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[SUBS, PC, XB1, XSX] Xbox Cloud Gaming Launches in Australia - Included with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

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The Xbox team has finally officially announced the launch of XCloud in Aus. The cloud servers now use Xbox Series X hardware and cloud gameplay will be possible on last gen systems. Mods please move to forums if not appropriate.

Supported platforms & devices:

  • Browsers: Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge & Safari
  • Xbox One (all), One X, Series S & X
  • Android (native app)
  • IOS (web browser)
  • 2022 Samsung Smart TVs

Examples of playable titles:

  • Gears 5
  • Sea of Thieves
  • Halo Infinite
  • Forza Horizon 5
  • Back 4 Blood

Users who wish to block "Additions to Subscription Services" can do so by adding SUBS to their front page customisation. * Xbox Game Pass, Netflix, Hulu, Disney Plus are considered additions to subscription services.

Related Stores

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Comments

    • +7

      You're looking at the 2020 announcement below, this is definitely coming Oct 1st.

  • You gotta have xbox ultimate

  • +5

    I've been a part of the preview for a while and it's been really good for catching up on gamepass quests and rewards points.

    • +2

      How is performance and latency?

      • It mostly performed well, there's occasional stuttering but I've got pretty crap nbn service.

      • I've found it extremely good… Been part of the preview since January. Very impressive actually.

    • I've been part of the preview and I have 250Mbps plan and the stuttering was god awful.. FH4 was virtually unplayable. Some games perform better than others. The service itself is cool but I don't think the preview was using Series X hardware either. I'm thinking the proper version should be much better because my experience with the performance of it was quite average.

      • Just tried it out with FH4 on my 100Mbps plan. It was pretty damn responsive with decent performance. Only complaint I have is that the visuals could have been a bit better, I think it either locks it at 720p or if it is 1080p it is low streaming settings, it looked very choppy.

        • +1

          I haven't tried FH4 yet but I have paid the $1 today since my post and tried a couple a games and it is a completely different experience to the preview beta I had. I think the difference is probably more local servers and series X hardware which I think they weren't using before. It seems decent now. There is one major issue though and that's if I leave a game on pause for a little while it will kick you off due to inactivity and then the app crashes and becomes unresponsive and crashes my phone. I assume this is a bug that needs to be ironed out.

          • @Justin9mm: FH4 is one of the better performing games imo

            • @RI4V4N: Still to this day everytime I try to play FH4 through xcloud, the performance is finnicky. I try it almost every other day. But everything else is mostly fine. So no idea, it's a mystery.

  • Available through a Web browser then yes?

  • +2

    Been waiting for this! Just got a Chromecast and projector, wonder how playable it will be.

    I was part of the testing program for Australia and I was very impressed with the performance.

    Kinda hope it goes live at midnight, wouldn't mind giving it a go straight away!

    • I sideloaded it onto mu google chromecast tv and was able to connect a controller as well. This was sometime last year during the preview and it seemed to stutter a lot but hopefully they fixed those issues

  • been waiting for this. So I can play xbox games on my ipad and android now?

  • So if you got GP Ultimate do you actually need a console to play at all or you can jump straight onto a browser from any device and there is no requirement to own a console ?

    • +5

      No console needed.

  • -7

    Where is Google with the Stadia. Dont want to be locked to xbox, especially when i managed to finally buy a ps.

    • +11

      I would argue you'd be locked more into Stadia than you would with the Xbox solution. Since you have to purchase Stadia games à la carte as opposed to Xbox where you receive everything buffet style with the subscription.

    • +3

      No Stadia here in Oz, but GeForce Now is launching here in the next few weeks:

      https://www.nvidia.com/en-au/geforce-now/

      https://cloud.gg/faq

      • +4

        im in the beta and its pretty darn good. can connect to steam and epic stores, not all games are available though

    • +1

      Why have loyalty to one brand to the extent you don't want to use xCloud as a supplement to your PS5?

      If Sony ever add a browser to the PS5, you might even be able to use xCloud on your PS5.

      • There’s a browser hack (send a URL message to yourself) but unsure if it would work for xCloud

  • Does it support keyboard and mouse ? Or xbox controller only ?

    • If the Xbox console version supports KB and mouse, then the cloud version will too.

    • It supported my PS4 controller when paired with my android phone so I would say yes to K/B and mouse

    • +1

      Nope. Games aren't working for me on PC without a controller.

