Microsoft singled out OxygenOS as being ineligible for xCloud, but OnePlus has confirmed that the game streaming service works on its phones.
Update, September 16 (10:30pm ET): OnePlus has confirmed in a statement that its phones can run Xbox Game Pass (xCloud) without any issues.
What you need to know
- Microsoft’s xCloud isn’t supporting alternate, emulated, or modified forms of Android.
- This means you won’t be able to use it on FireOS, Chrome OS, or even Android TV.
- It also singles out OxygenOS, the software that OnePlus uses for its Android phones, as an unsupported version.
Microsoft today has made it Xbox Game Pass (xCloud) available for Android users in 22 countries. In brief: it’s a cool service that allows you to play some Xbox games like Halo or Gears 5 on your smartphones without needing to use your Xbox. It’s all powered by the Microsoft’s servers, and all you’ll need is a modern Android phone or tablet, but there’s a small catch. Not all Android users will be able to take advantage of cloud gaming.
Cloud gaming is not currently supported on iOS devices. Also, devices that run modified, alternate, or emulated versions of Android OS (including, but not limited to: Chrome OS, Fire OS, OxygenOS, Android TV, Android Auto, or BlueStacks) will not support cloud gaming.
— Xbox Support (@XboxSupport) September 15, 2020
It’s easy to understand why it may not be supported on Fire OS devices or Chromebooks. While those do run Android, they don’t do so in the same way your Samsung Galaxy or Motorola phone does. What is striking here is the inclusion of OxygenOS.
OxygenOS, if you’re unaware, is the version of Android that powers OnePlus phones much like One UI or MIUI powers Samsung and Xiaomi phones respectively. It’s a little odd that it’s being singled out here, and Microsoft didn’t offer any further rationale. It could well be an error or oversight, and we’ve reached out to OnePlus for comment and will update this article as soon as we get a response.
Update, September 16 (10:30pm ET) — OnePlus refutes Microsoft’s claims
In a statement issued to Android Central, OnePlus has refuted Microsoft’s claims that Xbox Game Pass (xCloud) isn’t eligible on OxygenOS. If you’re using a OnePlus phone and want to try out xCloud for Android, you can do so. Here’s the statement:
We can confirm that OxygenOS supports Xbox cloud gaming. This means Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members can also enjoy cloud gaming (Beta) with OnePlus devices, which are some of the best mobile gaming devices available.
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