With Call of Duty now under the Microsoft umbrella, the big green giant had previously flexed its muscles by making Black Ops 6 available Day One on some Game Pass membership optio??n?s. Now, the company has confirmed it'll ?come to the Cloud, too, on the same day??.

In an Xbox Wire blog post, Microsoft has announced Black Ops 6, as well as Call of Duty's Battle Royale Warzone and last year's Modern Warfare 3, will be coming to Cloud Gaming on October 25.

You can play Black Ops 6 on your phone

As per ??the blog, on October 25 (Black Ops 6's la??unch day), all three games will arrive on Xbox Cloud Gaming.

"We’re thrilled to reveal that Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 will be playable with Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) for Gam??e?? Pass Ultimate members at launch and will begin rolling out to players on October 25, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. PT," it reads.

"In addition, we’re also bringing Xbox Cloud Gaming support to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III and Call of Duty: Warzone for Game Pass Ultimate members on the same day."

It'll be interesting to see how popular Modern Warfare 3 is on mobile with its successor dropping on the service the same day, but there's always room for Favela and R?ust in our hearts.

Black Ops 6 will mark the first Day One Game Pass launch since Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard, with Modern Warfare 3 coming to the sub??scription service jus?t a few months ago.

This month has already been a solid month for the service, with Inscryption and Sifu being added, as well as MLB The Show 24.

The post You can play Blac?k Ops 6, Warzone?? & Modern Warfare 3 on your phone this month appeared first on Destructoid.

If you needed a reason to bec?ome an early adopter of the Meta Quest 3, here’s one: Xbox Cloud Gaming is on its way to the next gen? headset. 

In a post by the official Meta Quest VR account on Twitter, the company confirmed that players can soon experience games like Halo Infinite, Starfield, and Forza Motorsport on the device. Furthermore, the attached video showcases how the virtual screen should look in?? ?a mixed reality environment.

This news, in particular, is actually a long time coming. Back in October of 2022, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella confirmed that Xbox Cloud Gaming would appear on the platform. Then, during this year's Meta Connect Keynote presentation, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed the service will launch in December. This was, admittedly, a small note in a long presentation, so?? no details were revealed that t?he Twitter post didn't already cover.

Xbox Cloud Gaming is currently included as a part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which costs $16.99 per month. The Meta Blog confirms that this same subscription service will wo??rk here. Do note that players will also need a "supported controller," which presumably means something Xb?ox compatible.

The Meta Quest 3 will launch on October 10. Preorders are available now, with prices starting at $499.99.

The post Xbox Cloud Gaming is coming to Meta ?Quest 3 this December appeared first on Destructoid.

Logitech's cloud gaming handheld will launch at $350, with pre-orders coming in $50 cheaper

After much speculation and some leaks, Logitech has lifted the lid on its new built-for-cloud-gaming handheld system, the Logitech G Cloud, ahead of its October 17 launch. It's a device for players who actively use services like Xbox Cloud Gaming or Nvidia Ge??Force Now (or even Steam ??Link), but plenty of us are still only dabbling in this stuff at best.

The handheld Android device has a 7-inch 1080p touchscreen, a supposed 12-hour battery life, and "haptics, gyroscope, and remappable control," according to Logitech. I will say, it's a sleek design. The Logitech G Cloud is 10.11 inches by 4.61 inches, and weighs ??463 grams, which would sandwich it between the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck.

How powerful is it? The processor is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G, an "octa-core CPU up to 2.3GHz." Per The Verge, it's got 4GB of ??LPDDR4X RAM and 64GB of UFS st??orage.

Here's the tricky bit: at launch in October, the Logitech G Cloud will cost a hard-to-justify $350 �but for those who pre-order, the handheld system will be $300. Still!

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6104nB2pFs

In other w??ords, it's a cool device that's going to feel way too limiting �unless, of course, you're really down to play games over Wi-Fi right now. I could see more of us getting there collectively, eventually, but even with some positive Xbox Cloud Gaming experiences, this feels too early to me. Especially compared to the Steam De??ck (and future iterations).

