Project xCloud Test Game for Xbox One shows up on the Microsoft Store

Laurent Giret

As Microsoft is now gearing up for the Project xCloud public beta coming in October, Microsoft watcher WalkingCat spotted an xCloud Test Game for Xbox One on the Microsoft Store today. The store listing has no description and a placeholder image, but the fact that this is targeting the Xbox One is quite surprising.

https://twitter.com/h0x0d/status/1156491354832113664

Back at E3 2019, Microsoft made it pretty clear that it was initially focusing on smartphones with Project xCloud, and all the public demos we’ve seen so far were done on smartphones. Google will be exploring a different road with its own Stadia game streaming service, which will be available on TVs with a Chromecast Ultra, PCs with Google’s Chrome web browser, and select Google Pixel smartphones.

We don’t yet if the full-fledged Project xCloud service will eventually be available on Xbox One consoles, but Microsoft announced at E3 that it was working on a separate console streaming feature that will allow Xbox One owners to stream Xbox games they own to mobile devices. This feature is expected to launch later this year, and it has yet to make its way to Xbox Insider builds.

We hope to get more details about Project xCloud at gamescom next month, as the event will be the first time Microsoft lets the general public go hands on with the game streaming service. With pre-orders for the Google Stadia Founders Edition already opened, Microsoft shouldn’t wait too long before revealing the business model for Project xCloud and other important details to help gamers choose between the two services later this Fall.