How to Get Started with Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming on the PC

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As the competition for gamer time continues to heat up between consoles and PCs, streaming has continued its march towards broader dominance in the gaming industry. Indeed, game streaming and cloud-based gaming, specifically, is widely viewed as the future. And although there are plenty of streaming options to consider, at least for now, the clear leader is Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming. 

Initially introduced in 2019 as a cloud gaming service for subscribers of Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Cloud Gaming represents just how far gaming has come by only requiring a user to possess a supported gaming device, a Game Pass subscription, and a sufficiently powerful internet connection. Best of all, Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming works without you needing to buy an Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S, allowing you to save hundreds of dollars on hardware purchases and other costly accessories you’d otherwise need to play on Microsoft’s console. 

Impressively, Xbox Cloud Gaming is compatible with a wide range of devices from various manufacturers, including Android, Apple, Windows, and PCs of all kinds. And needless to say, it’s quickly become a wildly popular option for the leisurely and hardcore gamers, alike. 

Learn more about how you can use Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming to gain access to a world of entertainment from the comfort of your office or computer room.   

Several Methods of Accessing Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming 

 Despite Xbox being a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Microsoft corporation, you will not need to own Microsoft products to make the most of everything this service has to offer. It is important to note that Xbox Cloud gaming currently does not exist as a standalone service, and anyone wanting to use it will need to be subscribed to Xbox Game Pass. Your PC will also need to meet the minimum technical requirements for using Xbox Cloud Gaming, which vary depending on your operating system of choice. There are several different methods of connecting to Xbox Cloud Gaming, including: 

• Android devices via the app downloaded from the Samsung Galaxy Store or Google Play Store. 
• Windows PC users can access Xbox Cloud Gaming titles through the Xbox app already installed on their PCs.  
• It is also available by using your web browser on Chromebook, iOS, and other Macs.  
• The service can also be accessed via Microsoft's proprietary Edge browser, Safari, and Chrome. 

Features of Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming 

Because Xbox Cloud Gaming is currently a feature of Microsoft Game Pass, you can acquire a month’s trial membership for $1 or a recurring monthly subscription for $15. With a library of hundreds of games being switched out on a rotating basis, users can enjoy a wide variety of titles for gaming tastes of all kinds. Because Xbox Cloud Gaming is currently considered a beta feature by Microsoft, the service is not 100% reliable and has been cited for slower speeds. However, recent improvements to both Microsoft’s own hosting servers for cloud gaming and a notable investment by the company to boost the overall speed of the service have gained notice from PC gamers and Xbox users alike.  

How to Launch the Xbox Cloud Gaming App on Your Windows PC 

1. Click Search on the app taskbar, input “Xbox, " and select it from the list. You can download the app for free from the Microsoft Store if you don’t already have it installed. 
2. Sign in to your Microsoft Game Pass account. 
3. Select Cloud Gaming from the sidebar menu located on the left-hand side. 

How to Play Xbox Cloud Gaming on an Apple PC or iOS Device with a Web Browser 

To begin playing cloud gaming titles on MacOS or iOS device, the website must be pinned to your Home Screen first. 

1. After logging into your Apple PC or iOS device, navigate to Xbox.com/play and sign in to your Microsoft Game Pass account using the Safari browser. 
2. Click or tap the Share button and then select Add to Home Screen. 

Minimum System Requirements for Using Xbox Cloud Gaming Across Systems 

Required OS: Windows 10 October 2020 Update or above, Android 6.0 or above, iOS 14.4 or above 

Required apps: Android: Xbox Game Pass @ Google Play, Samsung Android: Xbox Game Pass @ Galaxy Store, iOS and PC: Xbox Game Pass on the web using the latest version of Safari, Chrome, or Microsoft Edge 

Supported locations: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States 

Controller support: Android: USB-C, touch, or Bluetooth 4.0+, iOS: Touch, or Bluetooth 4.0+, Windows 10: USB 3.0, USB-C, touch, or Bluetooth 4.0+ 

Bandwidth requirements: 10Mb/s minimum speed, 20Mb/s for iPad 

Subscription required: Xbox Game Pass Ultimate 

Supported browsers for Xbox cloud gaming on the web 

To successfully play cloud games on xbox.com/play, your device must be running a supported web browser and operating system. Here’s what we support: 

Operating System: Windows 10 version 20H2 or later, Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, iOS 14.4 or later 

Browser: Safari, iPadOS 14.4 or later, Safari 

 Users Can Access Xbox Cloud Gaming Using either Broadband or Cellular Internet 

Although it is highly recommended to use a 5 GHz Wi-Fi connection (or even a 6GHz Wi-Fi connection, if available) to access Xbox Cloud Gaming, it is also possible to use either 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi or a cellular network. Depending on the availability of ISPs and the distribution of cell towers in your area, selecting the method that offers the fastest and most reliable connection might be preferable. 

You may be more familiar with the pros and cons of cloud gaming over Wi-Fi, including interference from other devices, signals being blocked by the physical location of your Wi-Fi router, and dual-band routers unexpectedly switched to 2.4 GHz. Issues with cellular cloud gaming include drops in service from switching cell towers, increased costs and less bandwidth available for your data plan, and common problems with cellular connections.