Microsoft is finally enabling Xbox owners to purchase games from inside the Xbox mobile app.
The update, which is rolling out to beta users on iOS and Android and will be available for everyone soon, fulfills a long-held feature request from Xbox users.
As well as game purchases, gamers will also be able to nab add-on content, redeem perks and sign up for Game Pass via the Xbox app.
What are the benefits of this? Well, you’ll be able to pre-order the best Xbox Series X/S games and set it to pre-install on an Xbox console meaning you don’t have to do so on your console.
“Be ready to play on day one by pre-ordering games like Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 and then set it to pre-install on Xbox consoles from the app,” Microsoft said in an Xbox Wire blog.
“Buy games like Assassin’s Creed Shadows and MLB The Show 25. Players will also be able to join Game Pass directly from the Xbox app. Ultimate members can redeem Perks like the Sea of Thieves Seventh Serving Emote directly from the app.”
To start buying, you’ll need to have a saved form of payment to see the Buy button on game listings.
In a further update, Game Pass Ultimate members can now stream the games they own on their Xbox consoles. There are over 100 games supported. It was already available via some third-party devices.
To start streaming owned games on a console, Microsoft offers the following advice:
- Cloud playable games will display a cloud badge on the game page.
- Use filters to find games more quickly. Choose Filter > Ready to play > Cloud gaming.
- To start playing, select the game and then choose Play with Cloud Gaming.
- Start streaming directly from the Store app after buying select cloud playable games.
Opinion
The Xbox app update brings a long requested feature to gamers and should make it easier to dive in and play games, rather than having to fire up the console to purchase games and then start the install process. If you fancy playing a game, you can buy it through the app, have the console install it and it’s waiting for you when you get home. Bonus.
