Xbox Cloud Gaming Now Supports Touch Controls for Dual-Screen Devices

Surface Duo and other dual-screen Android devices can now access Xbox Cloud Gaming touch controls on one screen and the game on the other.

“A very cool update goes live for Surface Duo customers today,” Microsoft’s Panos Panay tweeted of the update. “Working with Xbox, we’ve put touch controls on to the second screen. More than 50 games are available to play with touch for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members.”

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Xbox is getting complicated, so don’t feel bad if none of that makes any sense. Here’s what’s happening: Microsoft’s Project xCloud game streaming platform has been branded as Xbox Cloud Gaming and made available only as a perk of the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription tier, which costs $14.99 per month. Cloud Gaming lets you stream Xbox console games from Microsoft’s datacenters to your Android devices today and, soon, to PCs, web, and iPhone/iPad, and some of the games in the catalog support on-screen touch controls, which are useful, but obscure the game you’re playing to some degree as well.

But now, those with a Surface Duo—or other dual-screen or, I assume, folding screen device—can access touch control-compatible Xbox Cloud Gaming titles in a more efficient manner. That is, you can hold a Duo in clamshell mode, view the game on the top display, and use the touch controls via the bottom display.

Microsoft says that there are over 50 touch-enabled games now, including Sea of Thieves, Gears 5, Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age, Slay the Spire, and many more. And it is also updating the Xbox Game Pass app on mobile to wider aspect ratios more effectively as well.

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Conversation 5 comments

  • jimchamplin

    Premium Member
    24 May, 2021 - 1:11 pm

    <p>Last week: Fire sale on Surface Duo. </p><p><br></p><p>This week: Great Xcloud support for Surface Duo. Wait, it’s discontinued? Oh.</p>

  • slbailey1

    24 May, 2021 - 1:41 pm

    <p>No, Surface Duo is not discontinued! They are clearing the path for Surface Duo 2!</p>

    • jimchamplin

      Premium Member
      24 May, 2021 - 3:26 pm

      <p>Are they? Would be nice if they didn’t cancel it, it’s a good idea even if they’re not following through with 10X.</p>

  • SvenJ

    24 May, 2021 - 1:45 pm

    <p>I have a Duo. This looks super. Almost makes me wish I were a gamer.</p><p><br></p>

  • bleeman

    Premium Member
    24 May, 2021 - 10:34 pm

    <p>I wish they would pass the fire sale on to their retailers. Was in Best Buy yesterday and noticed they’re still selling it for $1399, AT&amp;T has it down to $999. Not that I’m in the market, just noticing the inconsistencies.</p>

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