Xbox game streaming service xCloud will be folded into Xbox Game Pass this September “at no additional cost to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members”.
Microsoft previously announced xCloud would become part of Game Pass at some point this year, though many had expected it would simply be included with the subscription’s base offering.
Right now, Xbox Game Pass costs £7.99 per month for either a PC or console subscription, or £10.99 per month for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which wraps together PC, console and Xbox Live Gold as well (on its own, a separate £6.99 monthly cost).
100 games will be available for streaming via a smartphone or tablet. More than 50 are currently in xCloud’s preview program, including Halo 5, Destiny 2, Dragon Age Inquisition.
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The news comes as part of a new Xbox Wire post extolling the various virtues of sticking with Xbox – or converting – ahead of the next console generation.
Penned by Xbox boss Phil Spencer, the blog states that with Xbox “you won’t be forced into the next generation” – a pointed nod at Sony, and its recent comments that PS5 games will only be playable on PS5.
“We want every Xbox player to play all the new games from Xbox Game Studios,” Spencer wrote. “That’s why Xbox Game Studios titles we release in the next couple of years – like Halo Infinite – will be available and play great on Xbox Series X and Xbox One. We won’t force you to upgrade to Xbox Series X at launch to play Xbox exclusives.