Microsoft testing dual-screen support to Xbox Game Pass app

The recently released update allows gamers to take advantage of the dual-screen functionality on devices such as the Microsoft Surface Duo

Microsoft clearly has big plans for Xbox Game Pass. Some might even say the subscription service is at the centre of the tech giant’s strategy for this console generation.

Now Microsoft is stepping up its plans to bring game streaming to mobile devices. It is experimenting with bringing dual-screen support to the Xbox Game Pass app currently in beta.

The recently released update allows gamers to take advantage of the dual-screen functionality on devices like the Microsoft Surface Duo. Microsoft teased this possibility when the Surface Duo launched in 2019, but it is becoming a reality only now. When playing a game with dual-screen support, the game itself occupies the upper part of the display, while the controls occupy the lower screen. A few games, such as Gears 5, also support motion controls using the Surface Duo’s built-in Gyro.

Not every game on Game Pass will support dual-screen touch controls, although there is great potential for developers who choose to take advantage of the technology. Developers can customize the controller layout to best suit the particular game. This also means different games may have huge differences in control schemes based on the developer’s preferences. Early tests are promising, according to those who have used the service.

Some games that offer dual-screen support include Gears 5, Slay the Spire, Streets of Rage 4, Dead Cells, Minecraft Dungeons, and Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice. There are likely already plans to add more games in the future.

Of course, that’s assuming dual-screen functionality proves popular with consumers, which is not necessarily a sure thing. The initiative is also partially dependent on dual-screen tablets and phones continuing to grow in popularity. If not, developers would lack an incentive to support the feature.

Still, dual-screen support is not the only promising feature of the Xbox Game Pass app. Another feature of the beta is the ability to remotely download games to the user’s Xbox One, Series S, and Series X consoles. There is also the Cloud Gaming feature for Game Pass Ultimate subscribers, which allows members to stream more than one hundred Xbox titles directly to their Android devices.