Microsoft has reportedly started testing Xbox game streaming through web browsers

Microsoft has reportedly started testing Xbox game streaming through web browsers.

That’s according to a new Verge report, which includes alleged images of the xCloud preview currently said to be in the hands of Microsoft employees.

The images suggest that the browser streaming allows Xbox users to access their games through a browser such as Chrome and Edge, easily resume recently played titles, and access all the cloud games available through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

Much like how xCloud currently works on Android tablets and phones, games run fullscreen and can be controlled via an Xbox controller.

Microsoft has said it’s planning to hold a public preview of xCloud via the web in the spring. The preview will allow Xbox games to stream to iPhone and iPad for the first time, after Apple blocked earlier plans for a Game Pass app.

Last year, Apple claimed  it was blocking xCloud’s release on the App Store because it did not fit within its guidelines.

Because Microsoft wasn’t submitting each individual game to its review process, the app that enables access to those games was being blocked from publishing, Apple said.

Microsoft launched Project xCloud in September last year via its Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription. Priced at $14.99/£10.99, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate combines Xbox Live Gold membership with Xbox Game Pass for console and PC.

Xbox boss Phil Spencer has suggested xCloud could be bundled with TV streaming sticks in the future.

“I think you’re going to see lower priced hardware as part of our ecosystem when you think about streaming sticks and other things that somebody might want to just go plug into their TV and go play via xCloud,” the exec said in October.

Microsoft partnered with Samsung to bring xCloud to the electronics company’s products last year, so perhaps we’ll see the game streaming service offered with its smart TVs in the not distant future.