Xbox Cloud Gaming (formerly Project xCloud) is Microsoft's cloud gaming service that streams games from remote servers to various devices, officially launching on September 15, 2020, as a free perk for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers. The concept originated around 2016 under the leadership of Kareem Choudhry and Phil Spencer, with the service formally announced in October 2018. Initially running on customized Xbox One S blade servers, Microsoft transitioned to more powerful Xbox Series X-based servers in June 2021 to improve performance and reduce latency. The service expanded significantly over time, reaching iOS devices in February 2020, Windows PCs in September 2021, Xbox One consoles in October 2021, and Amazon Fire TV devices in 2024. In October 2025, Microsoft brought the service out of its beta period, making it available for the Premium and Ultimate tiers of Xbox Game Pass, and even began testing an ad-supported version for users who own games.