Microsoft is gearing up to roll out streaming for Xbox game libraries next month. Sources close to the company have informed The Verge that Microsoft is preparing to test the streaming of games outside the current Xbox Game Pass lineup, allowing players to stream titles they already own.
This move is part of a larger initiative within Microsoft, known internally as Project Lapland. The company has been working on upgrading its Xbox Cloud Gaming servers to handle the streaming of thousands of games. Testing will begin with Xbox Insiders in November, with plans to gradually extend the service to more Xbox users and additional games.
The expansion of Xbox Cloud Gaming coincides with Microsoft’s plans to allow game purchases via its Xbox mobile app for Android users in the U.S., set to roll out in the same month. A recent court ruling now prevents Google from enforcing Google Play Billing on apps in the Play Store starting November 1st, clearing the path for Microsoft to enable these purchases.
Xbox president Sarah Bond recently announced that “starting in November, players will be able to both play and buy Xbox games directly from the Xbox App on Android.” Once Xbox Cloud Gaming fully supports the entire game library, users will be able to purchase an Xbox game on their Android device and stream it immediately.
While the ability to stream game libraries was originally set to debut with Project xCloud in 2020, Microsoft postponed the feature. In 2022, the company announced plans to integrate game library streaming into Xbox Cloud Gaming, but the release was delayed. The complexity of preparing the infrastructure to support thousands of games, rather than just the hundreds currently available on Xbox Game Pass, contributed to the delay. Additionally, some games may not be available for streaming due to licensing agreements or publisher restrictions.
Microsoft is also developing a browser-based mobile store for Xbox, initially slated for release in July. This store will feature deals and in-game items at first, with first-party games expected to be added later. Testing on the web-based store began in August, and Microsoft has promised more updates as progress continues.
Source: Xbox Cloud Gaming will let you stream your own games in November
This move is part of a larger initiative within Microsoft, known internally as Project Lapland. The company has been working on upgrading its Xbox Cloud Gaming servers to handle the streaming of thousands of games. Testing will begin with Xbox Insiders in November, with plans to gradually extend the service to more Xbox users and additional games.
The expansion of Xbox Cloud Gaming coincides with Microsoft’s plans to allow game purchases via its Xbox mobile app for Android users in the U.S., set to roll out in the same month. A recent court ruling now prevents Google from enforcing Google Play Billing on apps in the Play Store starting November 1st, clearing the path for Microsoft to enable these purchases.
Xbox president Sarah Bond recently announced that “starting in November, players will be able to both play and buy Xbox games directly from the Xbox App on Android.” Once Xbox Cloud Gaming fully supports the entire game library, users will be able to purchase an Xbox game on their Android device and stream it immediately.
While the ability to stream game libraries was originally set to debut with Project xCloud in 2020, Microsoft postponed the feature. In 2022, the company announced plans to integrate game library streaming into Xbox Cloud Gaming, but the release was delayed. The complexity of preparing the infrastructure to support thousands of games, rather than just the hundreds currently available on Xbox Game Pass, contributed to the delay. Additionally, some games may not be available for streaming due to licensing agreements or publisher restrictions.
Microsoft is also developing a browser-based mobile store for Xbox, initially slated for release in July. This store will feature deals and in-game items at first, with first-party games expected to be added later. Testing on the web-based store began in August, and Microsoft has promised more updates as progress continues.
Source: Xbox Cloud Gaming will let you stream your own games in November
