This is just the first wave
As long as Project xCloud has existed, we’ve always assumed a singular vision for Microsoft’s game streaming: Run Xbox-quality games powered by the cloud, played with an Xbox controller on Android devices.
Actually, in an effort to make the mobile platform feel more natural, Microsoft has been working with developers to create native touch controls for some of those games. As a first pass, Microsoft has 10 games on Xbox Game Pass that now have dedicated touch controls on Android. They are:
- Dead Cells
- Gucamelee! 2
- Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
- Hotshot Racing
- Killer Instinct
- New Super Lucky’s Tale
- Slay The Spire
- Streets of Rage 4
- Tell Me Why
- UnderMine
This list is, largely, not the type of games you probably suspected would be candidates for touch controls. Something like Dontnod’s adventure game Tell Me Whyseems suited for a new control scheme; but others, like maybeKiller Instinctand Streets of Rage 4, aren’t ones that you’d expect to ditch the gamepad. (I’d definitely have included Dead Cells, but it already has existing mobile ports that make use of touch controls.)
Even though this is the first high-profile collection of games to get touch controls all at once, this isn’t actually the debut. Last month, the news that Minecraft Dungeonsgot touch functionality on Android sort of went under the radar. The total jumps up to 11 today. That tally is set to rise in the coming months, as Microsoft says it’s actively working on bringing touch controls to more Xbox Game Pass titles.
Xbox Touch Controls on Mobile Come to More Games, Giving You More Ways to Play [Xbox Wire]