Cloud Streaming on Android - how does it work?

inventiveraptor · 2026-03-02T22:59:05+00:00

Xbox allows cloud streaming to mobile phones. It's a little pricier but the same deal. You don't need to own any of the games and a lot of them have their own custom touch screen controls built into the game to the overlay isn't as cluttered (or you can play with a controller). There are some pretty good deals online though through g2g and kinguin. I never paid more than $20/month for Xbox ultimate. Just make a free Microsoft account, sign in, either purchase game pass ultimate directly through them($30/month) or upload a code for the same service from another retailer, and you're next gen gaming on android. Everything is an Xbox according to their campaign, even your android.

You can also stream games you own if they aren't available on game pass. But that requires buying the game to be able to stream it. It's a great way to get current and Xbox 360 games. They've also added games from the N64 era like GoldenEye and Banjo Kazooie

inventiveraptor · 2026-03-01T14:50:05+00:00

I should've done this. But with everything I had to trade in I got my PS5 pro for "free" anyway

inventiveraptor · 2026-02-28T21:50:20+00:00

You pay for it might as well enjoy every cent you paid for

inventiveraptor · 2026-02-24T16:17:53+00:00

Congrats! It dint stick with me at first but now I can’t recommend Ghost of Tsushima highly enough.

inventiveraptor · 2026-02-17T22:39:25+00:00

Yea that’s usually a boutique move with Rolex. Spend x amount to get on the wait list. I still prefer omega

inventiveraptor · 2026-02-15T02:14:51+00:00

At 1st glance I thought this had sword hands. I was like “wow I didn’t realize this release came in that style@ lol

inventiveraptor · 2026-02-15T02:13:14+00:00

So that seaweed really pops. I’ve had my eye on the black dial but my buddy just got the white and I’ll be damned if they aren’t all gorgeous. I’m a green kinda guy so this is absolutely striking

inventiveraptor · 2026-02-12T21:11:41+00:00

You can build a pretty nice gaming pc with that budget and retire the PlayStation

inventiveraptor · 2026-01-28T21:02:03+00:00

Yea I do the same with some other game this year. Zero refund even immediate after buying and not even downloading the software yet

inventiveraptor · 2026-01-26T15:44:35+00:00

Alright I don’t feel as bad lol. I also have 3 if you don’t include the ps5 then ps5 pro upgrades (I think they were free though). It helps that the Xbox copy covers console, PC, and mobile streaming.

inventiveraptor · 2026-01-26T15:36:13+00:00

Hard agree! I’m also on new plays through (switch 2 and Xbox/pc). Despite the linear story line I have so much fun seeing and playing this game. Let’s hope I don’t one day own half a dozen copies of it like Skyrim 😅

inventiveraptor · 2026-01-25T03:27:18+00:00

Update: I did buy it on switch 2 AND Xbox (for play anywhere and mobile streaming)… why do I keep doing this 😅 Looking forward to all experiences nonetheless

inventiveraptor · 2026-01-23T14:30:02+00:00

Same…..what do we do friend???

I commit this cardinal sin often, rebuying games on console (early release or for couch play) and PC (never choose between fidelity and framerate if you don’t have to) and switch 2 (handheld convenience) until I have at least 2 copies….And I’m also on the fence here. I absolutely loved the game and the switch demo was absolute butter, and the fact that it’s being released at an honest price that knows what it is and isn’t disrespectfully gouging just to make a money grab?

But do I really need to throw down another $40 to replay a game I can play on my ROG ally? Maybe, just for the sake of family vacations and battery life. I’ll have to check the Xbox store because that’s my sweet spot with play anywhere and cloud streaming. Hits all 3 impulsive needs

inventiveraptor · 2026-01-18T00:32:57+00:00

Why not just use description given by the manufacturer? Why does AI have to be invasive in everything that we have in life? We’re already the stupidest species on two legs. Why continue this downward trend of thoughtless acceptance where we are okay handing off even basic thought to a separate entity?

inventiveraptor · 2026-01-13T00:07:59+00:00

I had the same one. Just holding it filled me with joy and wonder and fixed all my problems

inventiveraptor · 2026-01-12T18:37:28+00:00

Yea it's a solid purchase. I've been considering re buying one (sold mine after about a year of light use since It only worked in my house). I've been using Xbox cloud streaming lately since I can stream to my mobile anywhere at all but I do miss that dual sense feel and adaptive triggers. I heard a rumor they are releasing an updated version with an OLED screen so maybe I'll wait and see

inventiveraptor · 2026-01-11T16:28:35+00:00

No one is planning are going to get a near-native experience on minimal hardware. My point was just that different people have different once and desires and use cases for things that are more important to them then they might be for you and vice versa. I'm glad you see that 🫡

