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Microsoft Bringing Classic Xbox Games to Its Cloud Gaming Service

Microsoft is working on expanding the cloud gaming functionality to PCs and iOS devices this spring. So you'll be able to stream classic Xbox titles on a Windows laptop soon.

 & Michael Kan Principal Reporter

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Microsoft is unlocking a new way to enjoy classic Xbox titles that won’t require you to dust off the old consoles. The company is adding 16 titles from the original Xbox and Xbox 360 era to its cloud gaming service, enabling fans to enjoy them on Android smartphones. 

The cloud gaming service is a perk for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which costs $14.99 a month. It can currently stream newer Xbox games to your Android phone or tablet online. Now Microsoft wants to add some of the best games from Xbox history to the mix. 

“We’ve listened to the feedback, going all the way back to our earliest cloud gaming preview, and making games from previous generations available on mobile devices has been one of the most requested features by the community,” the company said on Wednesday. 

The 16 games include Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, Banjo-Kazooie, Fable II and Fallout: New Vegas. Three of the games—Jetpac Refuelled, Viva Pinata, and Viva Pinata TIP—can also be played simply using the touch controls on your smartphone. (The other titles will require a Bluetooth-connected controller.) 

“With games connected through the Xbox network, you’re able to bring past saves with you and play along with gamers from around the world,” the company added. 

Currently, the cloud gaming function, also known as xCloud, is only available for Android smartphones and tablets. But Microsoft is working on expanding the streaming to PCs and iOS devices this spring

Here are the 16 games being added. Expect more classic Xbox titles to be added over time. 

  • Banjo-Kazooie
  • Banjo-Tooie
  • Double Dragon Neon
  • Fable II
  • Fallout: New Vegas
  • Gears of War 2
  • Gears of War 3
  • Gears of War: Judgment
  • Jetpac Refuelled (touch controls enabled)
  • Kameo
  • Perfect Dark
  • Perfect Dark Zero
  • The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
  • The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
  • Viva Piñata (touch controls enabled)
  • Viva Piñata: TIP (touch controls enabled)

About Our Expert

Michael Kan

Michael Kan

Principal Reporter

My Experience

I've been a journalist for over 15 years. I got my start as a schools and cities reporter in Kansas City and joined PCMag in 2017, where I cover satellite internet services, cybersecurity, PC hardware, and more. I'm currently based in San Francisco, but previously spent over five years in China, covering the country's technology sector.

Since 2020, I've covered the launch and explosive growth of SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet service, writing 600+ stories on availability and feature launches, but also the regulatory battles over the expansion of satellite constellations, fights with rival providers like AST SpaceMobile and Amazon, and the effort to expand into satellite-based mobile service. I've combed through FCC filings for the latest news and driven to remote corners of California to test Starlink's cellular service.

I also cover cyber threats, from ransomware gangs to the emergence of AI-based malware. In 2024 and 2025, the FTC forced Avast to pay consumers $16.5 million for secretly harvesting and selling their personal information to third-party clients, as revealed in my joint investigation with Motherboard.

I also cover the PC graphics card market. Pandemic-era shortages led me to camp out in front of a Best Buy to get an RTX 3000. I'm now following how the AI-driven memory shortage is impacting the entire consumer electronics market. I'm always eager to learn more, so please jump in the comments with feedback and send me tips.

The Best Tech I've Had:

  • My first video game console: a Nintendo Famicom
  • I loved my Sega Saturn despite PlayStation's popularity.
  • The iPod Video I received as a gift in college
  • Xbox 360 FTW
  • The Galaxy Nexus was the first smartphone I was proud to own.
  • The PC desktop I built in 2013, which still works to this day.

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