Kicking off the list is arguably the best example of a streaming service, Xbox Game Pass. The other services on our list rely on streaming technology to deliver your games, but Microsoft’s Xbox. Microsoft is testing a web version of its xCloud game streaming service. The internal tests will eventually allow iPhones and iPads to access Xbox game streaming, and a public preview is coming soon. Microsoft’s support of xCloud game streaming as part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate lets users play games in several web browsers, including Chrome, Edge, and Safari. That last one is bound to have.
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Microsoft will expand its cloud gaming efforts to mobile Safari on the iPhone and iPad as promised, with an expected launch in spring 2021.
Cloud gaming is the next frontier on mobile and while Apple's rules restrict these games to streaming in Safari platforms are still jumping on board. Microsoft previously promised to push its project xCloud to iOS and iPadOS, and now we have a timeline.
Xbox Game Pass Streaming Machine
Xbox Vice President Jerret West shared the plans for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in a blog post. The post covers how quickly Xbox Game Pass is being adopted and how this will push their initiative to expand to more devices.
Starting in spring 2021, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will arrive on iOS and iPadOS devices in beta. Users will access the service via the Safari web browser, which is a requirement set by Apple's game streaming guidelines. In order for the service to exist natively on iOS, Xbox would need to submit all of the games available on Game Pass to the App Store for review, which isn't ideal.
Xbox Game Pass App For Mac
Nvidia GeForce Now was one of the first game streaming services to launch on mobile Safari with the ability to play compatible games purchased on Steam. Amazon Luna launched in October with a limited sign-up program and a proprietary controller. Other services like Google Stadia have already promised future compatibility with mobile Safari, though Playstation Now remains a holdout.