Want to play Xbox’s cloud gaming service on your smartphone, but don’t have a controller?
Microsoft is addressing the issue by adding touch-screen-based controls to 10 more games on its xCloud service for Android smartphones and tablets.
Check out the feature on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which added the xCloud service as a free perk last month. Currently, you can play more than 100 titles via the cloud gaming option, which negates the need to own the Xbox hardware. Instead, Microsoft will stream the game experience directly over an internet connection.
However, a key limitation is how the games require a controller to play, like you normally would with an Xbox console. Initially, the only exception was Minecraft Dungeons, for which Microsoft added touch-screen-based controls. But now mobile gamers can enjoy 10 more games on xCloud without needing to own a controller.
The 10 games include:
- Dead Cells
- Gucamelee! 2
- Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
- Hotshot Racing
- Killer Instinct
- New Super Lucky’s Tale
- Slay The Spire
- Streets of Rage 4
- Tell Me Why
- UnderMine
As you can see, the list doesn’t cover many of the Xbox’s most popular titles, particularly first-person shooters. But Microsoft says more games will get touch control support in the future.
“Touch controls have been one of the top-requested features for cloud gaming,” Catherine Gluckstein, Microsoft General Manager for xCloud, said in today’s announcement. “So to build this collection we worked closely with players and game designers to create a familiar experience, and support a level of play that you’re used to with a physical controller.”
Microsoft essentially tailored the virtual controls to work for each game. So for Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, “you’ll see the controls change as you move around and fighting controls will appear when you encounter the Northmen,” Gluckstein said.
For other games, Microsoft added the virtual controls without modifying the game experience. You’ll also be able to change the button layout. “People’s hands are different and that’s why we added customization, so you can put the controls in the place on screen that works best for you,” Gluckstein added.