What is Xbox Cloud Gaming Service on an iPhone?

Microsoft lately made its  Xbox Cloud Gaming service available on iOS devices which means iPhone and iPad users can play Xbox games using the Safari browser. It’s not free and you have to pay the $14.99 subscription price for the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, which is how you can get access to Xbox Cloud Gaming.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate provides access to more than 100 games on Xbox, PCs, and mobile devices, plus same-day release access to Xbox Game Studios titles.

If you want to try out Xbox Cloud Gaming, you can pay $1 to get three months of access to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. After that three-month period, the subscription is priced at $14.99 per month.

How to set up Xbox Cloud Gaming Service (Beta) on Xbox.com?

With just a few steps, you will be ready to play games directly on your Apple device from the cloud.

Note that the Participation to play the game is by invitation email only. There is no registration required and requests for invites will not be accepted. After you receive the invitation, get started by adding Cloud Gaming to your home screen:

Open Safari on your iPhone

Navigate to xbox.com/play

Sign in with the Microsoft account associated with your Xbox account

Select the Share button, then Add to Home Screen

Tap Add

Once you have added Cloud Gaming to your home screen, to play a game:

Launch Cloud Gaming from your home screen (you may need to sign in again)

Pair your Xbox Wireless Controller to your Apple device

Select any game in the cloud gaming library and start playing.

Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) on Xbox.com via Apple devices is currently available by invite in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States.

To use Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) on Xbox.com with Apple devices, you must meet the minimum requirements below:

• iOS 14.4 or later. Note: If you visit Xbox.com/play with a device running a version of iOS prior to 14.4 you will experience issues loading the web content. You will need to update your device to iOS 14.4+ to be able to access Xbox.com/play from your Apple device.
• Browser: Safari
• Bluetooth 4.0 or later
• Bandwidth 10 Mbps or higher for iPhone, 20 Mbps or higher for iPad
• Controller and input: Although touch controls are enabled for select titles, an Xbox Wireless Controller is recommended. iOS support is coming in the future for the new Xbox Wireless Controller (included with Xbox Series X|S)
• You need membership to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

Xbox Cloud Gaming Verified Devices are iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max.

Which controllers you can use for cloud gaming on Xbox?

When you use the Xbox Game Pass app or a web browser for cloud gaming, Microsoft recommends using an Xbox Wireless Controller connected via Bluetooth or USB cable. Many other types of wired and Bluetooth controllers can also work for cloud gaming.

• Official Xbox manufactured by Microsoft specifically for gaming with Xbox
• Designed for Xbox Xbox-branded partner devices that are designed for cloud gaming
• Verified non-Microsoft  controllers the Xbox team has tested and verified for cloud gaming

Note the following when setting up your controller for cloud gaming:

Controllers that are identified as Official Xbox and Designed for Xbox are optimized for the best cloud gaming experience. Verified controllers will work for cloud gaming but maybe less optimal.

For the best performance, update your controller to the latest firmware. You can update your Xbox Wireless Controller

Some controllers can be used with a wired connection instead of Bluetooth. The quality of a wired connection may vary on different devices, OS versions, or manufacturer’s controller firmware. To test a wired connection, connect your USB cable to your device and then to your controller. In some cases, the buttons will light up if the connection is successful.

If you’re using a web browser to play cloud games, the Xbox Wireless Controller is currently the only officially supported controller. Other controllers may or may not work for cloud gaming on a browser.

iOS currently supports Xbox One controllers with Bluetooth capability, Xbox Wireless Controllers included with Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2, and the Xbox Adaptive Controller. 

How to pair to Xbox Wireless Controller to your iPhone using Bluetooth?

When using your Xbox controller with a mobile device, your performance may vary depending on the device and the mobile operating system version.

To pair your Apple device via Bluetooth:

• On your Apple device, go to Settings > Bluetooth.
• Make sure Bluetooth is turned on.
• Turn on your Xbox Wireless Controller by pressing the Xbox button . If it’s already paired to an Xbox, turn off the controller, and then press and hold the Pair button for a few seconds.
• Your available devices will load. Select Xbox Wireless Controller.
• Wait until the controller and the Apple device show as paired.
• If you have any problems pairing or using your Xbox Wireless Controller with your Apple device, consult your device’s manufacturer’s support website for device compatibility.

Xbox Wireless Controller

Your Xbox Wireless Controller may support connecting to your device via Bluetooth. Your controller has this feature if it matches the one at the bottom in this image:

The Xbox Wireless Controller can connect via Bluetooth to many PCs, tablets, laptops, and VR/AR headsets. However, reliability is dependent on the device’s Bluetooth card and experiences may vary.

Xbox Wireless Controllers can only connect to one device at a time. If you’ve paired it with your mobile device, you’ll need to reconnect it to your console.

For that simply press the Pair button on the console and your controller to reconnect your controller. When you want to cloud game or control your console remotely, you can reconnect your controller to your mobile device using your Bluetooth connection.

The Xbox Wireless Controller that comes with Xbox Series X|S includes a feature that allows for quickly switching between a paired Bluetooth device and an Xbox console. If the controller is connected to a Bluetooth device, double-press the Pair button and the controller will immediately switch its connection to the last Xbox console it was paired to.

Then, to switch back to the paired Bluetooth device, press and hold the Pair button to start pairing mode. The controller will automatically connect to the Bluetooth device you were just using while it also searches for new devices – just in case you want to connect a different Bluetooth device or Xbox console. If it doesn’t find a new device nearby in pairing mode, it will remain connected to the previous Bluetooth device.

Note that Bluetooth does not support any attachments, such as headsets, chat pads, or the Xbox Stereo Headset Adapter. It’s recommended that you have only one wireless controller connected via Bluetooth. Connecting more than one controller with Bluetooth may be possible, but performance can vary depending on your device.

Also, there are a variety of non-Microsoft controllers that will also work with a Bluetooth or USB connection for cloud gaming on Xbox.

For ease and comfort, using a phone clip can help hold and stabilize your phone while playing with a controller. If you do not already own a mobile phone clip that will work with an Xbox Wireless Controller, you can get a generic clip from third-party retailers, like Amazon, or purchase an exclusively built PowerA clip from the Microsoft Store.

How to supply feedback on Xbox Cloud Gaming on Xbox.com?

After launching Xbox Cloud Gaming Service on Xbox.com, you can quickly file feedback from the home screen or from within a game.

• From the Home Screen
• Select your Gamerpic at the top right
• Select Give feedback from the menu

From Within a Game

If you experience any issues while playing a game, please use this option and file feedback immediately to capture the proper logs.

Select the ellipses menu button (…) in the top left corner of the screen.

From the Menu screen, select the Feedback button.

Select Good or Bad if you have something simple to report, or choose tell them more if you have more details or a screenshot to include.

Once You’re on the Feedback Screen

Now describe the issue in as much detail as possible. The better the explanation the better chance we have of eliminating the issue or changing the experience in the future.

If you have captured a screenshot, selecting the Include screenshot button will allow you to access your photo’s folder and select your screenshot to include the image with your feedback.

Once you have completed your feedback, click the Submit button to get your feedback sent to the cloud gaming team. (Source: Xbox)

Conclusion

We hope that now you understand everything about the Xbox Cloud gaming service on iPhone. Hopefully, you will more fun now playing games on it than you did before.