Microsoft intends to make Xbox PC games available on Nvidia’s GeForce Now streaming service. This announcement was made by Sarah Bond, the head of Xbox creator experience, during a private Xbox media briefing in Los Angeles. The plan is to allow PC Game Pass subscribers to access their game catalog on various devices supported by GeForce Now, including low-spec PCs, Macs, Chromebooks, mobile devices, and TVs. According to Joe Skrebels, the editor in chief of Xbox Wire, the rollout of this feature will occur in the coming months.
While it’s unclear whether the entire PC Game Pass catalog will be available on GeForce Now, members of the streaming service will have the opportunity to stream select PC games from the library. This partnership is significant for cloud gaming as it enables PC Game Pass subscribers to benefit from Nvidia’s superior game streaming capabilities, providing performance levels comparable to the RTX 4080. In comparison tests, the RTX 4080 tier of GeForce Now demonstrated superior performance and lower latency compared to Microsoft’s own Xbox Cloud Gaming offering.
Furthermore, this collaboration extends beyond just game purchases and includes support for the PC Game Pass subscription on the Microsoft Store. Nvidia had previously announced plans to enable Microsoft Store support on GeForce Now in the coming months. This development aligns with Microsoft’s broader efforts to address regulatory concerns surrounding its proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard. As part of a 10-year agreement between Microsoft and Nvidia, Xbox PC games will be licensed to GeForce Now. If the proposed acquisition receives regulatory approval, it will also grant access to Activision Blizzard titles.
However, regulatory obstacles have arisen, with UK regulators blocking the deal due to concerns related to cloud competition. Despite Microsoft’s existing 10-year agreements with multiple cloud gaming rivals, the company is now unexpectedly offering its PC Game Pass subscription on a competing cloud gaming service. This surprising move could potentially help Microsoft in convincing regulators regarding its proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard.