Xbox Cloud Gaming seems to now support early access games, starting with South of Midnight

It seems like Xbox Cloud Gaming is set to receive an update, allowing for early access gameplay periods, initially focusing on titles from Xbox Game Studios and Compulsion Games’ South of Midnight.

This information originates from @redphx on platform X, recognized for their contributions to Better xCloud – a complimentary tool designed to enhance the user experience of Xbox Cloud Gaming across various devices.

On Tuesday, I was excited to learn that the developer has made Xbox Cloud Gaming more accessible! Now, when I purchase or upgrade to the premium edition of a game, I can enjoy the early access period. This means I get to play my favorite titles before everyone else!

This suggests that the update is quite recent, given that Obsidian Entertainment’s Avowed, another Xbox first-party game, was released in February. Initially, those who bought the Premium Edition found they couldn’t play it via Xbox Cloud Gaming, which caused disappointment among our executive editor Jez Corden and others.

In simpler terms, “early access” here means that pricier variations of a game might be released ahead of the regular version. Notably, Xbox games have adopted this approach extensively, enabling gamers to upgrade their experience even while playing via Xbox Game Pass in advance.

As an analyst, I’d venture to say that a large proportion of early access takers prefer to experience their games in native environments, whether on consoles or personal computers, offering them the most optimized and immersive gameplay possible.

Regardless, it’s advantageous for the Xbox community if everything stays unified and uniform, and this action aims to achieve just that.

If you purchase a game and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, you’d expect the associated features to function, given that players are already paying a premium to access these features ahead of time.

Would you mind telling me if you intend to play South of Midnight, or any other future Xbox first-party games, through Xbox Cloud Gaming? I’d be happy to inform you when my review for the game is published, as soon as the non-disclosure period ends.

On April 8, 2025, South of Midnight will debut on both Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC (through Steam, the Xbox PC app). As an exclusive Xbox first-party game, the standard edition is accessible on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass from its release day. Those who purchased the Premium Edition can enjoy early access starting April 3.

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2025-04-02 06:39