Microsoft is getting ready to launch its xCloud game streaming service later this year as part of Xbox Game Pass. The service will initially be powered by Xbox One S consoles in server blades in Microsoft’s datacenters, but the software giant is planning to upgrade this hardware next year. Sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans and that testing has already begun on upgraded xCloud servers, and that Microsoft is even experimenting with dedicated PC server blades for streaming PC games over xCloud.
The xCloud service would be incorporated into Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft’s all-in-one game streaming subscription. Right now, Microsoft is using Xbox One S hardware to power xCloud, but the company appears to already be thinking about more powerful options. The reported testing on PC server blades is a good indication that games in users’ Xbox Game Pass for PC subscriptions could be made available for streaming through xCloud in the future.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said in April that xCloud had hundreds of thousands of users in its current preview form.
At launch later this year, it’s expected to let users stream Xbox games they already own from the cloud, as well as Xbox Game Pass titles.
And The Verge has backed up a previous report claiming Microsoft is working on a feature that will also allow users to stream PC games across xCloud.
In theory, it could let users stream PC games to their Xbox console and play them in the living room.
Around 100 games are currently available through xCloud, with recent additions including Ori and the Will of the Wisps and Batman: Arkham Knight.
