Microsoft's xCloud Streaming Service Joins Xbox Game Pass Ultimate This September

Xbox Game Pass is getting a big addition in a few months. The Xbox streaming service xCloud will get rolled into the Ultimate version of Game Pass this coming September, at "no additional cost."

Announced today and detailed in an Xbox Wire blog post, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate owners will get Project xCloud access in supported countries. Ultimate is the highest tier of Xbox Game Pass, which hosts a significant library of console and PC games. According to the Wire blog, over 100 games will be available to play on phone or tablet when it goes live. It will carry forward into big launches like Halo Infinite, too.

Microsoft's xCloud was already looking like a strong competitor in the burgeoning cloud streaming space; with big exclusives like Halo and Gears, it has quite a library compared to other services. But the combination of Game Pass and xCloud is a one-two punch to Google Stadia, which has struggled to carve out a foothold in the gaming space with its cloud service. Though Google recently confirmed some new exclusives coming to the platform, it seems like Xbox is forging ahead with its streaming service rollout too, carrying right into the new console launches this holiday season.

Though xCloud is forging ahead, Microsoft recently shuttered its live streaming platform Mixer as it once was, partnering with Facebook Gaming instead. Xbox is now gearing up for next week's showcase, where it will debut more about its plans for the next generation of Xbox and the Series X. With new hardware, Game Pass, and xCloud all combining together, Microsoft is presenting a pretty strong united front for the coming holiday season.