History of video games/Platforms/Xbox Game Pass cloud gaming

Development
In 2015 Microsoft and Duke University develop "Kahawai" technology that reduces latency and bandwidth needed to stream games by performing some of the game rendering on device and using server technology to improve local output.

Launch
Microsoft xCloud officially launched on September 15th, 2020. The service was integrated with the Xbox Game Pass. Part of the reason xCloud was expanded was to improve the availability of the Xbox platform to those without the means to purchase a dedicated platform.

On February 15th, 2021, Microsoft began openly testing a browser version of the service.

In May 2021 the platform received media attention after Microsoft launched close integration of Xcloud with their dual screen Surface Duo mobile phone.

In 2022 compatibility expanded to the Valve Steam Deck handheld gaming device.

Technology
xCloud servers are based on Xbox One hardware and thus use GPUs made by AMD.

By February 2021 server blades based on the Xbox One S home game console were used for the service, with plans to use Xbox Series X hardware later in the year.