Project xCloud game-streaming preview starts on iOS devices
Owners of Apple devices can now experience console gaming without the console.
Project xCloud is coming to iOS.
Project xCloud, Microsoft's cloud-based game-streaming service for the Xbox, is already in preview for Android devices, letting users play more than 50 games from their console on their phones and tablets . Now owners of Apple devices are getting their chance to try out the streaming service, but there are a few catches.
The news came from Microsoft's Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb, in a blog post Wednesday detailing the start of Project xCloud's iOS preview, taking place through Apple's TestFlight program. (TestFlight is how developers can beta-test their apps on iOS devices.) Because of the program's policies, the Project xCloud iOS preview will be a little different from what Android users are experiencing.
To start, only 10,000 people can take part in the preview. This means some people will receive an invite for only a short period of time and then their spot will be given to someone else. According to a tweet from Hryb Wednesday evening, it took only a few hours for the preview to reach capacity.
As anticipated, we saw a LOT of interest in the Project xCloud Limited iOS TestFlight Preview today and we’ve already hit the initial capacity. Thanks for your interest and make sure to log feedback! https://t.co/cshDrUWuMj
— Larry Hryb (@majornelson) February 13, 2020
The preview will only have one game available to stream, Halo: The Master Chief Collection. It's also available only in the US, the UK and Canada, and there's no preview for console streaming that lets people control their own Xbox One remotely.
Signups to participate in the preview are handled on the xCloud registration page. People in the Android preview can also update their registration via the same link to include iOS devices. An iPhone or iPad with iOS 13.0 is required to participate in the preview. Participants will also need a Microsoft account associated with an Xbox Gamertag and they'll have to download the TestFlight app from the App Store. An Xbox One controller is the preferred Bluetooth controller used for the preview, but other wireless controllers can work with xCloud.
Originally published Feb. 12 at 11:51 a.m. PT.
Update, 12:13 p.m.: Includes additional info about preview. Feb. 13: Adds more details about the preview.
