Microsoft is finally gearing up to launch itsProject xCloudstreaming service next month, a move that will letXbox Game Pass Ultimate users play over 100 games on their mobile devices. And in preparation for that launch, the company has lifted the veil off the range of accessories that will “empower gamers to play the games they want, with the people they want, anywhere they want.”
On the Xbox news blog today, a number of new “Designed for Xbox” products were revealed, all of which are now either available for purchase or pre-order. With these, Microsoft says, “taking your favorite Xbox titles with you will be easier than ever with thelaunch of cloud gaming with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate(sold separately); making that experience feel like home is where the hardware comes in.”
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First off is a new version of the Razer Kishi Universal Mobile Gaming Controller, which sports an ergonomic clamp-around design meant to provide players with a low-latency, lag-free connection. In keeping with the “Designed for Xbox” label, this Android-centricRazer controllerboasts a dedicated Xbox button on top of a standard Xbox button layout, clickable thumbsticks, and pass-through charging (so players can charge while they play). The Razer Kishi is now available to purchase in select markets for $99.99, and the Designed for Xbox version comes with a 14-day free trial for Game Pass Ultimate.
Next is the MOGA XP5-X Plus Bluetooth Controller fromPowerA, a mobile gamepad meant to deliver “the familiarity of an Xbox style controller,” but with the added perks of a detachable smartphone clip, mappable “Advanced Gaming Buttons,” and an integrated 3000mAh rechargeable Power Bank for portable charging. The controller will launch alongside Project xCloud on September 15 for $69.99. Following it will be another PowerA controller, the MOGA XP7-X Plus, which will boast a clamp-around option similar to the Razer Kishi when it launches this holiday season for $99.99.
The last controller Microsoft highlighted is theSN30 Pro from 8BitDo, a specialist in retro-style controllers. This new model will utilize 8BitDo’s Precision Software to allow players to modify everything from button mapping to stick and trigger sensitivity. Combined with a “pro-level” adjustable clip for holding Android devices, the SN30 Pro will provide “a new level of customization” for mobile gaming when it launches on September 21 for $44.99.
Aside from themobile gaming controllers, Microsoft also hyped the SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless headset, which will come with a USB-C dongle for switching audio from Xbox consoles to mobile devices seamlessly (available today for $99.99), as well as standalone versions of the clips for the SN30 Pro (September 21 for $14.99) and MOGAs (Winter 2020 for $14.99). Between all of these different devices, the company said “we could not be more excited for what we have in store for our gamers” once cloud gaming arrives on Xbox.
Project xCloudwill launch in beta for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members on September 15.
