Xbox Cloud Gaming datamine reveals Microsoft has been quietly removing "Stream Your Own Games" — and a possible new Xbox dashboard?

Microsoft is investing a ton in Xbox Cloud Gaming and Xbox PC right now, and we might've just gotten a small glimpse at the future.

Microsoft is repositioning Xbox as an "everywhere" platform, where players can expect to purchase content and then run it effectively across any device. It's essentially a strategy inspired by the likes of Minecraft, which has found its way to global domination by being literally everywhere — with content you can bring with you. An entire generation expects gaming to work this way now, and Microsoft is aiming to accommodate with devices like the Xbox Ally and the more Steam-like next-gen Xbox console.

However, in this very heavily digital-first future, purchase and ownership confidence needs to be at the absolute forefront. And there's a snag there potentially.

Redphx, developer of the excellent Better xCloud app, has been following Microsoft's moves on the Xbox Cloud Gaming platform quite closely. He tracks games that are hitting the service, either via Xbox Game Pass or Xbox "Stream Your Own Game," but also for the first time recently, games that are actually being removed from the service.

Microsoft seems to have lost the distribution rights for Dragon Quest Builders 2, Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai, and Mechstermination Force.

Up until now, the only other game Redphx was able to track as being removed was ElecHead, which was later reinstated.

It's unclear why games might be getting removed from Xbox Cloud Gaming this way. It could be that Microsoft added them by mistake in the first place, having not properly acquired the rights to distribute them this way. First I thought it could be due to particularly low usage, but that doesn't make a whole lot of sense given how many other games are being added there.

Either way, it's problematic if a user has specifically purchased a game for cloud gaming, only to find it later removed. Regions like Brazil and India are becoming major cloud-first markets for Microsoft, so guarantees games you purchase will actually remain available seems to be incredibly important. If you did purchase these games digitally, they would still be available to play on an Xbox Series X|S console, but that doesn't help if you don't actually own one — and Microsoft keeps telling us everything is an Xbox these days.

We'll ask Microsoft to comment on the situation, but they're currently operating on reduced staffing for the holiday period.

UPDATE: Sources familiar with the situation tell me that this is an exception, rather than the rule. I'll see if we can get something concrete from Microsoft itself.

Microsoft now has over 2,000 games in Xbox Cloud Gaming as titles you can buy digitally specifically for cloud. The vast majority of them are indie-styled games, but there are a variety of very big names available on the service too, including The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077. Microsoft is also rolling out upgrades to 1440p streaming for specific titles on Xbox Cloud Gaming, for users with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

But wait, there's more!

Redphx also uncovered another interesting morsel of news from Xbox Cloud Gaming recently, though, which might hint at a broader redesign for the interface.

Redphx found a promotional video and a URL that activates a new interface for Xbox Cloud Gaming, and there's also a promo video that contained a brief flash of what the layout might look like. Part of me has been wondering if this interface might not simply be for cloud, but Xbox PC in general.

Right now, the Xbox PC app interface is eventually going to be the interface for the next-gen Xbox console, using the Windows 11 Full Screen App experience seen on the Xbox Ally and other devices. The Xbox PC app right now is simply a big advertisement for Xbox Game Pass, but that would have to change a fair bit if it eventually comes to encompass everything your console is and does.

In the screengrab from the promo image above, you can see the layout actually looks a bit more similar to the Xbox PC app, rather than Xbox Cloud Gaming. There's also the back button, as well as the large feature content panels on the right — other aspects present on Xbox PC, but not Xbox Cloud Gaming. Instead of Xbox PC app icons on the left, we now have two new panels. One for friends by the looks of it, as well as another for your play history.

Microsoft added play history to Xbox PC and Xbox console over the summer. It brings in all of your recent games regardless of platform, as long as they're compatible. It's a useful tool for those who jump from platform to platform (as I do), making it quick and painless to access recently played games without having to jump through hoops.

A significant investment Microsoft is pushing forward for Xbox revolves around the idea of "play anywhere," whether it's cloud, PC, TVs, phones, or Xbox consoles. Unifying the interfaces between Xbox cloud, PC, and consoles is doubtlessly on the agenda, making me wonder if the above screencap isn't just intended for Xbox Cloud Gaming, but perhaps all of Xbox all up. If I had to guess, it was probably the latter.

Typically I'd just assume it was concept art, but considering it was found alongside the ability to "upgrade" to the new interface ... I'm guessing it's more than that. I'll keep digging for some hard confirmation, so hang tight.

UPDATE: Sources familiar tell me that this indeed representative of efforts to converge Xbox Cloud Gaming's interface and the Xbox PC app interface to match each other. There's a chance elements of this might extend to Xbox Series X|S as well. The digging continues. 🤔

I recently spoke to Falconeer developer Tomas Sala and New Blood Interactive's Dave Oshry on how Microsoft can improve the Xbox experience for devs and players alike. ID@Xbox chief Chris Charla said the firm is taking feedback to heart as it moves towards a more Steam-like platform for the next Xbox.

The Xbox Ally PC gaming handheld is the testbed for all of this stuff, and if the above interface is indeed a hint at the future of Xbox PC, we should see it on the Xbox Ally in early 2026 alongside the promised docking update.

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