      • Same story here. It is a bit of a shame, considering playing FPS games like DOOM Eternal

  • +3

    Link below to app and homescreen shortcut for those who want to load it on to their Android TV device (eg: Shield, Chromecast with Google TV, Mi Box etc):

    https://mega.nz/#F!PaJQELqY!dg3wVzOFIybj6an5Yeq7PA

    Hopefully should still work as well as it did in the preview, although it might need updating.

  • +2

    I players around with it a bit in beta on Android phone. No matter what connection I was on (home wifi with 100mb NBN, 5G), I could never make it playable.

    • Same experience as me, even with a high speed connection.

    • Which city are you in? Assuming it'll only be decent in sydney/melbourne

      • Tried with doom eternal on my laptop (NBN 50 in Brissy) and it ran insanely well. I've kept an eye on streaming platforms since all the way back to Geforce GRID beta in 2013 and this had the least compression artifacts I've encountered.

        • +1

          That's good to hear! hopefully it'll be usable from brissy.

      • Sydney

        It could also be the times I tested it as it would usually be around peak hour, it just never worked well.

  • +1

    Will this allow me to play Flight Simulator on XB1 with game pass ultimate? Probably not, but here's hoping…

    • Scoured comments to see if this was answered. Hype to play flight sim if it happens!

    • Just got hold of a XSX just to play this game! Would seriously think about selling if I can play through cloud.

    • +1

      https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2021/08/24/cloud-gaming-comes-to…

      "Play Gen 9-only Xbox games like Microsoft Flight Simulator and The Medium on your Xbox One via the cloud – coming in the future"

      So it appears that this will be possible going by a previous Xbox statement

    • Not yet, my guess is when they release xcloud for Xbox One this will be a 'launch title' to make it available across more devices

    • Flight simulator is not available :/

  • Bring on flight simulator please!

  • How does it work on Macs?

    • +1

      I'm playing Farming Simulator right now on my 2015 Air.

    • Same on m1

  • +3

    I assume WA is not part of the equation

    • +5

      We can go outside, those in lockdown need something to do.

      • Outside in Perth, might as well stay in lockdown…

    • +1

      I'm in WA, and on launching the Xbox app on my PC it offered games for me to jump back into that I've only played on console.

      It has launched Steep for me, will have to wait to see how it performs.

      Update - just tried Avengers and it isn't a nice experience - low frame rate and slow response, at the moment I'll use it to just check out games before downloading large installations.

      Curiously, Forza Horizon 4 on my Pixel 3 runs fine.

      • Tried Avengers in Edge browser on PC and it was more responsive.

        The Xbox App seemed worse, will keep experimenting.

  • +1

    I just tried the links and it doesn't seem to work? Keep getting a page not found issue.

  • Wow…it is as fast as my xbox series x loading if not faster but the resolution is not as sharp but I could be wrong.

    Xbox Forza Horizon 4 Game Cloud

    Tested on PC and mobile on gigabit plan

    Note: I realized…it has got quick resume too @ 12 seconds from clicking the game icon.

    Welldone Microsoft 👍

  • bought for a dolla - thats a bargain. Tried streets of rage 4 and gears 5 using chrome with a PS4 controller. Works great. Just the mental remapping of buttons

  • Get an android phone, install eggns, get xcloud, play both Switch and Xbox games on 1 device, epic.

  • If I’ve been lucky enough to buy a 3080 for my gaming machine, I don’t stand to gain anything from this do I? This is more for people who don’t want to splash out on hardware?

    • +2

      It increases your options, if travelling you can use a phone or low spec laptop.

      But generally it you have very high end kit, your benefit will be limited

    • +1

      Depends if you're happy with exclusively playing on PC or if you like the idea of being able to play in other locations.

      I have a 3070 in my PC and a Series S in the living room, but I've been playing around with xCloud since yesterday and could see some value in it for trying out games quickly before deciding if you want to wait a couple of hours to download them locally, or for playing on the couch while watching TV.

      Most of the first party Microsoft games support cloud saves so you can continue from any device, though some games (mostly EA Play games) seem to only cross save between console and cloud.

      I'd say if you don't already have Game Pass, then it's probably not reason enough to subscribe, but if you're interested in the game library or you already have Game Pass then it's a nice value add.

  • Oh sweet. Now my downtime at work will be less boring

  • Has anyone tried the app on Android tv? I used the beta and it mentioned android tv support is coming.

  • How is the input lag?

    • Not as good as a console, or streaming from a local console. But totally usable.

      Depending on the game, the lag might be frustrating.

