• The latest version of the Xbox beta app for mobile devices lets users fully download and install Xbox games whether they own those games or not.
• Xbox One and Xbox Series X owners will be able to have games preloaded on their systems and can start playing right away if and when they decide to buy them.
• Microsoft has yet to discuss this new feature or provide a public release date.

Finish any downloads that you've already started before shutdown with 'Low-Power' mode. The 360 can only finish downloads you start when the system is on. It is automatically enabled, so if you start a download then shut off the Xbox, the game will download later. Discover and download new games with Xbox Game Pass, see what your friends are playing and chat with them across PC, mobile, and Xbox console. Requires Windows 10 (latest update) and the Xbox app to play PC games. Browse by genre, see recommended and featured games, or search for a game. Rather than waiting for games to download when you’re ready to play them, you can remotely start game downloads on your Xbox One from a smartphone or web browser. They’ll automatically download to your Xbox and be ready when you get home, so you can play them instantly. This only works with digital games.

One of the keywords for Microsoft heading into the next generation is “convenience.” Loading times will be relatively minuscule, Smart Delivery will let Xbox One owners easily swap over to the next-gen version of a game for free, and backward compatibility will bring nearly the entire back catalog of Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox One games to both the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. And now another feature to save time and effort has been uncovered.

First spotted by users on the Reset Era forums, a brand new update for the Xbox beta app on mobile devices adds a feature that lets you download and install games on your Xbox regardless of whether or not you own the games. You will not be able to start the game until you buy it, but you can preload it on your system any time so that when and if you decide to pay for it, you won’t have to wait minutes or hours for the software to download.

There are a number of reasons why this is a smart and useful feature for Xbox owners, but it will be especially handy for those who plan to buy an Xbox Series X (or stick with their Xbox One for several more months or years) and prefer physical media. As it stands, even if you buy a disc copy of a new game, you’ll still have to wait for ages for it to install while downloading the inevitable day one patch. With this new feature, you can get all of the downloading out of the way ahead of time and start playing instantaneously when you insert the disc.

The concept of preloading games isn’t exactly new, but the ballooning size of games in recent years has become an annoying hurdle for many gamers, especially those with slower internet speeds. Any effort to remove that hurdle is a welcome one, and with video game sizes certain to grow even larger as developers aim for 4K resolution and higher frame rates, the last thing anyone is going to want to do when they buy a new game is sit around for 4 hours waiting for a 100GB file to download and install. Writer Jerko Cilas demonstrated the feature on Twitter:

Here's proof that I didn't preorder Valhalla, but I can install it through the new Xbox preload functionality. For now, you need Xbox (beta) Android app to initiate the download. Now I can either purchase a 💿 version or the digital one. Either way, the game will be ready. https://t.co/1QR52YWsubpic.twitter.com/TgmO3rfUBk

— Jerko Cilas 🐧 (@DarthChillash) September 23, 2020

At the time of writing, Microsoft had yet to make official announcements or statements about the feature, so we can’t be totally sure when or if it will roll out to the public. That said, it appears to be in testing and could possibly be ready for prime time by the time that the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S launch on November 10th.

If you subscribe to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you likely now have access to Microsoft’s xCloud game streaming abilities, and can immediately jump into one of more than 150 games — today is the official launch of Microsoft’s xCloud service. Many more games will come later this quarter, when the EA Play catalog of games gets added.

Let’s run through what you need to try it yourself today.

It’s possible that you might already have all the necessary components to make it happen — on Android, anyhow. But if you’re looking to try out xCloud on an iPhone, the process unfortunately begins and ends right here. Apple hasn’t made an exception for xCloud or any other game streaming service to exist on its App Store, and it doesn’t seem like it will budge.

As my colleague Tom Warren put it, “Apple wants companies like Microsoft to individually submit their games as separate apps using its streaming tech,” and Microsoft doesn’t want to do that, calling Apple’s requirements “a bad experience for customers”.

But assuming you’ve got an Android device, here’s what you’ll need to try it yourself:

• A subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, the Microsoft service that costs $14.99 per month and also provides a catalog of Game Pass games on both console and PC, as well as Xbox Live Gold for online multiplayer, and discounts on games.

• An Android phone or tablet that’s running Android 6.0 Marshmallow or later, and has Bluetooth 4.0 or greater. You’ll need such a device to download the app from the Google Play Store. As mentioned before, Apple is currently taking a hard stance in not allowing any cloud game streaming services, including xCloud, on its App Store for iPhones.
• A compatible controller to connect to your phone or tablet over Bluetooth, or USB. In regards to connecting via USB, you should be able to use a micro USB (which the DualShock 4 and Xbox wireless controllers use) to USB-A cable with an OTG adapter (micro USB, USB-C) to fit your phone’s charge port. The Bluetooth-ready Xbox One wireless controller will work just fine if you add a phone clip, but note that the older one with glossy plastic near the shoulder buttons doesn’t support Bluetooth.

(You can also try one of the fleet of xCloud-ready controllers that were recently announced, including PowerA’s MOGA XP5-X, the 8Bitdo SN30 Pro for Xbox, or Razer’s Kishi for Xbox, each of which include a clip or other spot for your phone. The Xbox Elite Gen 2 controller will also work, as will the forthcoming Xbox Series S / X controllers that have found their way into the hands of some lucky buyers. Microsoft is working to adapt on-screen touch controls for some of its games when a controller isn’t available, though that feature isn’t available at launch.)

• Lastly, a fast Wi-Fi or cellular connection. Microsoft suggests connecting to your router via a 5GHz Wi-Fi signal, but whether you’re at home or connected to an LTE or 5G tower, you should have download speeds of at least 10Mbps for a good experience. You can check your download speeds at speedtest.net.

Now that you have everything necessary to try out xCloud, here’s how to do it in the Xbox Game Pass app.

Download the Xbox Game Pass app

Before xCloud officially released, the feature was limited to the beta version of the Game Pass app on Android. That’s no longer the case, so if you search “Game Pass” on your phone in the Play Store, make sure to down the stable non-beta version with a green background, not the one with a white background as its icon (that’s the beta).

Connect a controller via Bluetooth or USB

As mentioned before, there are several compatible controllers that you can connect to your phone or tablet via Bluetooth. If you’re using Microsoft’s official Xbox controller with Bluetooth support or Sony’s DualShock 4, here’s how to connect them. Alternatively, you can connect a controller via USB. If you don’t have one connected before launching a game, the app will warn you to do so.

It’s also a good idea to get a clip to mount your phone to your controller for easy viewing. PowerA offers a $14.99 model that connects to Microsoft’s Xbox wireless controller with Bluetooth support. Some controllers also include one with purchase.

Boot the app and launch a game

Once you’re signed in with your Microsoft account, you’ll should tap or select the “cloud” option beneath the top section of the app where it shows a highlighted game.

Will My Xbox Download Games When Off Youtube

After that’s selected, every game you see below should be eligible for you to play right from your phone or tablet. Go ahead and click one, then hit “Play” on the next screen as seen below. It’ll take a few moments for your device to boot into the game, but once it does, your save data will automatically sync with your progress on your Xbox One and PC, if you’ve already started the game there.

Will My Xbox Download Games When Off Grid

Update, September 15th: Added more context now that xCloud has officially launched today.