Microsoft's Surface Duo could be the perfect standalone Xbox Game Pass phone thanks to a new update that adds dual-screen device support.

Instead of pairing the phone with a controller or using single-display touch controls, the new version of the Game Pass beta for Android effectively turns the Surface Duo into a Nintendo DS-style device. Unfortunately, Mario is not yet available.

Some Game Pass games already support touch controls on Android, such as Minecraft Dungeons, but the interface is not as good. First of all, both hands occupy a large portion of the screen, which is definitely not an ideal way to play.

However, Microsoft may be on to something by splitting the action between the Surface Duo's two displays. The upper screen is the gaming display, while the lower screen has a full set of controls.

The fact that touch controls are not as tactile as physical controllers still needs to be addressed. However, it's nothing compared to carrying around an Xbox controller to enjoy games on the go. [According to Windows Central, developers will also be given the option to change the on-screen controller. So different games may have different buttons and settings that work best for their gameplay style. Of course, using the touchscreen also means that Game Pass titles like Gears 5 can take advantage of the Surface Duo's gyro controls. In other words, by physically moving the phone, it will be possible to rotate the in-game camera. Another feature that Microsoft seems to have borrowed from the Nintendo DS, and which is not found in the Xbox controller.

This update means that Microsoft is interested in giving people choices. Game Pass is compatible with Xbox controllers, clip-on gaming peripherals like the Razer Kishi, and DS-style dual-screen controls. In other words, it doesn't matter how you want to play games on your phone, you can choose the style that works best for you.

For now, what we want to know is whether this feature will also be available on other dual-screen and foldable devices. Especially those with the same "foldable" design as the Surface Duo, such as Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 2.

If you want to take advantage of this update yourself, you must first subscribe to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. A regular Game Pass membership will not allow you to stream games to your Android device. It costs $14.99 or £10.99 per month.