Game Pass is doing the heavy lifting

One big selling point is the Xbox angle. According to VP of Xbox Cloud Gaming Catherine Gluckstein, they've "worked with Logitech to enable our Remote Play feature, also pinned as a shortcut to the home screen. Remote Play differs fr?om Xbox Cloud Gaming by letting you stream your full Xbox library �going beyond titles in Xbox G??ame Pass �from your personal Xbox console to phones, tablets, and now handhelds."

The head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, tweeted that he's "been using the Logitech G Cloud for about a month," and called it an "incredible streaming device for playing while I'm away from my console. I love the feel, the battery life, and screen size. Took it to Europe and TGS with me and had a great time playing, even on hotel Wi-Fi."

[caption id="attachment_345495" align="alignnone" width="1384"] _{A nice design, but there's tough competition.}[/caption]

That said, Xbox cloud support is only getting easier to come by.

Even in good circumstances, mileage can vary considerably for cloud gaming. Are you outright against this kind of streaming handheld, or cou??ld you see a use for it in your life? Either way, I think most of us will agree tha?t the price is tough to overlook.

It's not a one-to-one comparison, but I would argue that using a newer phone with a mobile controller (or? a gamepad ??attachment) will get the job done for a lot of us.

The post The streaming Logitec?h G Cloud handheld is a tough ??sell appeared first on Destructoid.

A new presentation just showcased some Xbox cloud gaming enhancements

Xbox cloud gaming mouse and keyboard support, continually teased for roughly a year now, is finally coming to the platform. Announced by way of the Microsoft Game Dev YouTube channe?l in a stream meant to assist developers creating projects on the? Xbox platform, the long-awaited feature is going to be rolled out widely this year.

Xbox engineer Morgan Brown started the segment (which begins at 16:45 in the below video) on how they've been looking at adding the feature "for a while now," and are finally implementing it. As Brown puts it, developers can add the feature "right now," as a?? way to plus up the game for folks who aren't using cloud gaming on PC already.

Brown also touched on a few other topics that will make Xbox cloud gaming that much smoother in the future:

• Tricks to achieve lower latency for cloud gaming, which results in snappier controls
• The introduction of direct capture for cloud gaming
• Tips to create a better UI for mobile devices that avoid the "tiny text problem"
• Full screen rendering system changes that allow for more custom resolutions, so cloud gaming looks better overall (with less black bars, and even resizing on the fly)
• Easier access to adding subtitles for accessibility, as well as brightness, audio, and controller remapping options (with options to save individual device settings, so you don't need to constantly remap or readjust)

All good stuff! So far Microsoft has been one of the better purveyors of cloud gaming, so hopefully the above bullet point enhancements contin??ue to flow like wine.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WIXftoHCl4

The post Xbox cloud gaming is getting mouse and keyboar??d support ??soon appeared first on Destructoid.

Like something out of a really dark storybook

Obsidian is best known for RPGs like Pillars of Eternity or Outer Worlds, but this time they're taking on a new genre: narrative adventures. Today they announced their new project Pentiment, whic??h takes place in medieval times and features a gorgeous 2D art style. We didn't get a huge insight into what the story is about just yet, but it looks to be the usual kinds of things one would enc?ounter back in the day, including being burned at the stake.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXq20gant-4

Pentiment looks dark and compelling, and I have to admit it's refreshing to see a studio with such an impressive track record as Obsidian take on a project like this. As a huge fan of narrative games, this will definitely be one I'll be watching with a close eye. Pentiment will be releasing ?on Xbox consoles, PC, Cloud, and Xbox Game Pass in November 2022.

The post Pentiment is a medieval narrative adventure coming from Obsid?ian appeared first on Destructoid.

