Xbox Cloud Gaming datamine reveals Microsoft has been quietly removing “Stream Your Own Games” — and a possible new Xbox dashboard?

by

Microsoft is heavily investing in both Xbox Cloud Gaming and PC gaming, and a recent development may offer a hint of what’s to come.

Microsoft is changing how Xbox works, aiming to make it a platform for gaming anywhere. The idea is to buy a game once and play it on all your devices – similar to how popular Minecraft is available everywhere. Today’s gamers expect this kind of flexibility, and Microsoft is responding with devices like the Xbox Ally handheld and a new Xbox console planned for the future that will work more like Steam.

As we move further into a digital world, customers need to feel completely confident when they buy and own things. There might be a problem with achieving that confidence, though.

Redphx, the creator of the popular Better xCloud app, has been carefully monitoring Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming service. He keeps track of new games added—through Xbox Game Pass or the ‘Stream Your Own Game’ feature—and, recently, he also started documenting games that are being taken off the service.

It appears Microsoft no longer has the rights to sell Dragon Quest Builders 2, Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai, and Mechstermination Force.

Before this, Redphx had only noticed one other game being taken down – ElecHead – but it was later put back up.

The following titles have been removed: DRAGON QUEST BUILDERS 2, Infinity Strash: DRAGON QUEST The Adventure of Dai, and Mechstermination Force. This change is effective November 30, 2025.

As a big Xbox Cloud Gaming fan, I’m really confused about why games are suddenly being taken down. My first thought was maybe these games just weren’t popular enough, but that doesn’t seem right when they’re constantly adding new titles. Now I’m wondering if Microsoft accidentally put them on the service without having the proper licensing deals in place. It’s a bit frustrating, honestly!

It’s a real issue when someone buys a game specifically to play it through cloud gaming, but then that game is taken away. As countries like Brazil and India increasingly rely on cloud gaming, it’s vital that Microsoft ensures games people buy stay available. While those games would still work on an Xbox Series X|S console if you have one, that doesn’t solve the problem if you don’t – and Microsoft is constantly emphasizing that everything revolves around the Xbox ecosystem.

I’m reaching out to Microsoft for a statement, but I anticipate a delayed response. They’re currently running with a limited team due to the holidays.

As a researcher tracking Xbox Cloud Gaming, I’ve noticed a significant expansion of their library – they now offer over 2,000 games available digitally through the cloud. While the service heavily features indie titles, you’ll also find major releases like *The Witcher 3* and *Cyberpunk 2077*. Recently, Microsoft has also begun upgrading streaming quality to 1440p for select games, a feature available to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers.

But wait, there’s more!

I recently came across something interesting shared by Redphx regarding Xbox Cloud Gaming. It seems like they’ve found evidence that Microsoft might be planning a complete overhaul of how the service looks and feels.

Redphx discovered a promotional video and a link that unlocks a new look for Xbox Cloud Gaming. The video briefly showed what the new layout might be like. It’s possible this new interface isn’t just for cloud gaming, but could also be coming to the Xbox PC app.

The current Xbox app for PC is being redesigned to also become the interface for the next Xbox console. It will use the same full-screen app design found on devices like the Xbox handheld and Windows 11. Currently, the PC app mainly promotes Xbox Game Pass, but it will need significant changes to handle all the features and functions of the console itself.

The layout in the promotional image appears more like the Xbox PC app than Xbox Cloud Gaming. It includes a back button and large content sections on the right, features found on the PC app but not Cloud Gaming. Instead of the usual app icons on the left, there are two new sections: one for friends and another showing your play history.

Over the summer, Microsoft added a play history feature to both Xbox consoles and the Xbox app on PC. This feature tracks all your recently played games, no matter where you play them, as long as the games are compatible. It’s really helpful for players like me who switch between platforms, because it lets you quickly find and launch your recent games without any hassle.

Microsoft is heavily investing in Xbox with a focus on letting players access games on any device – whether it’s through the cloud, on PCs, TVs, phones, or Xbox consoles themselves. They’re likely working to create a consistent experience across all these platforms. I suspect a recent image shared online isn’t just for Xbox Cloud Gaming, but shows plans for a unified Xbox experience across everything they offer – that seems like the more likely goal.

I would have thought this was just early design work, but since it was discovered with features for updating to the new look, it seems like something bigger is happening. I’m still trying to find solid proof, so please be patient.

I recently talked with Tomas Sala, the developer of Falconeer, and Dave Oshry from New Blood Interactive about ways Microsoft can make Xbox better for both game creators and players. Chris Charla, who leads the ID@Xbox program, mentioned that Microsoft is listening to feedback and working towards making the next Xbox more similar to Steam.

The Xbox handheld PC, currently being tested, gives us a preview of what the future of Xbox on PC might look like. If this new interface is any indication, we can expect to see these changes on the Xbox handheld in early 2026, along with the planned update for its docking station.

Read More

2025-12-03 19:10