Microsoft is working on a cloud service to bring Xbox to any device

You won’t need an Xbox system to enjoy the future of the Xbox platform. Microsoft gaming boss Phil Spencer announced today that the company is building a cloud-gaming infrastructure that will enable players to get its games from in a Netflix-like stream to PCs, set-top boxes, tablets, and smartphones. Microsoft made the announcement during today during a press briefing ahead of the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles today.

Microsoft launched the Xbox One in November 2013 under a cloud of policy reversals and confused messaging. The company planned to release the system as an always-connected device that would have special features for sharing digital games. It scraped those plans in the face of angry fans, and it has spent the rest of this generation recovering from those early missteps.