Gotta go fast

Forza is one of the most beloved racing games of all time, and the release of Forza 5 last year cemented its place in the gaming canon even further. Just when you think a good thing can't get better, it was announced during the Xbox Games Showcase today that Forza 5 is officially getting a Hot Wheel collab expansion, which was leaked earlier this week. The series has crossed over with Hot Wheels for every game in the series now since Forza 3, making it one of the most fun racing game traditions ??out there.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Idg18QJCbXU

The gameplay looks awesome, with huge looping orange tracks suspended over the beautiful landscapes that have become synonymous with Forza. The Hot Wheels expansion will be avai???lable on July 19 on Xbox, PC, Cloud, and Xbox Game Pass.

The post Forz?a 5 g??ets its own Hot Wheels crossover expansion appeared first on Destructoid.

Get ready for another harrowing adventure

A Plague Tale is a series that has made a name for itself in the action-adventure genre with its gorgeous visuals, compelling story and characters, and creative gameplay. The second game in the series, A Plague Tale: Requiem, was announced last summer, and we got a first look at its gameplay during the Game Awards in 2021 as well. Today, during the Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase, developer Asobo Studio showed off a new trailer, ??aptly titled "End of Inn?ocence."

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6trXEz1YvM

We got a closer look at some story, some gameplay, and some stunning set pieces, so it looks like we've got a lot to look forward to from A Plague Tale: Requiem. We don't have an exact release date as of yet, but the trailer did confirm that the game will be coming to Xbox Consoles, PC, and Cloud sometime in 2022, and of course, it w??ill be availab?le on Xbox Game Pass.

The post A Plague Tale:?? Requiem gets a chilling new trailer appeared first on Destructoid.

Take it to the Chorus

The Xbox Game Pass lineup for the start of June is out, and it's got some familiar faces. Ubisoft games, indies, and spaceships make up the first few June Xbox Game Pass entrants, though it sound??s like more are in store.

Assassin's Creed Origins is one of the headliners, bringing the massive journey through ancient Egypt onto cloud, console, and PC. As the first of Ubisoft's major overhaul of the series, it's historically relevant. And also, I'd argue, pretty alright. It's also getting 60 FPS support on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles on June 2, so good timing.

Another entry takes a different trip down memory lane. The Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection gathers up three games from the Ninja Gaiden series, plus all modes and DLC, into one set. If you've never seen Ryu Hayabusa in action outside the Dead or Alive fighti?ng games, this seems like a good way to h?andle that.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcvpVjEjVuk

Spacelines from the Far Out is the available day-one launch in June's early Game Pass lineup. It's a rogue-like co-op management game, and seems to mix some throwback aesthetics with space travel. It's got some Jetsons vibes, which seems pretty neat.

Xbox teases that it isn't done for the month, either. More games, release dates, and "possibly a few surprises" are in store. Maybe we'll get some news on more Game Pass updates at that upcoming Xbox and Bethesda showcase?

Xbox Game Pass Games for June

• For Honor: Marching Fire Edition (Cloud, console, PC) - June 1
• Ninja Gaiden: Master Collection (Console and PC) - June 2
• Assassin’s Creed Origins (Cloud, Console and PC) - June 7
• Chorus (Cloud, Console, and PC) - June 7
• Disc Room (Cloud, Console, and PC) - June 7
• Spacelines from the Far Out (Console and PC) - June 7

Leaving Xbox Game Pass on June 15

• Darkest Dungeon
• Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance
• Greedfall
• Limbo
• Worms Rumble

The post June Xbox?? Game Pass lineup includes assassins, knights,? and ninjas appeared first on Destructoid.

This month's Game Pass offerings cover a pretty wide variety of genres

More games are coming to Xbox Game Pass in March, and there's actually a little bit of something for everyone. This month's offerings run the gamut, from death games and adventure to sports and strategy. And, you know, whatever is happening in the weird Weird West.

The highlight of the month for me, personally, is Zero Escape: The Nonary Games. It's a collection of the first two Zero Escape entries, 999 and Virtue's Last Reward. Each one is a standout in their own right, and even better together. If you like Professor Layton or Danganronpa, or just enjoy a good puzzle-adventure game with a pretty brilliant narrative structure, make time for these. They hit Game Pass f?or PC, console, and cloud on March 22.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKgwrm_7Zsc

A few new releases are hitting the Xbox Game Pass in March, too. The console version of Crusader Kings III arrives on March 29, Weird West is available on day one at the very end of the month, and snowboarding game Shredders hits the powder on March 17.

