By Sagar V. Mankar Microsoft is gearing up to enhance its Xbox Cloud Gaming service, enabling users to stream games they own—even those not included in the Xbox Game Pass library. According to The Verge, Microsoft plans to test this feature with Xbox Insiders starting in November.
This effort is part of “Project Lapland,” a long-term initiative focused on upgrading Xbox Cloud Gaming servers to support streaming thousands of titles. Initially, this feature will be available to select users for testing, with a broader rollout planned as the system matures.
The timing coincides with other significant updates for Xbox. In November, Microsoft will allow users in the U.S. to purchase and stream Xbox games directly through the Xbox mobile app for Android. This move follows a recent court decision that compels Google to stop enforcing its Google Play Billing system for apps in the Play Store starting November 1st. Sarah Bond, Xbox president, confirmed this development, stating, “Starting in November, players can play and purchase Xbox games directly from the Xbox App on Android.” Once the feature is fully integrated, players will be able to buy an Xbox game on their Android device and stream it instantly.
Originally, Project xCloud aimed to launch game library streaming in 2020. While Microsoft announced plans in 2022 to integrate game library streaming into Xbox Cloud Gaming, the rollout faced delays due to the complexity of scaling infrastructure to accommodate thousands of games. Although this expansion promises a vast library, some titles may remain unavailable due to licensing restrictions or agreements with publishers.
Additionally, Microsoft is working on a browser-based Xbox mobile store, initially focused on deals and in-game items. Testing began in August, with plans to expand its offerings to include first-party games. Microsoft expects to share more updates on this initiative soon.
Sources: The Verge