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Project xCloud: everything we know about Microsoft's cloud streaming service

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Here’s everything we know so far about Microsoft’s game-streaming service: Project xCloud.
Project xCloud is Microsoft’s cloud gaming service and it’s launching in September.
Project xCloud leverages Microsoft’s existing data centers across the globe, literally loading up servers with the component parts of multiple Xbox One consoles. These are then used to run the games that are streamed directly to your mobile device of choice.
First announced for a public preview in the US, UK and Korea in October 2019, Project xCloud has since expanded to 11 more countries across Europe and Microsoft has now announced that it will launch properly in September 2020.
On launch, it’ll be bundled free with Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions, meaning you’ll be able to play over 100 Xbox Game Pass titles on your phone or tablet as well as your console and PC.
In addition to public previews, xCloud has been beta tested by Microsoft employees for some time now and, according to Microsoft, can already stream 3,500 games from the cloud – with another 1,900 potential titles on their way.
At the moment, it’s been confirmed that Project xCloud will only be free with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate in “supported countries”. Those countries haven’t been specified but it seems likely that it’ll be the countries that the service has previously rolled out to, which include the US, Canada, UK, Korea, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Sweden.
More countries are reportedly getting the service at a later date, following delays caused by Covid-19, with Microsoft having previously said it plans to scale out across 54 Azure regions.
With Project xCloud’s launch looming, we’ve gathered together everything we know about Microsoft’s cloud streaming service below for your perusal.
In a July 2020 Xbox Wire post, Xbox has confirmed that Project xCloud will launch in September 2020, though we don’t know exactly what date in September just yet.
The cloud streaming service will be a part of Xbox Game Pass when it launches, included in Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions for no additional charge.
This release date only applies to “supported countries” at the moment. Microsoft is still to specify exactly which countries these are but it’s likely that it means countries that have already had access to the preview builds of the service such as the US, Canada, UK, Korea, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain and Sweden.
More countries are reportedly getting the service at a later date, following delays caused by Covid-19, with Microsoft having previously said it plans to scale out across 54 Azure regions (with data centers in some 140 countries).
Coming to Xbox Game Pass at no additional cost
In an Xbox Wire post, Phil Spencer has confirmed that Project xCloud will be launching in September as a part of the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription tier.

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