Additionally, Xbox Touch Controls are getting added to a bunch of new games. Games like Among Us, Telling Lies, and Spelunky 2 a??re getting special touch contr?ols, so Game Pass Ultimate players can play them on their phones without controllers.

Coming to Xbox Game Pass in March 2022

• Shredders (Cloud, PC, Xbox Series X|S) - March 17
• The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk: The Amulet of Chaos (Cloud, console, PC) - March 17
• Tainted Grail: Conquest (Console) - March 22
• Zero Escape: The Nonary Games (Cloud, console, PC) - March 22
• Norco (PC) - March 24
• F1 2021 (Console) - March 24
• Crusader Kings III (Xbox Series X|S) - March 29
• Weird West (Cloud, console, PC) - March 31

The post Xbox Game Pass for March has c?onsole Crusader Kings III, No??nary Games, and more appeared first on Destructoid.

Speaking in the Pass Tense

A new slew of Xbox Game Pass arrivals got announced today, which included (of course) Halo Infinite. But alongside getting into the campaign, Xbox Game Pass owners are also getting some Halo Infinite multiplayer goodies.

In today's Xbox blog post, the company confirms that Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members will get Perks every month for Halo Infinite multiplayer. Xbox has been doing these bonuses for a while in different multiplayer games, but with Halo Infinite just aroun??d the c??orner, this will help add a little more variety to your cosmetic arsenal.

On Dec. 8, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate owners can pick up the 'Pass Tense' MA40 Assault Rifle coating for Halo Infinite, alongside four extra 2XP boosts and four Challenge Swaps. You'll need Halo Infinite multiplayer downloaded, obviously, and it will be available on ?Xbox, PC, and Xbox Cloud Gaming.

It's a pretty slick-looking skin, to be honest. I like the Xbox green shade, it fits with the whole 20th anniversary celebration they've been doing.

Now, can it replace the Nerf rifle skin that has been gracing the battlefields of all my Halo Infinite matches? Probably not. The skin rules. But if you haven't personally spent cash on buying a Nerf blaster you can use in Halo, then the 'Pass Tense' might be a nice freebie.

Moving forw?ard, it'll be interesting to see what 343 Industries keeps packing in. A steady trickle of XP boosts and Challenge Swaps would be nice, but I'm hoping for some cosmetics for rarer weapons too. Give me a Needler that glows green, or a Cindershot that does the Xbox noise when the shots go whizzing by.

Halo Infinite is currently live with its multiplayer beta, while the (single-player) campaign goes live next week on Dec. 8 for Xbox c?onsoles, PC, and Xbox Cloud Gaming.

The post Halo Infinite’s first monthly Game Pass Ultimate perks include a special skin appeared first on Destructoid.

You can stream games to your console with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription

Many of us are still iffy at best when it comes to cloud-based streaming, but with the right price and circumstances, the convenience factor can lend itself to potentially great experiences. Xbox Cloud Gaming is already up there for me just based on its ease of use and its inclusion in Xbox Game Pa??ss Ultimate. After letting players stream hundreds of Xbox games to a PC or phone, Microsoft has opened up the feature on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. If you're already a paying subscriber, cloud streaming is no extra cost.

The Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) service is launching in 25 regions, with Brazil to follow.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=2K_sGV1mM7A

"This capability will initially roll out with our November release to a subset of Xbox gamers and scale to all gamers in supported markets over the coming weeks," according to Xbox Cloud Gaming's vice president an??d head of product Catherine Gluckstein.

Apart from the time-saving benefit of hopping into a game you're unsure about without needing to fully download and install it, cloud-based gaming will be a chance for Xbox One owners to play some otherwise out-of-reach Xbox Series X/S exclusives on their aging console. Right now, The Medium, Recompile, and The Riftbreaker fall into this category, and the team says that Microsoft Flight Simulator will allow this "next-gen on last-gen" cloud streaming in early 2022. Other Series X/S-o??nly titles will join the cloud library too.

