Xbox Cloud Gaming Expected to Include Personal Game Libraries “This Year,” According to Xbox Lead Phil Spencer
Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming service, part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, allows users to play a wide selection of Xbox games on various devices without the need for an Xbox console. For some time now, Microsoft has expressed its intention to bring users’ personally owned games into the cloud gaming service, pending negotiations with license holders. However, a recent conversation between Xbox lead Phil Spencer and a user named NASburg suggests that this highly-anticipated feature could become a reality as early as this year.
Xbox Cloud Gaming offers an impressive library of games that can be accessed through web browsers, Windows PCs, Android devices, and select smart TVs. For a monthly fee of $15 as part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, subscribers can enjoy a vast collection of games without the need for a dedicated gaming console or a high-performance gaming PC. The library includes Microsoft’s first-party titles such as Halo, Gears of War, Forza, and Flight Simulator, as well as a wide range of games from third-party developers.
The popularity of Xbox Cloud Gaming has been steadily increasing in recent years, resulting in significant queue times for certain games, such as January’s Palworld. Microsoft is actively working to address this demand by expanding server capacity. The ability to play their own digital games via the cloud has been a long-standing request from Xbox players, and according to Phil Spencer, Microsoft is aiming to fulfill this request within the year.
Currently, if a game is removed from Xbox Game Pass, it can no longer be played through the cloud. The inclusion of users’ personal game libraries would broaden the variety of games available and undoubtedly enhance the service’s appeal. While Xbox Cloud Gaming may not offer the same level of responsiveness as NVIDIA GeForce Now, it is perfectly suitable for 2D games and those with fixed camera isometric perspectives.
Microsoft’s cloud gaming endeavors have contributed to the company’s success, particularly in the stock market, where it has regained its position at the top, aided by the AI trend. However, cloud gaming is a costly and energy-intensive technology that may not be commercially viable in certain cases. Companies like Apple and Google have been working to limit Microsoft, NVIDIA, and their partners’ ability to monetize cloud gaming. Concerns over this duopoly have caught the attention of regulators, but both Apple and Google continue to resist calls for regulation. In fact, Apple recently restricted PWA (Progressive Web App) support in the EU, preventing users from enjoying a seamless experience with web apps such as Xbox Cloud Gaming on their devices. Microsoft, Epic Games, Spotify, and others have urged the EU to intervene and regulate Apple and Google to foster innovation in cloud gaming. In a recent ruling, the UK’s CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) mandated that Microsoft sell the rights to its cloud gaming catalog to Ubisoft for the next decade as a condition for finalizing its Activision acquisition. Consequently, when Diablo 4 arrives on Xbox Game Pass for console and PC in March, it will not be available on Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Despite the challenges it faces, Xbox Cloud Gaming continues to thrive and expand its offerings. With the promise of allowing users to access their personal game libraries through the cloud, Microsoft aims to further solidify its position in the cloud gaming market.
Analyst comment
Positive news.
As an analyst, with the launch of the new cloud feature allowing players to access their own digital games, Xbox Cloud Gaming is expected to continue its steady growth and attract more users. The ability to play a variety of games without an Xbox console attached will increase the appeal and convenience of the service. However, challenges such as regulatory issues and competition from Apple and Google may hinder its expansion. Overall, Xbox Cloud Gaming is expected to maintain its positive momentum in the market.
