Microsoft is bringing a big boost to Xbox Cloud Gaming

We've known for a while now that Microsoft plans to expand the availability of Xbox Cloud Gaming. Since launch, Xbox Cloud Gaming has primarily had access to a number of supported titles in the Game Pass library, also limiting the service's use to Game Pass subscribers. That will change very soon. 

According to The Verge, Microsoft is planning to open up Xbox Cloud Gaming in November. A new update will pave the way for users to stream games they own digitally via Xbox through xCloud. This will greatly expand both the number of games available to stream, and the number of users and potential use-cases for Xbox Cloud Gaming, as the service will no longer be limited to Game Pass Ultimate subscribers.

This update has been in the works internally at Microsoft for quite some time. Testing amongst Xbox Insiders will begin in November, aligning with Microsoft's plans to enable Android users to buy games directly through the Xbox App. Those games would now be streamable via Xbox Cloud Gaming straight away, giving Microsoft another avenue to attract people into the ecosystem, as console sales aren't doing the trick quite like they used to.

Typically major features like this remain in Insider testing for a month before rolling out to all, so there is a chance this will be made available to all users in supported territories before the end of the year.

KitGuru Says: It will be interesting to see how much of a boost this brings to Xboc cloud usage. It might not boost console sales directly, but it should get more people into the Xbox ecosystem, which is Microsoft's main goal at this stage. 

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