Microsoft’s latest numbers suggest Xbox Cloud Gaming is growing – Times of India

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has said that more than 20 million people have streamed games using Xbox Cloud Gaming. The executive made this statement during the company’s first-quarter fiscal 2023 earnings call. This is double the number that Nadella announced during the company’s third-quarter earnings call in April this year.
The increase in numbers on Xbox Cloud Gaming is seen as a result of Microsoft’s announcement of a partnership with Epic Games to bring Fortnite to Xbox Cloud Gaming. It is to be noted that Epic Games locked horns with Apple and Google over their app store fees which ultimately made it harder for gamers to play the game on their mobile devices. Microsoft’s partnership allowed the game to run free on any device via the Xbox Cloud Gaming service.
Furthermore, Microsoft has already announced support of Xbox Cloud Gaming on Valve’s Steam Deck in a push to take cloud gaming a step forward. It has also partnered with Logitech and Razer for their cloud gaming-focused handheld consoles.
It also looks like the Windows-maker is the only giant left that is taking cloud gaming – as well as gaming in general – to the next level. Google announced that it is pulling the plug on Stadia in January 2023, Nvidia doesn’t delve out GeForce Now subscriber numbers and there is hardly any news about Amazon Luna subscribers.

Microsoft-Activision Blizzard deal
The development comes a few days after Microsoft revealed its plans of expanding gaming beyond consoles by bringing “more games to mobile platforms, including through mobile apps and cloud-based game streaming technology.” The company responded to the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which is reviewing Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
Microsoft made it clear that the acquisition of Activision Blizzard provides the company “with capabilities and content on mobile, while creating new distribution options for game developers outside of mobile app stores.” Xbox also seeks to scale the Xbox Store to mobile, attracting gamers to a new Xbox Mobile Platform. With Activision Blizzard, Microsoft can leverage Call of Duty: Mobile and Candy Crush Saga (developed by King and owned by Activision Blizzard) popular mobile games to scale a game store to compete with Google Play and the App Store.