Big news in the cloud gaming world: Microsoft has finally enabled purchased games on xCloud, starting with High on Life and Dying Light 2: Stay Human. If you’ve been waiting to stream games you actually own, your patience just paid off. This shift marks a significant moment for cloud gaming—and it’s about time someone started shaking things up in the space.
A Move Toward Greater Access (But Not Quite Universal)
Up until now, xCloud was strictly tied to Game Pass, limiting its appeal to folks already deep in the Xbox ecosystem. But now, purchased games are making their debut, and while the selection is small at the moment (High on Life and Dying Light 2 are just the start), it’s a move that could ripple through the cloud gaming market. Imagine being able to stream more of your library in the future, not just whatever Microsoft picks for Game Pass.
However, don’t get too excited just yet—this isn’t a total free-for-all. To stream your purchased games, you still need a Game Pass Ultimate subscription, so the barriers aren’t entirely gone. Still, it’s a shift toward a more open platform, and that’s something cloud gaming needs right now.
Could This Spark More Competition?
Here’s where it gets interesting: xCloud’s move to support purchased games could force other players in the cloud gaming space to step up. Stadia might be gone (RIP, sweet prince), but competitors like NVIDIA GeForce NOW and Amazon Luna still have a chance to grab a bigger share of the market.
GeForce NOW already lets you play games you own through storefronts like Steam, but Microsoft’s massive Xbox library and Game Pass integration could give it a serious edge. And for gamers, more competition usually means better options—faster load times, more games, and (fingers crossed) fewer hoops to jump through.
Final Thoughts: A Step Forward for Cloud Gaming
This update isn’t just about Microsoft—it’s a signal that cloud gaming is evolving. By opening xCloud to purchased games, Microsoft is setting the stage for a more competitive market. Whether this inspires other services to innovate or triggers a new wave of exclusivity battles, one thing’s clear: the cloud gaming space just got a lot more interesting.
What do you think—will this push other platforms to rethink their approach, or does Microsoft’s xCloud still have a ways to go? Let us know your take!
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