Microsoft may have activated cloud gaming infrastructure in Pune and Chennai, with Indian users reporting access ahead of official announcement.
Microsoft's Xbox Cloud Gaming service has quietly begun rolling out in India. This a significant expansion for the streaming platform into one of the world's fastest-growing gaming markets. While the company has yet to issue an official announcement, multiple sources confirm that Indian gamers are now gaining access to the service through new server infrastructure deployed in the region.
The development was first spotted by RedPhx, a developer of the Better xCloud extension. He noted on social media that Xbox Cloud Gaming has activated two new servers in India. one located in Central India (Pune, Maharashtra) and another in South India (Chennai, Tamil Nadu). If true, this expansion brings Xbox Cloud Gaming's total reach to 29 countries worldwide.
Testing Phase Underway
Evidence suggests Microsoft is conducting a controlled rollout before making a formal announcement. Indian Xbox users have reported seeing a "Play with cloud" button appearing within the Windows Xbox app for select accounts. One user on the Xbox India subreddit, going by the username 'bajiraav', shared a screenshot showing they had successfully streamed Cricket 24, complete with a telemetry overlay displaying bitrate, packet loss, ping, and jitter metrics.
Microsoft typically enables such app-based entry points during validation phases, monitoring network stability across major internet service providers before widening access.
Service Details and Pricing
However, Xbox Cloud Gaming has not yet appeared on Microsoft's public-facing pages for India. The cloud gaming portal still displays the standard store page with no indication that the service is live in the country. Similarly, India's Game Pass comparison pages do not list cloud streaming as a feature.
Current Xbox Game Pass subscription pricing in India stands at ₹1,389 per month for Game Pass Ultimate, ₹699 for Premium, and ₹499 for Essential. PC Game Pass is available separately at ₹939 per month. Globally, cloud gaming access varies by tier: Essential provides basic access with limited games and lowest queue priority, Premium offers more titles with boosted queue priority, and Ultimate includes hundreds of games with 1440p resolution, enhanced bitrate, and day-one releases.
Global Context and Competition
Xbox Cloud Gaming is currently officially supported in 26 regions. The United States, Japan, Australia, Brazil, and most of Western Europe are some of the examples. Notable omissions include major markets like China. India, where gamers ranks approximately seventh globally in gaming expenditure. These regions represent a crucial opportunity for Microsoft's cloud gaming ambitions.
The timing is particularly significant as NVIDIA prepares to launch its GeForce NOW service in India this November. The entry of multiple cloud gaming providers could accelerate infrastructure development and improve streaming quality for Indian gamers.
Xbox Cloud Gaming recently underwent substantial upgrades, introducing 1440p resolution and improved bitrate that surpass the quality of Xbox Series X|S console remote play. The platform also features a "Stream Your Own Game" capability, allowing users to stream over 2,100 titles from Xbox's console library beyond the curated Game Pass selection.
How to Access the Service
Once Microsoft officially launches the service, Indian gamers will probably have two primary access routes.
- On Windows, users can install or update the Xbox app, sign in with an account subscribed to Ultimate, Premium, or Essential, and look for the "Play with cloud" option on supported games.
- Alternatively, users can access the service through any modern web browser at xbox.com/play, provided India is listed among supported regions.
Currently, the web launcher shows the play button greyed out for Indian users, making the Xbox app the primary avenue for those in the testing phase. It's worth noting that PC Game Pass subscribers will not have access to cloud streaming, as this feature is exclusive to console-tier subscriptions.
Awaiting Official Confirmation
Despite the mounting evidence, caution remains warranted. Xbox Cloud Gaming was similarly activated in Chile during the summer but has yet to materialize as an officially supported region. Microsoft has not responded to requests for comment regarding the India rollout.
Industry observers suggest watching for three key indicators of general availability:
- The xbox.com/play page dropping its selected-regions banner when accessed from India
- Cloud badges appearing on game listings in the India catalogue
- An official announcement on Xbox Wire or regional social channels
For India's growing gaming community (which has long awaited access to major cloud gaming platforms) the quiet activation of Xbox Cloud Gaming servers represents a promising development. Whether this translates into full commercial availability in the coming weeks remains to be seen.
