Unlock Gaming Freedom with Xbox Cloud Gaming

Expanding the Xbox Game Library

Microsoft is starting to bring the Xbox game library to cloud streaming, with 50 more games now available. Ashley McKissick, corporate vice president of Xbox Experiences and platforms engineering, emphasizes that this is just the beginning. "Our library of cloud-playable titles will continue to grow as we collaborate with partners worldwide to offer a diverse selection of great games across devices."

These 50 additional games can be accessed through various devices such as TVs, smartphones, tablets, and PCs via a web browser. Microsoft also has plans to bring Xbox library streaming to Xbox consoles and the Xbox app on Windows next year, further enhancing the gaming experience.

Project Lapland: The Long-Running Initiative

Part of the long-running Project Lapland within Microsoft, this expansion is a significant step. Last month, it was revealed that Microsoft was planning to let Xbox Insiders access more games on Xbox Cloud Gaming in November. The initial 50 games are the start of a journey to eventually expand this to cover entire libraries.

The original Project xCloud was supposed to launch with game library streaming in 2020 but faced delays. Microsoft then announced it would support game libraries on Xbox Cloud Gaming in 2022, but that didn't happen either. The work to make this a reality has been complex, involving readying thousands of games on custom Xbox cloud servers while managing save files and game updates.

Dealing with Licensing and Publishing

While thousands of games will eventually be available through Xbox Cloud Gaming, some publishers will hold certain games back due to licensing requirements or deals. This presents a challenge for Microsoft as it works to bring the full range of games to its cloud gaming service.

Microsoft was also planning to enable game purchases in its Xbox mobile app for Android in November due to a court ruling. However, Google won a temporary administrative stay on this ruling, leaving the timeline for enabling game purchases in the Xbox mobile app on Android uncertain.