XBOX continues to innovate with its Play Anywhere program, which has garnered attention for its flexibility, enabling users to enjoy Game Pass titles across various devices, including smartphones and the Meta Quest through cloud streaming. Earlier this year, the company took a significant step forward by enhancing this feature, allowing players to stream not only games from the Game Pass catalog but also select titles they personally own. This new capability is distinct from Remote Play, which requires users to launch a game on their console before streaming it. The recent update now extends this functionality to browsers, consoles, and select devices, with one notable exception: the Xbox app on PC.
This change is particularly noteworthy for Xbox enthusiasts who prefer gaming on a PC. The convenience of accessing one’s library from a desktop is undeniable, but the real advantage lies in the ability to stream games that were previously unavailable on PC by downloading them locally. While Xbox strives to maintain a consistent library across its PC and console platforms, some titles have historically been exclusive to one system or the other. With this new solution, PC gamers can now utilize the Xbox app to stream games that were once confined to consoles.
Although streaming may introduce some input lag during gameplay, it offers the benefit of conserving valuable storage space on your PC—an advantage for those who use their machines for purposes beyond gaming. However, users should note that a subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is required to access this feature, along with ownership of the specific game intended for streaming. For those who find this arrangement cumbersome, an alternative is to stick with streaming games included in Game Pass, though availability may vary.
The “Stream Your Own Game” support is gradually being rolled out on a title-by-title basis, currently encompassing around 250 games. Xbox is actively working to expand this catalog, with plans to include more titles that were previously exclusive to consoles.
What do you think so far?
First, become an Xbox Insider
At present, the ability to stream your own games to PC is still in beta testing, necessitating that users become Xbox Insiders to access it. Similar to the Windows Insider program, this initiative allows participants to receive beta updates ahead of the general public. To join, users simply need to download and open the Xbox Insider Hub app, available on both Windows and Xbox consoles. After completing the initial setup, navigate to the Previews tab and select the Stream Your Own Game preview. While some eligibility paperwork must be reviewed, the process is straightforward, allowing eager gamers to dive into the latest features with ease.
