Microsoft has been busy making Xbox Cloud Gaming announcements over the last day. I have already covered the upcoming launch of the Xbox TV app on Samsung products. Elsewhere, Microsoft is also bringing the ability to play games from an Xbox library, while also confirming Xbox Cloud Gaming for Argentina and New Zealand.
Let's start with support for Xbox libraries. In fact, before getting into the details it is worth mentioning the reason Microsoft is throwing out a bunch of Xbox announcements is because the Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase is coming in a few days (June 12). This is essentially a celebration of Microsoft's $7bn+ acquisition of ZeniMax Media where we will learn the company's plans for Bethesda properties.
Back to the current announcements, Microsoft says the ability to play games the customer already owns is one of the big requests amongst Xbox Cloud Gaming customers. Now the company is giving them what they want… soon:
“We're excited to share that later this year, it's our intent to roll out the ability for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members to play, from the cloud, select games they already own or have purchased outside the Xbox Game Pass library,” the Xbox team says.
Expanding Availability
Alongside that announcement, Microsoft also revealed Xbox Cloud Gaming is coming to two new markets. Specifically, Argentina and New Zealand are next in line for the Xbox cloud streaming platform.
Like in other regions, customers will need to be Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers to access the entire game library. Although, Fortnite is available without a Game Pass subscription. This expansion means Xbox Cloud Gaming is now available in 28 countries.
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