      • unless it has improved from the beta version, it won't be good enough for anything fast paced (racing, FPS).

    • Been surpisingly good. I have only tested on PC but with a 5ghz wifi latency is bearable. I can handle single player games but multiplayer games are a little harder

  • Now if only they can (somehow) make it work for the Switch, given the rumours.

    • Native support would be great.
      Currently the only way to is to homebrew Android which works surprisingly well with Joy-cons.

  • +1

    game pass its unbeatable

  • Is there a full list of XBox Games that are available in xCloud?

  • I was on the beta for this and it ran terrible on my fttp 250mb connection, maybe it's fixed…I doubt it ran laggy for me. That's just me though could run fine for others, could be alot of different things

  • +1

    resolution is limited to 1080p as far as I can tell. it works quite well, i didn't observe any noticeable latency or jitter. i think the service is quite convenient, but lack of 4K is a bit of a killer for me, the quality difference is stark. i'm already an ultimate subscriber though, so it's no real skin off my nose.

    • +1

      4K/60FPS surely isn't too far away if Stadia is capable of it.

  • +1

    This and GeForce Now in a couple weeks… I can't believe we're actually getting it here. So good. Now I'm assuming Stadia and Luna will follow.

  • +1

    Hmm I'm on a 100/50 NBN connection (gets very close to that speed), took DIRT 5 for a spin and its playable but there is quite a bit of stutter. Will need to test it out more before passing judgement, but excited to have it more widely accessible with a larger library of games. It'll only keep getting better.

    • +2

      I think that may be down to your using wifi. You can try ethernet if your device supports it. I know yesterday I had no issues (apart from latency) using 20mbps 4G.

      However, I was getting quite a bit of artifacting when using a highly contended 60mbps wifi network. With others were streaming high res video and browsing social media.

      It is still quite early into the release at the moment, it may have room to improve. Others with faster connections have also reported much greater success.

      • Thanks, I might give the ethernet a go!

        • +1

          So I've tried it over ethernet with the Xbox UWP app and it's been working perfectly so far!

  • So not available to stream through your xbox one s Yet, right? My OS just updated but can't see anything about xcloud…

    • It worked through Edge when I tested it just now. It says the browser isn't supported but I clicked play anyway and it was up and running in less than a minute.

  • +2

    Playing with an Xbox controller through my iPad on Optus 5G Wifi. It's not bad, especially since I was on GamePass anyway. It's getting to be a better and better deal.

    • +1

      I feel like your mind would be baffled by an amber traffic light…

  • +1

    I'm loving it just to try out games. Saves having to download 50gig just to delete it when I don't like it.

    Would be good if there was an Xbox cloud app for the Xbox!

  • I did the 36 month trick for this, and I'm enjoying this and GeForce Now from Pentanet.

  • +3

    Went to give it a crack, and found something extremely frustrating with this.

    I go to stream a game on my PC and it says I can't, as 'You're playing somewhere else. You're only allowed to play one game at a time.'
    My kids are playing Minecraft on the Xbox, but it's a game I own. They're not streaming it, and it's not an online world. Seriously, no reason to stop me playing.

    edit:

    Just tried it again.

    Popped a physical disc into my Xbox to play The Evil Within 2 and when I opened it, it stopped my streaming session on PC of another game. Ridiculous.

    • I guess you can't use this and have anyone playing on your Xbox whilst signed in under your account, as you'd be signed in to your account in 2 places at the same time.

      • +1

        you'd be signed in to your account in 2 places at the same time.

        Yet you're allowed to add your account to up to 10 devices and install games/apps you've purchased.

        But it's the fact that they are games I've purchased, it's not game streaming/games played via gamepass, which I could understand some restrictions ala Netflix etc (limited number of concurrent streams) in a measure to limit account sharing.

        To me this is an extreme restriction on my purchased items. Even stopped me playing a physical disc game. That is the simply ridiculous part.

        • Disconnect the xbox from the internet when you play from a physical disc. Then it should work.

          Just remove the wireless settings or disconnect the lan cable.

          • +2

            @futaris: Yeah I did that actually. I still think it's stupid.

        • Have you tried with 2 different xbox profiles or same thing?

  • What console does the stream run on?

  • Looks like we will be in Wall E future very soon no need to get up if you can do everything on your phone.

  • Seem Game Pass Ultimate for $1/month now if you don't have game pass active at the moment, any more promo at the moment?

    https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/p/xbox-game-pass-ultimate/CF…

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