Xbox Cloud Gaming is Microsoft’s cloud gaming service that enables players to stream video games without the need to download them. This service has been under development since 2016 but has only recently been made available on a larger scale. The Xbox Cloud Gaming service is available to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate customers, and while it is still in Beta testing, the initial launch has been largely successful.
This method of video game delivery could well be the future of gaming, as it cuts out the need for downloads entirely. With so many amazing titles available to stream right now, including The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Halo: Infinite, Microsoft’s Game Pass Ultimate service truly seems like a stroke of genius.
For Honor
For Honor is Ubisoft’s fantasy fighting game that allows players to go to battle with warriors from several different historical factions. Although it has been out for some time, the game’s multiplayer is still very much alive, and its addition to the Xbox Cloud Gaming catalog will only increase the size of its player base.
The game’s relative success is down to its unique (and much-vaunted) combat mechanics, which makes the gameplay both challenging and satisfying. It is for this reason that For Honor is unrivaled in the realm of medieval multiplayer fighting games, and it is certainly worth trying with Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
EA’s reign as the producer of Star Wars games has certainly been contentious, with the colossal company having been quite hit or miss with their video game productions set in a galaxy far, far away. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order has been one of EA’s hits, and the game received widespread praise upon its release.
Thanks to Microsoft and EA’s new landmark partnership, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order is available to stream with Xbox Cloud Gaming for Game Pass Ultimate customers. Fans of Star Wars and fans of action-adventure single-player games should not shy away from giving Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order a try, especially considering how easy Microsoft’s streaming service makes it.
Fallout 4
The much-anticipated sequel to Fallout 3 hit the shelves in 2015 and quickly established itself as one of the best role-playing games around. With Microsoft’s recent purchase of Bethesda, it is no surprise that the juggernaut title has been added to the Game Pass catalog.
Amazingly, Fallout 4 is available to be streamed with Xbox Cloud Gaming, despite the game’s vast open map and immersive world. This is a testament to how advanced Microsoft’s cloud technology actually is, and it can only improve from here. Fallout 4 is arguably one of the best role-playing games ever, and the possibility to play it without a download will certainly tempt a new generation of gamers to give the game a try and fall in love with it.
Sea Of Thieves
Sea of Thieves is a critically acclaimed open-world pirate game developed exclusively for Microsoft platforms. Its widespread acclaim comes from its unique and refreshing take on the well-explored genre of multiplayer open-world games, which gives players the opportunity to traverse the high seas as a pirate with a crew of friends.
Sea of Thieves thrives on having a large player base, so the inevitable wave of new players that will be gained from its inclusion on the Game Pass catalog will only make the game better. Microsoft struck gold with this title, and its inclusion on the Xbox Cloud Gaming service represents that.
ARK: Survival Evolved
Despite having been released in 2017, Ark: Survival Evolved still has a substantial player base that will only grow with its inclusion in Microsoft’s cloud gaming service. Ark: Survival Evolved is both a single-player and multiplayer survival game set in a breathtaking open world packed with a vast array of prehistoric-style creatures.
Ark: Survival Evolved’s inclusion on the Xbox Game Pass catalog will certainly help to attract some new players to the franchise in preparation for the upcoming sequel. Additionally, the game’s download size is quite substantial due to the size and detail of its open-world map, so it definitely benefits from being available to stream on the cloud.
Halo: The Master Chief Collection
As expected, Microsoft has packed the Xbox Game Pass back catalog with its many Halo titles, from Halo: Spartan Assault to Halo Wars 2. There is no title more comprehensive than Halo: The Master Chief Collection, which is a compilation of all of the best Halo games in one place.
Although Halo: The Master Chief Collection should be considered the holy grail for Halo fans, the game is infamous for its enormous download size, which will take up a substantial chunk of even the largest Xbox hard drives. However, this issue is obsolete with the game now able to be played without a download, thanks to its inclusion on the Xbox Cloud Gaming service.
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege
Despite having been out for over five years, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege is still going strong, with free downloadable content packages having kept the game relevant over the years. It is arguably one of the best first-person shooters of all time thanks to its multiplayer that encourages teamwork and tactical play.
As with any game that is primarily geared towards its multiplayer modes, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege can only benefit from an increased number of players. More players are exactly what the game will receive after having been made compatible with the Xbox Cloud Gaming delivery method.
Forza Horizon 5
One of the many benefits of being an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate member is the ability to play certain games on the day of their release. Over the past few months, there have been many games available to play on day one with the Game Pass, but few titles have been as substantial as Forza Horizon 5.
Forza is a colossal franchise and one of the leaders in the racing genre, and Forza Horizon 5 has been very well-received by fans and critics, thus far. Microsoft has set an impressive precedent by making a title like this free with the Game Pass, and they have set an even more impressive precedent by enabling the game to be streamed with Xbox Cloud Gaming.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is undoubtedly one of the greatest games ever made, which is why it is still relevant and highly playable even after 10 years since its release. Skyrim is one of the best role-playing games for both beginners and experts of the genre, making it a perfect game to have on the Xbox Game Pass.
It is difficult to see how exploring Tamriel will ever get old, which is why Skyrim has been re-released on multiple generations of consoles, including the Xbox Series X. Despite its immersive world and vast map, Skyrim can be streamed with the Xbox Cloud Gaming service, making the game even more accessible to new players than it already was.
Halo Infinite
Not only is the latest iteration of Microsoft’s marquee franchise free to play on day one with the Xbox Game Pass, but it is also available to be streamed with Xbox Cloud Gaming. Halo Infinite is the much-anticipated continuation to the story of the Master Chief and the first to be released on the Xbox Series X, which is a mouthwatering prospect for fans of Halo’s beautifully immersive universe.
Microsoft’s decision to allow gamers to stream Halo Infinite is an interesting one, as it opens the door to performance issues and other internet-related bugs, which may ruin the gameplay experience. However, one thing is for sure, people who were on the fence about Halo Infinite will certainly be more tempted to give it a try, which will undoubtedly translate to an increase in Halo fans.