Xbox recently announced that it’s introducing two new ways to use its Cloud gaming service. From November, Xbox users will be able to access Cloud gaming without a controller, and those with one of Xbox’s new Nano controllers will be able to connect their accessory directly to their Cloud gaming session via Wi-Fi.
Following a year-long testing period, Xbox’s Cloud gaming service officially launched in September 2020, initially coming as part of the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate package. In its original form, Xbox Cloud gaming let Game Pass Ultimate subscribers play select titles from the Game Pass library via the Cloud, often eliminating the need to download the game and allowing players to access their Xbox games on mobile devices, PC, and other secondary platforms.
Xbox Is Testing Two New Ways to Use Cloud Gaming
Announced earlier this month, Xbox is currently testing two new ways to access and play games via the Cloud. The first of these new methods sees players using Xbox Cloud gaming on their Smart TV via a supported Android or iOS phone, with the mobile device replacing the need for an Xbox controller. To try this feature out, users simply need to head to their Xbox account settings and turn on Preview Features. Upon booting up an Xbox Cloud game on a Smart TV, players will then be prompted to connect a controller or connect their phone. While touch controls have been available for select Xbox Cloud games since the service’s introduction, this is a new feature for Smart TV gaming.
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The second Cloud-specific feature that Xbox is currently testing will let players located in the United States connect the new Xbox Nano controller directly to their Cloud gaming session via Wi-Fi instead of requiring the usual Bluetooth connection. According to Xbox’s announcement blog post, this new method of connection should reduce input latency. While this feature is available now for Xbox Insiders, Xbox does warn that it’s still in its early phases of testing, so it won’t work with every Cloud gaming experience. Right now, the Xbox Nano controller can only be connected via Wi-Fi on Smart TVs and via the web.
These new features aren’t particularly revolutionary, but it’s good to see Xbox still trying to refine its Cloud gaming experience, especially given recent major changes to the service. For those unaware, in September, Xbox implemented a time limit on Cloud gaming hours for Game Pass subscribers, giving Ultimate users just 15 hours of Cloud playtime each month. In October, Xbox then announced that those without an active Game Pass subscription would soon be able to pay for Cloud playtime, with packages starting at $3.99 for 10 hours of playtime.
These recent Xbox Cloud changes have been highlighted by the imminent launch of Grand Theft Auto 6. Just a few days ago, Rockstar Games officially confirmed that Grand Theft Auto 6 would be playable via Xbox Cloud gaming on both Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One, giving those on last-gen consoles an opportunity to play the otherwise next-gen exclusive.