Seeing is believing with this stuff, so what's actually streamable? You can skim the list of cloud games over here (and that's also the link to p??lay games directly in your browser).

Even if you've had bad experiences with playing games via stream before, I still think Xbox Cloud Gaming, in particular, is worth a look nowadays. It would be nice if folks could briefly test?? it out in their specific tech setup before committing to a Game Pass Ultimate membership. That said, it's still a beta, and there's plenty of room for improvement.

Xbox Cloud Gaming isn't going to be my main way to play games anytime soon, but I can't understate how useful it can be �with a good connection �for chec?king out storage-hogging games or titles you're on the fence about playing. It pairs so well with Game Pass.

Just look for the little cloud icon on the game's cover ar??t.

The post Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S can now stream games with Xbox C??loud Gaming appeared first on Destructoid.

Even some Xbox Series X/S games like Microsoft Flight Sim will be playable via the cloud on Xbox One, but that support is coming 'in the future'

While it doesn't have an exact release date yet, Xbox now has a window in mind for the next major step in its cloud gaming plans �console streaming. Announced during the Xbox Gamescom show, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will be able to stream 100+ titles from the Xbox Game Pass library to their console(s) beginning holiday 2021.

Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One will both support Xbox Cloud Gaming, and the fe?atured games �which isn't just "everythin??g on Game Pass" �can go up to 1080p / 60fps.

//youtu.be/BomfVh2PSkM

Most interestingly, the plan will let you play Xbox Series X/S games on your Xbox One with cloud-based streaming. The Medium and Microsoft Flight Simulator are the big examples, and this particular functionality is even vaguer, timing-wise: it's "coming in the future."

Having tried out Xbox Cloud Gaming on my PC (but not a phone or tablet yet), I'm generally into this whole idea, depending on the circumstances. With a fast and stable connection on my end, and continual improvements to the tech o?n Microsoft's part, there's a future in which I'll just effortlessly stream a game to check it out fo??r a bit rather than go through the trouble of downloading it only to realize I don't really like it after a few minutes.

Some genres are much better suited to cloud gaming right now, and everyone has their own threshold for input latency a??nd compression artifacts, but Xbox is marching forward. As a perk for Game Pass Ultimate memberships, though, this makes total sense.

One thing Xbox has nailed with cloud gaming is seamlessness. It's so easy to jump from ??cloud gaming to traditional gaming without missing a beat (or your save data), and once phones, PCs, and consoles are all in the mix, that freedom will only feel more pronounced.

The post Xbox Cloud Gaming rolls onto consoles this holiday s?eason wit??h 1080p60 support appeared first on Destructoid.

Also, Microsoft Solitaire!

Xbox has announced the roster of games coming to Game Pass this month,? and it's a pretty varied and interesting lineup. This month, there are new games, old games, remasters, and also solitaire. Who doesn't lik??e solitaire?

Skate is one of the notable additions; the first Skate joins the EA Play list for console on Aug. 5, bringing the original's city skating to modern consoles. Skate 3 is also arriving on the same day for cloud gaming users. While it's been mostly missing from recent EA news rounds—save one brief teaser earlier in the summer—this is a nice reminder of what's to come for the ?series' return.

Katamari Damacy Reroll hits Xbox Game Pass on Aug. 5 as well, to bring the heavenly rolling action onto cloud, console, and PC. And if you somehow haven't played Hades yet, it's coming to those three platforms as well on Aug. 13, so you've got very few excuses left to play this very, very good game.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr__hTXlDZk

The stylish Art of Rally also arrives on Xbox Game Pass this month, if you're in the mood for some top-down racing with chill vibes from the creator of Absolute Drift. And Dodgeball Academia, an indie sports RPG I've been keeping my eye on,?????????????????????????? is set for Aug. 5 as well. I've got to admit, this month's lineup may not be the flashiest, but it's a? good and varied set of games I'm eager to test out.

