Unlocking Xbox Cloud Gaming: A Comprehensive Guide to Accessing Your Games Anytime, Anywhere

Xbox Cloud Gaming is becoming increasingly significant to Microsoft’s gaming business, particularly as the company expands Xbox onto modern devices. Nowadays, we observe the team promoting nearly every electronic gadget as a potential ‘Xbox’, but what exactly is compatible? And what is the best way to access Xbox Cloud Gaming on your preferred device?

Well, this guide is here to clarify what Xbox Cloud Gaming is, how it operates, and where you can enjoy supported titles. Microsoft is continuously enhancing and advancing its Xbox Cloud Gaming technology, but here’s the current status as we approach 2025.

What Is Xbox Cloud Gaming?

Xbox Cloud Gaming, formerly known as XCloud, is Microsoft’s answer to internet-based gaming. Instead of playing games directly on hardware that requires considerable power, Xbox Cloud Gaming lets users stream games online without needing a specific console or PC.

How Does Xbox Cloud Gaming Function?

Essentially, Xbox Cloud Gaming is just like traditional Xbox gaming, except Microsoft handles all the demanding processing. You simply select your supported title, click play with Xbox Cloud Gaming, and one of Microsoft’s servers will activate and stream the game directly to your chosen device.

Which Games Are Supported On Xbox Cloud Gaming?

So far, Xbox Cloud Gaming has mainly revolved around an Xbox Game Pass subscription. The vast majority of titles within the Game Pass Ultimate Library support Xbox Cloud Gaming, so if you choose a title from that collection, it’s likely to include a cloud option.

Furthermore, Xbox is now beginning to expand Cloud Gaming support to select titles outside the Game Pass library. In such cases, you would need to own the game in question to play it over the cloud (and still be a Game Pass Ultimate member) – and below is the initial list of non-Game Pass titles that will likely be supported.

How Much Does Xbox Cloud Gaming Cost?

To access Xbox Cloud Gaming, an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership is necessary, even if you want to play cloud-supported games that you already own. As mentioned above, Xbox’s streaming service has been closely linked to Game Pass since its introduction, and access to any cloud titles requires a GPU subscription.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate currently costs $19.99 / £14.99 monthly, or your regional equivalent.

What Devices Are Compatible With Xbox Cloud Gaming?

Xbox is constantly adding supported devices to its Cloud Gaming lineup – for instance, LG Smart TV support is set to arrive later this year.

However, as of January 2025, Microsoft has an official list of supported devices, which we will present below.

• Xbox Consoles (Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)
• Windows Devices (Windows 10 version 20H2 and newer)
• MacBooks (MacOS 14.1.2 and newer)
• iPad (iPadOS 14.4 and newer)
• iPhone (iPhone iOS 14.4 and newer)
• Android Devices (Android OS 12.0 and newer)
• Smart TVs (Samsung TV models from 2020 and onwards, running software version 1300 and higher)
• Amazon Fire TV (Fire TV Stick 4K, Fire TV Stick 4K Max, Fire TV Cube)
• VR Headsets (Meta Quest 2, Meta Quest Pro, Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest 3S)

Internet Speed Required For Xbox Cloud Gaming

Your experience gaming in the cloud may vary based on your internet speed. A wired connection is usually recommended, but that’s not strictly necessary if you’re using a mobile device or something similar.

Officially, Microsoft states you’ll need “10 Mbps on mobile devices, 20 Mbps on consoles, PCs, and tablets, and a 5GHz WiFi or mobile data connection.” If you meet these minimum speed requirements, you’ll likely have a playable experience with Xbox Cloud Gaming!

How To Access Xbox Cloud Gaming