Xbox Game Pass is always adding new games, but adding major new features is less common. The Core and Standard plans for the service have traditionally delivered only the essentials — free games, online multiplayer, and discounts. Now, however, one of the biggest draws for the premium Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription is being tested for all tiers.
Xbox Wire revealed that Xbox Insiders can now access Xbox Cloud Gaming beta with Xbox Game Pass Core and Standard subscriptions. Xbox Cloud Gaming allows supported games to be streamed to various smart devices and consoles. Insiders with Game Pass Core and Standard will also now be able to access PC versions of specific games.
Xbox Game Pass Is Testing Cloud Gaming For All Users
Core & Standard Users Get A Big Boost
Any user can join the Xbox Insiders program, which provides beta access to games and features, by downloading the Insider Hub app. As program membership is free, Game Pass Core and Standard users interested in Cloud Gaming have nothing to lose by signing up. Features tested through the Insiders program may not always be stable, however, so there’s also no harm in waiting.
Xbox Cloud Gaming currently supports major titles like Grand Theft Auto 5, Fortnite, and Madden NFL 25, along with new releases like Gears of War: Reloaded. Cloud gaming can have drawbacks in quality and latency compared to hardware-based gaming, but a strong Internet connection can minimize the severity of issues.
Cloud Gaming Has A Lot Of Potential In Beta
Drawbacks Don’t Destroy The Value
I generally remain a Cloud Gaming skeptic, but there’s no denying that it can be useful in certain situations. With Cloud Gaming support on Xbox Game Pass Core and Standard, playing Xbox titles on platforms like phones could become more accessible than ever, lowering the barrier to enjoying console-quality game experiences. It wasn’t long ago that playing a new Gears of War without the proper hardware would have seemed inconceivable.
Fully eliminating problems like input lag doesn’t seem feasible right now, but players who aren’t particularly sensitive to these problems might already find the current state of the service satisfactory. At any rate, it’s easier to test it out now, as you won’t need a Game Pass Ultimate subscription to get a feel for the experience.
Access to PC games on Core and Ultimate is also a big step, as getting Game Pass advantages on both console and PC previously required an Ultimate subscription. If both of these changes end up becoming permanent features, Xbox Game Pass Core and Standard could become significantly more attractive value prospects, a welcome change for the service.
- Brand
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Xbox
- Original Release Date
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November 10, 2020
- Original MSRP (USD)
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Series X priced at US$499 and the Series S priced at US$299
- Weight
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9.8 lb
This story originally appeared on Screenrant
