms like GeForce Now continuously add new games on a monthly basis, as they secure new agreements, rather than simply allowing users to stream their existing libraries.

Xbox Cloud Gaming Release Date: Rough Prediction

The Official Xbox Podcast episode on February 15, which centred on Microsoft’s upcoming gaming strategy, presented an ideal opportunity for the company to unveil this highly anticipated streaming service feature. However, as company executives made no mention of it, it seems likely that the ability to stream personal games via Xbox Cloud Gaming may not be available for several more months.

Also Read: Leaked Release Date for New Xbox Controller

A Short Say

As gamers eagerly anticipate the realisation of this long-awaited feature, Spencer’s announcement serves as a promising sign of the continued advancements in cloud gaming technology. The imminent arrival of Xbox Cloud Gaming signals a future where accessing beloved titles via the cloud is not just a distant hope, but an imminent reality on the horizon.

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