It’s not really too surprising that Microsoft is going all in on Xbox Game Pass and that’s set to be accelerated in the coming months and years.
Xbox has revealed that they are currently working with smart TV manufacturers to bring Xbox Game Pass Cloud Streaming to TVs (so you’ll literally only need a controller). This would be a huge move that would instantly open up a wide variety of Xbox games to hundreds of millions of home without a great barrier of entry.
MORE XBOX NEWS:
- Xbox wants to start releasing at least one first party game every quarter
- Xbox Game Pass Cloud streaming will properly launch in Australia later this year
For those without smart TVs, or those that want to streaming Xbox Game Pass games on a TV or monitor, Xbox is also working on its own streaming device (we’d expect it to be similar to a Google Chromecast) that will presumably let you use Xbox Game Streaming on any device with a HDMI input. It would be expected that this would be a significantly cheaper cost than buying an Xbox Serie X|S or even an Xbox One.
Xbox has also confirmed that cloud gaming within the browser will open up to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members on Edge, Chrome and Safari, meaning that streaming a game on a PC will literally be a click away. It’s to be expected but cloud gaming will also come to the Xbox app on PC and console experiences later this year, so that you can not only stream games but try them before you buy them.
Speaking about expanding the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Cloud Streaming platform, Xbox’s CVP of Gaming Experiences and Platform Liz Hamren said: For example, “we’re working with global TV manufacturers to embed the Game Pass experience directly into internet-connected TVs so all you’ll need to play is a controller. Beyond that, we’re also developing standalone streaming devices that you can plug into a TV or monitor, so if you have a strong internet connection, you can stream your Xbox experience.” Liz Hamren, CVP of Gaming Experiences & Platform”
These are all big plays for Xbox Game Pass. In particular if Xbox can sell an “Xbox Streaming Stick” for $99 or under, this will expose a lot more gamers to the Xbox brand and take away that big barrier of entry.
It’s definitely a great time to be keeping an eye on Xbox. The Xbox + Bethesda showcase takes place on Monday morning. You can find all of the Aussie E3 times right HERE.
