Xbox game streaming is now open to all iPhone and iPad users, provided they access the service through the Safari browser and have an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription.

Previously an invite-only beta for iOS and iPadOS, Xbox Cloud Gaming (formerly known as xCloud) is now an open beta and available to all Apple device users. It is also now widely available to PC users, as it can be accessed through the Edge and Google Chrome browsers.

"As of today, Xbox Cloud Gaming is now available via browser to all Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members with Windows 10 PCs and Apple phones and tablets in 22 countries," said Xbox Cloud Gaming, explained Katherine Gluckstein, Vice President, Head of Product for Gaming.

Due to limitations in Apple's App Store, Xbox Cloud Gaming cannot be offered through the Xbox Game Pass app on iOS as it is on Android. Therefore, it must be accessed through the Safari browser.

If you have an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription, you can access xbox.com/play from Safari on iOS and create a shortcut to Xbox Cloud Gaming on your home screen. Simply tap the browser's Share button and select the name of the progressive web app.

Additional hardware is not necessarily required to play Xbox Cloud Gaming titles on your phone, including Minecraft Dungeons, Yakuza: Like A Dragon, and Gears 5. According to Microsoft, about one-sixth of people who play Game Pass titles through the cloud use touch controls.

In addition to Xbox wireless controllers, Xbox Cloud Gaming supports a number of first- and third-party peripherals, including the Razer Kishi (see image above) and the Backbone One controller, which is designed for iOS. support. Sony's PlayStation 4 controller, the DualShock 4, can also be used. At least for now, a controller is required to use Xbox Cloud Gaming on a PC, as mouse and keyboard input are not supported.

The web browser and iOS move are not the only upgrades Microsoft has announced for Xbox Cloud Gaming. The company is improving the infrastructure of the service, which now runs on custom Xbox Series X hardware. Games are now streamed at up to 1080p and 60 frames per second, which should make playing on Xbox Cloud Gaming look and feel smoother.

However, these rollouts do not solve the problem of poor Internet connectivity; Xbox Cloud Gaming requires a minimum speed of 10 Mbps, and Microsoft recommends a 5Ghz Wi-Fi connection. Millions of Americans do not have reliable, fast, affordable Internet access. This is a barrier to Microsoft's goal of reaching as many gamers as possible, and the company is trying to do something about it by expanding Internet access throughout the United States.

There is no sign yet of an Xbox Cloud Gaming streaming stick or smart TV app that Microsoft is working on. Still, the browser and iOS rollout are important steps in Microsoft's long journey to free major games from consoles and powerful PCs and make them as accessible as possible. When you're hanging out in the park this summer, bring your iPad or iPhone and a controller so you can play an Xbox game while enjoying the great weather.