Microsoft has followed suit a hard path to bring Xbox Cloud Gaming to the iPhone — but it finally did. After being prevented from launching its own app via the App Store, the company decided to work with an internet browser. Through Safari itself, interested parties will be able to access the service's catalog — if they sign up for a subscription, of course.
Already in restricted beta phase since april, Xbox Cloud Gaming is finally available to any iPhone or iPad owner — in select territories. Apparently Brazil is still out of the running (although it is already available on Android use the platform). You will hardly see the Apple publicizing the news on its communication channels — because it doesn't like not being able to exercise regulatory control over the games that will be available.
To use it, the user only needs to access xbox.com/play in Microsoft Edge, Chrome, or even Safari on an iOS device running version 14.4 of the system (or higher). Those who are already Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers have access to Microsoft's Cloud Gaming at no additional cost, and are certainly happy with the new feature, if they live in the United States. In addition, you will need to have a compatible Bluetooth or USB controller.
Backbone One controller gets bundle with Xbox Game Pass
iPhone owners in the United States can even find a novelty to enhance the experience: a Backbone One controller bundle (which fits the iPhone in landscape mode) with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for iOS.
Sold since last year in the Microsoft Store, the controller even has a dedicated screenshot button — which can be shared via link. Features of the controller's proprietary app even allow you to edit recordings for quick sharing. The same app can include native iPhone games and shortcuts to those available on Xbox Cloud Gaming in the same hub. The joystick's development involved hardware engineers who were involved with the original Xbox 360 controller.
And how does this bundle work? Simple, for the same price of US$ 99 (R$ 487 in direct conversion today, 28/06), everyone who buys the Backbone One controller from now on in the United States, both Site as in Microsoft stores, you will get three months of Xbox Game Pass.
Server improvements
Taking advantage of these launches, Microsoft also revealed that it has been improving its servers to bring cloud gaming at 1080p and 60 FPS to players with greater stability. To do this, it has been using hardware from the Xbox Series X internally — its most powerful console to date.
The company states that at least 100 games are already available, and as with the Game Pass catalog, changes and additions happen over time. Something that could frustrate users of the Apple is that unfortunately it is not possible to use Xbox Cloud Gaming on Apple TV — the company's peripheral for TVs. In this, iPhone owners are on the same page as the Android community: the service does not yet support Android TV or other systems for TVs.
Through which channels you reach those people, classic and out of the box. 9to5Mac
