An Xbox app seems to be in the works for Windows PCs that would allow players to connect with Xbox's xCloud streaming service. The unannounced Xbox Game Streaming app for Windows is nearing completion, and footage and information of the application seem to have been uncovered and shared online.
Xbox xCloud, combined with Xbox Game Pass, allows players to enjoy hundreds of games via the cloud and streaming. It is not designed to replace standard gaming, but for those who want to use it as a streaming platform, it seems to be quite the alternative.
Tom Warren is the Senior Editor of The Verge, and it looks like he got his hands on an unreleased version of the Xbox xCloud app for Windows. He released a nearly two-minute video, along with information on some of the features. The app not only seems to have the ability to stream from xCloud directly, but also from the user's Xbox Series X|S, which is something that the Xbox App on mobile can currently do via remote play.
The app also has additional features that fit with a Windows PC nicely. For example, gyro support is enabled for controllers, and touch support is also a feature here, which is interesting given the fact that more mobile games for Xbox have been receiving touch support as well.
What is very interesting is that recently Xbox revealed images of its browser-based xCloud UI. In this setup, users would likely use a website set up and stream directly from a browser instead of an application. It is likely that this browser could be less feature-rich, however. Perhaps it would not have the ability to connect directly to the user's Xbox Series X|S, for example, or have the ability to use gyro/touch abilities.
On top of the two PC options, Xbox is also working on a browser-based xCloud set-up for mobile as well. Apple has been quite restrictive and does not want the xCloud service on its devices, so instead of an app, Microsoft needs to resort to a browser situation instead, and that is supposed to be ready later this year. Xbox has been working towards plenty of creative options when it comes to providing cloud-based games to fans. While it is still a work in progress, the goal is most likely that players will be able to play games from the cloud on consoles, PCs, and mobile devices if they so choose. Meanwhile, classic download and play gaming is still there as well.