Xbox Game Streaming Android
After a few months in testing, Microsoft officially launched “Project xCloud” this week as part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. The cloud streaming service is live now on most Android devices, but Microsoft has confirmed that Xbox Game Pass won’t arrive on Android TV anytime soon.
In a tweet regarding this week’s launch, Microsoft throws another shot at Apple and its restrictions over cloud gaming services but also clarifies exactly how it supports Android.
Microsoft says Xbox Game Pass won’t support devices that run “modified, alternate, or emulated” versions of Android. That immediately rules out forked versions of Android such as Amazon’s Fire OS on Kindle tablets, but it also means Android TV is left out. Microsoft calls out Google’s platform by name, alongside Chrome OS and a somewhat hilarious mention of Android Auto.
Also of note, Microsoft mentions that BlueStacks, an Android emulator for computers, won’t support Game Pass. Interestingly, Microsoft also says OxygenOS, OnePlus’ skin over Android, won’t be supported. That’s more than likely an erroneous inclusion since other skins such as Samsung’s OneUI aren’t mentioned.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will gain access to over 150 games, with some exciting (and surprising) titles. The full list includes 172 curated games from the likes of Thunder Lotus Games. The cloud streaming service is live now on most Android devices, but Microsoft has confirmed that Xbox Game Pass won’t arrive on Android TV anytime soon. In a tweet regarding this week’s launch. Play games from your console straight to your phone or tablet over the internet with Xbox remote play. Play your Xbox games on phone and tablet Play games installed on your Xbox console, including Xbox Game Pass titles, to any compatible Android or iOS device – no waiting for downloads.
It’s unclear if Microsoft has any plans to bring Xbox Game Pass to Android TV in the future, but Google’s platform also technically lacks support for the company’s own Stadia. That’s slowly being fixed, but there are no signs Xbox Game Pass is getting the same treatment. It’s worth noting, too, that Microsoft hasn’t revealed any plans whatsoever to bring Xbox Game Pass cloud streaming to television.
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Xbox Game Streaming Android App
One of the clear advantages of game streaming is that it does the bulk of the processing in the cloud, meaning that it removes a lot of the bottlenecks involved when it comes to hardware limitations. It also opens up the possibility of being able to play games on devices that it might not necessarily have been intended for.
A perfect example of this would be Microsoft’s Project xCloud which is a game streaming service that has since officially been launched, and if playing Xbox games on your Android smartphone sounds like something you might be interested in, here’s everything you need to know on how to start.
How to play Xbox games on Android
- Sign up for an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription. It is priced at $14.99 a month and it is currently the only Xbox Game Pass tier that will let you stream Android games on your Android smartphone.
- Pair your Xbox controller or any compatible game controller of your choice with your smartphone (check out our guide here if you’re unsure how)
- Download and install the Xbox Game Pass app from the Google Play Store
- Launch the app and sign into your Microsoft account
- Tap on the Cloud tab at the top of the app
- You’ll be able to see a list of games available, tap “Play” under the game that you want to play and you’re good to go
Do take note that you will need to have an Android device that is running Android 6.0 Marshmallow or later, and your device will also need to have Bluetooth 4.0 or newer. As for internet connectivity, obviously connecting to WiFi would be ideal, but if you’re on the go, you should have at least 10Mbps of download speeds in order to have a good experience. Anything less and you could run into issues.
Keep in mind you can also connect an Xbox controlled to your Android smartphone for a more immersive gaming experience. If you don’t already have one, our recommended picks are below.
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Xbox Game Streaming Android
- Experience the modernized design of the Xbox Wireless Controller – Shock Blue, featuring sculpted surfaces and refined geometry for enhanced comfort and effortless control during gameplay.
- Stay on target with textured grip on the triggers, bumpers, and back case and with a new hybrid D-pad for accurate, yet familiar input.
- Make the controller your own by customizing button mapping with the Xbox Accessories app.*
Xbox Game Streaming Android Games
- Experience the modernized design of the Xbox Wireless Controller – Carbon Black, featuring sculpted surfaces and refined geometry for enhanced comfort and effortless control during gameplay.
- Stay on target with textured grip on the triggers, bumpers, and back case and with a new hybrid D-pad for accurate, yet familiar input.
- Make the controller your own by customizing button mapping with the Xbox Accessories app.*