Xbox’s cloud gaming service is missing the mark months after its release. The service aims to allow gamers to game from anywhere as long as they have internet service and a compatible device. The streaming service lets users stream and play games on devices that they already own. The service even allows gamers to use Sony dualshock controllers. Users can also play with touch controls for some games. New games are added to the library on a regular basis. You don’t need to worry about device storage, because games are streamed and do not need to be stored on the device.
So what’s not to love? The platform does not work well with iOS devices, even if you have an Xbox controller. Depending on the device that you’re using you’ll run into one of two issues. Either you’ll experience lagging or you’ll have glitches with the visuals to the point that gaming becomes unbearable. When I heard the idea I very quickly did my research to figure out how I can begin gaming on the go. I learned that it is currently available in beta mode for a variety of devices including iOS handhelds like iPhones and iPads. Downloading the app was very quick and easy. I linked an Xbox controller to my iPad and tried to play a game of Fortnite which is now available for free on the platform. I immediately realized that their was something wrong either with my iPad, internet connection, controller, or the Xbox gaming cloud. The gameplay was not smooth and would freeze up and have moments where everything on the screen turned into large pixels. I visited a local Best Buy and attempted to play it on devices in store to see if there was an issue with my iPad. Unfortunately, the steps that are required to play this game cannot be done to Apple demo devices. I tried to play on a 1 tb Ipad pro, for the first time in my life I won a game of Fortnite on the very first try on the iPad pro. Since then I’ve tried to play it again on my iPad 7. Upgraded my iPad 7 to an 9th gen iPad and tried to play on my iPhone. The results were the same as the first time I tried. It works until it doesn’t. I eventually gave up on playing Fortnite and tried to play similar battle royale games that were available on the App Store. They all worked flawlessly. I have no plans to spend over $1000 on an iPad Pro or to buy every iPad between the 9th gen and the 1 TB iPad Pro to figure out which ones have enough processing power to let me play Fortnite on the go through the Xbox Cloud Gaming service. Especially when an Xbox series S can be bought for $270, the same price as my iPad 9 on Black Friday.
Xbox gaming on the go is also available with the Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld. The device looks a lot like a Nintendo Switch, but for Xbox. This may be the best choice for gamers looking to play Xbox games on the go without having to spend hundreds more for a high end iPad. The Nintendo Switch also allows gamers to play Fortnite on the go for about the same cost as the Logitech handheld.