When Tom’s Guide first tried Xbox Cloud gaming on iOS, senior editor Marshall Honoff wasn’t quite impressed, describing the whole experience as mediocre.
But news that Microsoft has improved Xbox cloud gaming on the iPhone and iPad by reducing input latency and optimizing video output and network data transmission attracted me to the game streaming service on my iPhone 13 Pro.
I’ve tried Xbox Cloud Gaming on Android via the Xbox Game Pass app and Xbox One X. And I’ve been impressed by both, though not blown away by the former; However, it could have been done for 5G reception in my apartment. So I was in two minds as to what the iOS experience might be like.
So on a sunny afternoon I captured a small green patch of east London, iPhone and Xbox wireless controllers in my hands and a 5G connection on tap. And I was impressed.
First, it’s worth noting that the iOS Xbox Game Pass app doesn’t have Xbox Cloud Gaming enabled. Instead you need to go to xbox.com/play, ideally in the Safari browser, then log into your Game Pass Ultimate subscription. You will then be prompted to enter a bookmark form on your iOS home screen. But while it’s a Safari bookmarklet, it looks like the streaming section of the Xbox Game Pass app and makes the great impression of being an app.
After a few taps I loaded up Frostpunk, which retroactively added the translation of the console controls and reworked for touchscreens. Playing a strategy game on a relatively small screen with touch controls isn’t ideal, but streaming performance was suitably impressive without much lag.
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I then connected my Xbox wireless controller to the iPhone 13 Pro using Bluetooth, which was handy, and was immediately picked up by the Xbox Cloud Gaming app—not the app. From there I booted up Halo Infinity, which Microsoft has enabled for cloud streaming.
I didn’t expect it to go well, but I was blown away Loki.
While it was never going to look as good on my 4K LG C1 OLED, considering that streaming quality is limited at 1080p, it still looked pretty impressive. There was a good deal of clarity and detail, plus the solid OLED display on the iPhone 13 Pro certainly helped with colors and contrast.
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And I was expecting latency to be a big problem, but I was impressed by how smooth the experience was. I guess the convenience of a nippy 5G connection did some of the heavy lifting from being out in the open. But playing one of the best Xbox Series X games, sitting outside on a log in the sun, was seriously impressive.
As a final quick test I decided to give Forza Horizon 5 a spin. It’s now one of the most graphically spectacular Xbox Series X games out there, so there was understandably a bit more latency when it comes to accurately modifying acceleration and braking, as well as handling subtle steering changes. .
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But again, the idea of playing one of the most beautiful looking games on a phone that can challenge some of the best gaming PCs and best gaming laptops sounds magical at times.
So in conclusion, if you’re on the fence about getting Xbox Game Pass Ultimate — and keep in mind that subscriptions can often be found at serious discounts — and Xbox Cloud streaming on iOS 15, it’s time to give it a spin.
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