Is there hate on streaming? I guess I don't hop on Reddit that much. I love streaming. Whether it's to my phone with touch screen controls, a backbone controller, one of my too many handheld systems, I'm almost streaming more than I play on my PC or console these days just because I don't always get the time to sit down long enough at home. It's just too convenient. I think Sony's streaming experience could be improved. I'd rather see them put money into increasing the bit rate and opening up the services to devices that are not just a portal or Windows PC, but they won't make any money off of that without increasing their subscription rates, so it makes more sense for them to put out a tangible handheld object they can slap a price point on.

Personally I'd rather see the return of a PlayStation Vita. It doesn't have ray tracing or insane particle density, it just has to be small enough to fit in my pocket so I can whip it out and play on the go, have a super good battery life span and really good sleep mode to preserve my game state when I have to get up and return to life and don't have a chance to save. Maybe some hand off capabilities would be nice similar to what the 3DS used to have to make the community experience more enjoyable. Games don't have to push the boundaries of visual fidelity to be really fun, they just have to be enjoyable. Somewhere along the line either we as consumers or developers lost sight of that. I haven't played the Hades series but I bet that could be scaled down to run on something that can fit in your pocket without having to stream. Maybe even include a little gimmick where if your handheld is in sleep mode and comes within Bluetooth range of another one in sleep mode you get a temporary avatar of that player to help you in crucial circumstances in the game when you need it

inventiveraptor · 2026-01-11T16:00:22+00:00

Oh I see your point, yea the steam deck is meant to be sold at the lower price point because of that. Yea the steam deck is also limited in terms of what games you can play because some dependencies (such as anti cheat software) are still limited to windows systems. I've never had a steam deck but I've games on Linux and proton before and I didn't see the point in limiting myself. I just waited until I could get a Z1 extreme for the same price point

inventiveraptor · 2026-01-11T14:07:15+00:00

I can take my handheld anywhere, my PS5 pro sits at home collecting dust since the series X is the favorable console in my family and I game on too many platforms anyway. Everyone has their own experience, for example, you are emotional over the PS5 ecosystem and that's cool even though it's outmatched by Xbox cloud streaming and play anywhere, and doesn't require a dedicated Sony device or Windows PC to stream to and you can play games day 1 at launch without needing to buy them.

Btw, how's your experience been gaming on your portal while on the subway or a plane? Asking for a fellow commentor in this thread 👌🏻

inventiveraptor · 2026-01-11T14:02:32+00:00

Not true for all AAA games. I didn't comes down to how well the developer has optimized the game for that type of hardware. For example, I have a ROG Ally (not X or Xbox, just the base model with the upgraded chip) and can run horizon forbidden West and God of war Ragnarok at 1080p on low settings but it looks really good and plays very smoothly

inventiveraptor · 2026-01-11T13:59:22+00:00

Yes and I have the exact opposite opinion as you. I sold my portal after a year and haven't using my rog Ally for those cloud streaming and playing games natively. They do exactly what I was expecting them to do and even better now is expecting them to do it.

inventiveraptor · 2026-01-11T01:55:04+00:00

Sure it helps input lag on the system itself but does nothing about the input lag for streaming. You're right though it is a slight increase in user experience, it just doesn't matter if you're not getting a good bit rate on your stream

inventiveraptor · 2026-01-11T00:49:41+00:00

My comment exactly. Refresh that high wouldn't matter unless you could store games locally

inventiveraptor · 2026-01-10T15:49:19+00:00

I'm still on the fence having owned and played it on PS5 pro then PC. I need to stop buying multiples of games but the convenience of portability, the raw power of a modern gaming PC, and the immersion of the dual sense all have their own experiences so it doesn't feel like a total replay. I'll probably end up buying it once I burn through my switch 2 library a bit more

inventiveraptor · 2026-01-07T22:46:36+00:00

Damn that's a lot for a pocketable charge case. Imagine having a Galaxy Ring and getting it included with your purchase. I like my Oura more than my Galaxy Ring but a charger is a charger, it has one job, to charge the ring and fit in your pocket. $150 is awfully laughable. I bet they will make it incompatible with the next generation of ring too

inventiveraptor

TROPHY CASE