Xbox cloud streaming expands beyond Game Pass to games you own
Microsoft is starting to open up Xbox Cloud Gaming to existing Xbox game libraries today. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can now stream 50 games that they already own, including Balatro, Baldur’s Gate 3, a variety of Final Fantasy titles, and Hogwarts Legacy.
The expansion to 50 more games is just the beginning of opening up the Xbox game library to cloud streaming. “Our library of cloud-playable titles will continue to grow, as we work with our partners around the world to bring you a diverse and expansive selection of great games across devices,” says Ashley McKissick, corporate vice president of Xbox Experiences and platforms engineering.
The 50 additional games will be available through TVs, smartphones, tablets, and PCs through a web browser. Microsoft is also planning to bring Xbox library streaming to Xbox consoles and the Xbox app on Windows next year.
This expansion is part of a long-running project known as Project Lapland inside of Microsoft. I revealed last month that Microsoft was planning to start letting Xbox Insiders get access to more games on Xbox Cloud Gaming in November, and this test is the start of eventually expanding this to thousands of Xbox games to cover entire libraries.
The original Project xCloud was supposed to launch with game library streaming in 2020, but it never did, and Microsoft then announced it would support game libraries on Xbox Cloud Gaming in 2022. That never happened either, and I reported last month that the work to make this a reality has been complicated. Microsoft has to ready thousands of games on its custom Xbox cloud servers while balancing save files, game updates, and much more.
While thousands of games will eventually be available through Xbox Cloud Gaming, I’m told some publishers will hold certain games back due to licensing requirements or deals.
Microsoft was also planning to enable game purchases in its Xbox mobile app for Android in the US in November, thanks to a court ruling last month that forces Google to stop requiring Google Play Billing for apps in the Play Store. Google won a temporary administrative stay on this ruling late last month, so it’s no longer clear when Microsoft will be able to enable game purchases in its Xbox mobile app on Android.
Microsoft is starting to open up Xbox Cloud Gaming to existing Xbox game libraries today. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can now stream 50 games that they already own, including Balatro, Baldur’s Gate 3, a variety of Final Fantasy titles, and Hogwarts Legacy. The expansion to 50 more games is…
Recent Posts
- You don’t need to spend a fortune on good audio — these 20 headphones under AU$100 have hundreds of 5-star user reviews
- Nintendo confirms it will sell a new Switch 2 with replaceable battery in the EU
- Apple begins requiring age verification for App Store use in Texas
- The co-creator of Scavengers Reign is working on a new show for Netflix
- Apple is bringing age verification to Texas this week
Archives
- June 2026
- May 2026
- April 2026
- March 2026
- February 2026
- January 2026
- December 2025
- November 2025
- October 2025
- September 2025
- August 2025
- July 2025
- June 2025
- May 2025
- April 2025
- March 2025
- February 2025
- January 2025
- December 2024
- November 2024
- October 2024
- September 2024
- August 2024
- July 2024
- June 2024
- May 2024
- April 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- January 2024
- December 2023
- November 2023
- October 2023
- September 2023
- August 2023
- July 2023
- June 2023