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  1. Games
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  3. Xbox Series X

Microsoft xCloud is now powered by custom Xbox Series X hardware

News
By Hope Bellingham published 7 October 2021

This has resulted in faster load times and a boost in performance

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Xbox Cloud Gaming
(Image credit: Xbox)
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Xbox’s Cloud Gaming service xCloud is now fully powered by custom Xbox Series X hardware which has led to faster load times and a boost in performance. 

In a statement shared to The Verge, Microsoft said that "it recently completed the upgrade, which improves both frame rates and game load times for players streaming Xbox games over the web." 

The online streaming service allows players to stream over 100 Xbox games on a number of devices such as a laptop, phone, or tablet rather than installing them on the device. All players need is an active Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership, a compatible device and controller, and high-speed internet. 

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Senior editor at The Verge Tom Warren previously reported on some games in the xCloud library receiving this upgrade after they noticed that games such as Yakuza: Like A Dragon, DIRT 5, and Rainbow Six Siege had improved performance-wise and now featured options that are only available on the Xbox Series X hardware. It appears Microsoft has now rolled this out across the entire xCloud library. 

If you’d prefer to play your Xbox games on a handheld console rather than a tablet, here’s some great news. xCloud will reportedly work on Valve’s upcoming handheld console, the Steam Deck. 

This news comes courtesy of Xbox boss Phil Spencer himself who earlier this year tweeted that "xCloud works well" on the powerful PC-based handheld. You can check out our hands-on preview of the Steam Deck to see what Xbox fans will be working with if they do fancy running xCloud on the handheld. 

Fancy trying out Xbox’s cloud gaming for yourself? Take a look at our list of the best xCloud games to get started. 

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CATEGORIES
Xbox Series X PC Gaming Xbox One Platforms Xbox
Hope Bellingham
Hope Bellingham
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News Writer

After studying Film Studies and Creative Writing at university, I was lucky enough to land a job as an intern at Player Two PR where I helped to release a number of indie titles. I then got even luckier when I became a Trainee News Writer at GamesRadar+ before being promoted to a fully-fledged News Writer after a year and a half of training.  My expertise lies in Animal Crossing: New Horizons, cozy indies, and The Last of Us, but especially in the Kingdom Hearts series. I'm also known to write about the odd Korean drama for the Entertainment team every now and then.  

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