Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members have unlocked a new perk that revolutionizes how they access games on their consoles. Announced via an Xbox Wire news post, Xbox has introduced cloud streaming for games within the Game Pass catalog and for "select games" owned by users on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox One consoles. This exciting development means that players can now stream games directly to their consoles, eliminating the need for downloads and conserving valuable hard drive space.
Previously, cloud streaming was available on smart TVs, PCs, smartphones, and Meta Quest headsets, but this is the first time it's been extended to Xbox consoles. This feature allows users to bypass the wait times associated with game downloads and the storage constraints that come with them.
To access this feature on your Xbox console, follow these steps:
- Go to My games & apps > Full library > Owned Games.
- Look for games with a cloud badge on their game page, indicating they are cloud-playable.
- Use filters to find these games more quickly by selecting Filter > Ready to play > Cloud gaming.
- To start playing, select the game and then choose Play with Cloud Gaming.
- You can also start streaming directly from the Store app after purchasing select cloud-playable games.
Additionally, Xbox users can stream any game installed on their Xbox consoles to devices with supported web browsers via a designated link. It's worth noting that this feature is no longer available on the Xbox mobile app but can still be accessed on phones through the browser link. Xbox is also working on bringing this feature to Samsung and Amazon Fire smart TVs, as well as Meta Quest headsets.
In another significant update, Xbox has announced that starting this month, Xbox and Xbox 360 backward compatible games will support remote play, further enhancing the flexibility and accessibility of gaming on Xbox platforms.
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These updates are part of Xbox's broader strategy to optimize storage space on Xbox consoles. A new feature in the console's settings, accessible through My Games & Apps > Manage, now offers recommendations for cleaning up hard drive space, helping users manage their storage more effectively.
Xbox's efforts to expand storage options come in response to the increasing size of game installations, as seen in titles like Call of Duty and Baldur's Gate 3. For those in need of even more storage, we've detailed some of the best storage options for the Xbox Series X and S, particularly useful if you're not ready to upgrade to one of the new Xbox models with increased built-in storage.
