Microsoft xCloud finally available on iPad and iPhone as cloud-powered Xbox game streaming service becomes available in Safari.

After beta testing Xbox Cloud Gaming on Safari, Chrome, and Edge, Microsoft announced that it is ready to launch the full release of xCloud "in the coming weeks". This means that Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will be able to "enjoy games on almost any device with a single click," which will include iOS and iPadOS gadgets.

Microsoft initially tried to bring Xbox game streaming to Apple devices via the App Store. Apple's App Store essentially required each game available in the app to be individually vetted. By switching to a browser-based experience instead, Microsoft was able to avoid the headaches of Apple's strict policies.

This means that the Xbox Game Pass app on iOS will not support in-app game streaming like it does on Android. However, it does provide a way to stream some of the best Xbox Game Pass games to the iPad and iPhone.

The news comes at a time when Microsoft has praised its efforts to bring Xbox Game Pass to "more screens." Not only is Game Pass coming to TVs, but the company is also working on its own streaming device that will "bring cloud gaming to gamers on any TV or monitor without the need for a console at all."

Given the circumstances surrounding the restocking of the Xbox Series X and the PS5, gamers still desperate to get their hands on a new console should be somewhat calmed by this news: Xbox boss Phil Spencer has moved away from console hardware, and is now working to bring the Xbox to the gaming world, He is keen to move away from the console hardware and focus on services that will make Xbox more accessible than ever to the game library.

"We believe that games and interactive entertainment are not about hardware or software. It's not pixels either. It is people. Games bring people together. Games build bridges, they build bonds, they create mutual empathy between people all over the world." Joy and community, that's why we are here."

That's all well and good, but it's worth noting that smooth streaming of Xbox games requires a relatively robust Internet connection or mobile broadband. Microsoft recommends 5Ghz Wi-Fi or a mobile data connection with a download speed of 10Mbps.

Still, Game Pass is definitely a must for avid Xbox fans; Xbox game streaming is part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which offers more than 100 new and old Xbox and PC games to play. In addition, game saves are synced between console, cloud, and PC, and, with a caveat, you can currently subscribe to Game Pass for just $1.