Microsoft Corp. is close to revealing a preview of its xCloud game streaming service that will allow users to play on their Apple mobile devices such as iPads and iPhones, according to a report today from The Verge.

According to sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans, employees are now testing a web-based version of the streaming service ahead of a public preview that will allow players to access Xbox games through a web browser on mobile devices without requiring a native app. It will be very similar to how xCloud currently works on Android tablets and phones.

Project xCloud was previewed in 2018 and launched in 2020. The web version will maintain a similar set of features to the normal app that Android users receive. It will also use an Xbox controller and offer users a simple launcher with recommendations, the ability to resume recent titles and access cloud-based games available through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

Microsoft originally planned to launch a native iOS app almost a year ago today, but the company ended up shuttering that project. The closure of that project ultimately happened when the company decided it was not possible because Apple Inc. wanted to approve each of Microsoft’s 3,500 games available through the xCloud platform individually and that would not be feasible.

The company has also expressed plans to ship this version of xCloud as a PC app with Windows 10 as well. However, this web version will currently be limited only to Chromium browsers such as Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, similar to Google Stadia.

According to the Verge’s sources, Microsoft appears to be planning for some form of a public preview of xCloud via the web in the spring.

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