Following yesterday's news that Xbox would start selling games "directly" on the Android app as of this November, we've now got another update to share this weekend.
The Verge has been told by "sources familiar with Microsoft's plans" that the tech giant is apparently getting ready to test the streaming of games that aren't part of the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate library. This is supposedly part of a "long-running project" codenamed 'Project Lapland' - with the company said to be readying its Xbox Cloud Gaming services to support the streaming of thousands of games.
Tom Warren: "I’m told Microsoft will first test its new Xbox Cloud Gaming streaming capabilities with Xbox Insiders in November, before expanding them to more Xbox users and more games."
As already mentioned, this launch will align with Microsoft's plans to start directly selling games on the Xbox app on Android devices, following a court ruling in the US earlier this week, which puts a stop to Google's requirement of Google Play Billing for apps as of November 1st, 2024.
Keep in mind that although thousands of titles will reportedly be playable with Xbox Cloud Gaming, Warren also notes how some publishers may "hold certain games back due to licensing requirements or deals".
Windows Central's Jez Corden has apparently been told by his own sources that this rollout "won't be all Xbox games all at once" and it will instead be in batches. As for Xbox fans outside of the US, it sounds like these new cloud versions may be made available via the Xbox "Play" website for now, rather than directly via the app.