Summary
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Microsoft is reportedly planning major improvements for Xbox Cloud Gaming.
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The company is said to be working on 4K gaming support, as well as expanding the catalog of non-Game Pass titles that can be streamed.
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It is currently unclear when exactly these updates are expected to arrive.
Microsoft is reportedly working on some major ones Xbox cloud gaming updates, including support for 4K streaming and the ability to play more proprietary games, among other new features. Such improvements would help boost the overall value proposition of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, the highest tier of Microsoft's subscription service and still the only way to access the company's cloud gaming platform.
Xbox Cloud Gaming was initially introduced as Project xCloud at E3 2018. A public preview version of the service launched in 2019, a year before the xCloud name was dropped in favor of its current moniker. Xbox Cloud Gaming became available to all Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers in June 2021. Since then, the service has consistently received updates that expand its capabilities and performance.

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Even more updates are now on the horizon, according to a new report from Windows Central's Jez Corden. The insider claims that Microsoft is currently working on bringing 4K streaming support and higher bitrates to its service. The company is also said to be looking to expand the catalog of non-Game Pass titles that can be played via Xbox Cloud Gaming. Support for streaming-owned games was initially rolled out in December 2024.
Microsoft is reportedly improving Xbox's cloud gaming infrastructure
Additionally, Corden reports that Microsoft is working to improve the Xbox Cloud Gaming infrastructure. To that end, the company is believed to have begun allocating a larger supply of chips to the service. Such a move means Xbox Cloud Gaming is growing in popularity, prompting Microsoft to upgrade its server farms to keep up with consumer demand. For context, the streaming service relies on custom Xbox Series
It is currently unclear when exactly Microsoft plans to introduce these alleged updates. Based on the company's track record, it is likely that all these improvements will be rolled out to select users first, and then gradually expand their reach. A similar approach is all but guaranteed for features like 4K streaming, which will require a thorough and phased stress test of the Xbox Cloud Gaming infrastructure before its global launch. 4K gaming itself feels like a significant upgrade for the service, which has been limited to 1080p/60fps streaming since the days of Project xCloud.
Improving Xbox Cloud Gaming is one of the ways Microsoft is trying to drive the growth of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. And while the company naturally hopes to sell as many of its higher-tier subscriptions as possible, it's also said to be considering launching a cloud-only edition of Xbox Game Pass from at least summer 2024.

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is the highest tier of Microsoft's flagship game subscription service that offers over 100 game titles you can play with a single purchase, making it one of the Xbox ecosystem's most exceptional value propositions to date .