Here's the full lineup announced by Xbox today:

• Curse of the Dead Gods (Cloud, console, PC) - Aug. 5
• Dodgeball Academia (Cloud, console, PC) - Aug. 5
• Katamari Damacy Reroll (Cloud, console, PC) - Aug. 5
• Lumines Remastered (Cloud, console, PC) - Aug. 5
• Skate  (Console) - Aug. 5
• Skate 3 (Cloud) - Aug. 5
• Starmancer (Game Preview on PC) - Aug. 5
• Art of Rally (Cloud, console, PC) - Aug. 12
• Hades (Cloud, console, PC) - Aug. 13
• Microsoft Solitaire Collection: Premium Edition (PC) - Aug. 17

The post Skateboards, Greek gods, and Katam??ari?? are coming to Xbox Game Pass in August appeared first on Destructoid.

Xbox Cloud Gaming has drawbacks even in the best of circumstances, but it can be an easy, low-friction way to try out a bunch of games

I'm not here to sell you on xCloud or the idea of cloud gaming in general �it's simply too early for a lot of folks given infrastructure and data-cap constraints �but I am here to tell you that the rece?nt Xbox Cloud Gaming beta is pretty great, all things considered.

If you missed the news, it's possible to fire up Xbox Cloud Gaming in a browser (Edge, Chrome, or Safari) on a PC or phone, stream over 250 games on xbox.com/play, and not have to pay anything extra as an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriber. I am one, and I finally upgraded to uncapped intern??et this year �so curiosity got the better of me.

With that potentially obscenely pricey concern out the window, I went a bit ?wild (like you do when you've got access to hundreds of games and your only real limit is time).

Being able to hop back into a classic game like Banjo-Kazooie in a web browser, with my old 100% save file seamlessly showing up out of the ether, is pretty ??magical.

As was facing the AI punks in a round of Twisted System in Fuzion Frenzy, rolling through The Silent Cartographer in Halo: The Master Chief Collection, and taking Gears 5 for a care-free spin without having to worry about storage or installatio?ns or much of anythi?ng.

Here are screencaps of some of the games I tried, just to give you a snapshot of the Xbox Cloud Gaming beta.

(Don't sleep on Xeno Crisis. It's a modern-retro gem.)

Do games look as crisp as their non-streamed counterparts? No. There's compression. Do they have noticeable latency? Sometimes. But, and this will vary based on the game in question and your circumstances, I'd argue the experience is largely "good enough." That's how it was on my 275Mbps connection routed through a Powerline Adapter, anyway.

I can't speak to how the current 1080p/60fps "custom Xbox Series X hardware"-powered beta setup looks and feels compared to the older versions, ?but I've heard it's a noticeable step up. I've also only tested it on a PC, so no mobile phone impressions yet.

After plugging in a wired Xbox controller, scrolling through the list of supported cloud games (which is not one-to-one with the overall Game Pass list), and clicking into Forza Horizon 4, it took about 20 seconds of waiting before the norm?al logo intro spiel popped up and I was ready t?o play. While not instantaneous, it's still "lunch break" fast.

I also adore the that someone could chip away at Yakuza 0 through Yakuza: Like a Dragon using Xbox Cloud Gaming. Seeing the whole series lined up like that is out of ?this world.

I wouldn't normally subscribe to something like Xbox Cloud Gam??ing or PlayStation Now, but as a pack-in service for a monthly membership that already has a lot of value? Sure. When framed like that �as a perk more than anything else �?it's got an easy in.

As it stands, I feel like I'm going to occasionally use Xbox Cloud Gaming to check out �but probably ??rarely if ever complete �a bunch of games I've been curious about. Maybe one day it'll come into play when I'm traveling, too. Some genres fare better than?? others.

While I don't see the cloud taking over as my dominant form of gaming anytime soon, I feel like we're c?ollectively inching toward that future. The day will surely come.

The fact that it has ?even earned ?"now and then" status is a huge step up for me.

The post Xbox Cloud Gaming alre??ady seems great for lunch breaks appeared first on Destructoid.