Xbox is rolling out significant updates to its cloud gaming platform while simultaneously gearing up for a major presence at the upcoming Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2025, showcasing Microsoft‘s commitment to expanding gaming accessibility across all devices.
Xbox Cloud Gaming February 2025 update gets shareable invite links
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members can now generate shareable invite links to bring friends directly into their gaming sessions. This feature, which launched on February 25, 2025, allows players using Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) on web browsers and supported TVs to create invitation links through the Guide or in-game menus.
The new system provides unprecedented flexibility for multiplayer sessions. Players can share these links through direct messages, group chats, or even social media platforms, allowing invited friends to join instantly via their web browsers or supported TVs.
To join a cloud gaming session on a web browser or mobile device, invited players simply need to:
- Open the invite link in a supported browser.
- Sign in with their Xbox profile.
- Click “Play with Ultimate.”
For those joining on a TV, the process involves:
- Opening the invite link on a PC or mobile device.
- Clicking “Join on a different device” to receive a short code.
- Opening the Xbox Guide on their TV and selecting “Have a game session code?”
- Entering the code to begin playing.
Microsoft notes several important requirements for this feature: all players must have an Xbox account (with some games requiring Game Pass Ultimate), proper entitlement to the game, and the number of participants is limited by each game’s multiplayer capacity. Link creators can revoke access at any time to prevent new players from joining.
Expanded Xbox cloud gaming library
The February update also significantly expands the “stream your own game” collection, with over 50 cloud playable games now available to Game Pass Ultimate members on supported devices.
Recently added titles include:
- Blasphemous 2
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
- Slime Rancher 2
- Subnautica and Subnautica: Below Zero
- The Talos Principle 2
- Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered
Coming soon to the service are titles like Atomic Heart, Cult of the Lamb, Hotline Miami, Overcooked! All You Can Eat, and Worms Armageddon: Anniversary Edition, among others.
Xbox heads to GDC 2025 with “Gaming Anywhere” vision
As Xbox continues enhancing its cloud gaming capabilities, the company is preparing for a significant presence at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2025, scheduled for March 17-21 at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco.
Microsoft’s theme for the conference centers around “Gaming Anywhere” – emphasizing Xbox’s expansion to “any screen on any device” and making it easier for players to connect regardless of their preferred gaming platform, whether console, PC, Smart TV, or mobile.
“As Xbox expands to any screen on any device, we’re opening doors and making it easier for anyone to play with any friends they want,” Microsoft stated in its GDC announcement. “We’re committed to empowering game developers to tap into that opportunity by building games that take advantage of Xbox across devices.”
AI takes center stage
A significant portion of Microsoft’s GDC presence will focus on AI for Gaming, with multiple sessions and demonstrations showcasing how artificial intelligence can enhance game development and player experiences.
Key AI sessions include:
- “The Future of Gaming Supported by AI: How Xbox is Empowering Players and Creators“
- “AI Innovation for Game Experiences: From Research to Prototyping“
- “Inclusive Gaming AI: Red Teaming for Accessibility and Disability“
Xbox will also highlight its recently announced generative AI model for gameplay ideation called Muse, which was featured in research published in Nature. This technology aims to benefit both players and game creators by potentially reviving nostalgic games and accelerating developer ideation and iteration processes.
Other recent Xbox updates
The February update follows January’s improvements, which included:
- A network quality indicator for cloud gaming to help diagnose potential network issues.
- An Xbox Wireless Controller firmware update with improvements to thumbstick auto-centering, trigger adjustments, and mouse-to-thumbstick inputs.
- PC gaming updates that improve stability, discoverability of titles, and overall usability.
With these continuous improvements to cloud gaming and the upcoming GDC showcase, Microsoft is clearly positioning Xbox as a platform that transcends traditional hardware limitations, making gaming more accessible across all devices while simultaneously empowering developers with new tools and technologies to create innovative gaming experiences.
As Xbox continues to evolve its ecosystem, these updates represent significant steps toward Microsoft’s vision of gaming without boundaries, where players can enjoy their favorite titles anywhere, with anyone, regardless of device preference.
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