Microsoft has rolled out a new Android Xbox app, which will allow all Xbox One owners to stream games from their console to their phone or tablet. Until now, only Xbox Insiders had access to the feature. The Xbox remote play feature, known previously as Console Streaming, lets you remotely connect to an Xbox One console and play games you’ve already downloaded to it.
This is different from Microsoft’s xCloud service, as anyone with an Android phone can now stream all of their games directly from their own Xbox One console. xCloud currently only works with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate titles, and games are streamed from Microsoft’s cloud servers instead.
The Xbox app, which is a beta release, has a design that matches the updated user interface on Xbox One and the Xbox Series X/S dashboard. It works in concert with the share button on the latest version of the Xbox Wireless Controller. When you capture a screenshot or clip, you’ll be able to select which social networks to which you want to share it from your phone or tablet. You’ll be able to share it on the Highlights section of your profile as well.
You’ll be able to use the app to set up an Xbox Series X or Series S, so while the console is downloading updates, you can configure your settings. On top of that, you’ll be able to manage your game library with the app or use it as a remote control.
This new Xbox app is also designed to make it easier to set up an Xbox Series X or S console in November. You can use the mobile app to configure settings, all while a console downloads its relevant updates. The app will also support the ability to install any games to your home console, manage a game library, and free up storage space, or simply use it as a remote control to navigate an Xbox console.
Microsoft’s new Xbox app is available in beta for Android phones and tablets from Google’s Play Store. Microsoft makes no mention of iOS here, but the mobile app will also be updated for iPhone soon too. It’s just highly unlikely that remote streaming of Xbox One games will be enabled as part of the update for iOS.
