
The next step in Microsoft's big plan for Xbox Cloud Gaming is being carried out today, as the xCloud service has now been announced for the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K and Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max.
Soon, you'll be able to play Xbox Cloud Gaming titles with a Fire Stick, a Bluetooth-enabled wireless controller and an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership - as long as you've got a good enough internet connection, of course.
"The Xbox app will soon be available on the Fire TV Stick 4K Max (2023) ($59.99) and Fire TV Stick 4K (2023) ($49.99). For people new to console gaming, or for those looking for another way to play, it’s a great low-cost, convenient, and portable option to enjoy a huge library of incredible games."
If you've got what you need, you'll be able to download the Xbox app on your Fire Stick starting in July, in which you'll just need to connect your Xbox account and start playing. Of course, there's also the option of playing on a phone or an internet browser, for example - Xbox Cloud Gaming is pretty much everywhere these days!
The only catch here is that "over 25 countries" are mentioned as part of the xCloud / Fire Stick deal, so some regions will inevitibly miss out. The full list of countries has not yet been provided by Microsoft.
Will you be making use of this new Xbox Cloud Gaming option? Tell us in the comments below.
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Comments 32
I’m thinking that’s a smart move.
Xbox's current gamble is being on as many screens as possible, not just the screen to which you may or may not have an Xbox console hooked up. I don't think that this will actually take away from their sales that much like some claim, as I think most people, especially those with shaky internet speeds, would prefer to play their games natively as opposed to over the cloud whenever possible. With that being said, let's see how this gamble works out for them.
...Oh, and it goes without saying, but stuff like this would really benefit from Xbox finally allowing you to play your owned games over the cloud, whenever we'll finally see that from them. Apparently that's meant to finally be a thing in 2024, so unless it got delayed then that should be available in about 6 months or less.
I've wanted another option for my office. I'd rather buy a (hopeful) handheld than a Series S (already have a Series X in the living room), but this is a nice alternative. If they eventually put the app on Roku, even better. I wouldn't have to get any new hardware.
Savage_Joe wrote:
Maybe, but ONLY if the stick's latency is good enough. But those Fire TV sticks are pretty cheap and many of us already have them, will be interesting to test it myself.
I mentioned this yesterday on another post but it's worth repeating here:
Ten countries (including the UK) collectively account for 77% of global video game revenues, and every single one of them (and several others) have passed legislation within the last four years to ensure high speed internet is available to all their citizens. Under the government's "Levelling Up" policy, gigabit broadband will be available to 85% of the UK's population by 2025 and 100% of the UK's population by 2030. From this we can conclude that game streaming services will become a viable option for more consumers in the next 5-6 years.
Finally! Why has this taken them so long? If they want cloud to grow, they need these apps available on the most popular streaming devices.
Up until now, xCloud has awkwardly only been available on a particular subset of Samsung TV's.
This sounds like a good plan. We'll wait to see how well it runs in the real world, but I've played just fine on my Phone and iPad on WiFi so I'm sure it'll work all right with a good internet connection.
I don't have any use for it personally as my Xbox is plugged into my TV so I'd just stream games on that, but I can see this being a popular choice for people with multiple TVs, are PC gamers, or even break into people who don't have a gaming system at all.
xbox streaming, now with even more lag for 30 fps games.
No thanks I have zero interest in any of this nor ever will I'll stick to my consoles I just see no appeal to it at all
Hope i can play in one window and watch my hookey Sky sports aswell
I'll give this a go my fire stick isn't a 2023 version but still 4k so hopefully I can try it
I’ll be all over it! Love xCloud and all games I’ve tried that way have been great to play (Halo, Forza and most recently Hellblade 2). I can see myself buying an OLED tv in a year or two and gaming via xCloud only. Especially when all those first party games come out and Acti-Blizz games join Game Pass.
personally never had a problem with xcloud apart from having to wait for stream to start
its always surprised me an xcloud app isnt on modern tvs now days
Google TV now please!!!
Also would love to be able to stream games I own too!
Xbox apps on new TVs and third-party sticks on top of mobile devices and computers is a very smart move. If you add the rumoured native gaming handheld and the confirmed next-gen console, there will be Xbox everywhere and that will benefit Xbox Game Studios and all their projects.
My Samsung TV has Game Pass app built in and my TV is 'hardwired' to my Router - not reliant on having a stable and uninterrupted WiFi signal. Therefore I wouldn't need the Streaming device or a Fire Stick but not every TV has Game Pass (yet)
Baller move.
Way better decsicion than a Xbox Dongle or Cloud console.
I have 2 co-workers that are Not Team Xbox at all. They both are playing Gears of War together once this launced next month. They are pumped that....
1. They can sub for a month and try it out.
2. They can use their PS5 controllers.
Great to see. My spider senses tell me both will liley keep the sub when they see the content on GP.
@trev666 It's on some Samsung Tvs
@101Force available to 85% but probs not affordable for 85% 🤣🤣😭
This right here is the future. Nothing glitzy or glamorous. Just another incremental step toward gaming as easy and ubiquitous as turning on a Netflix show.
@Savage_Joe They are called Fire Sticks for a reason.
I could see this being janky as hell on my mum's fire stick. Given it's a few generations behind now. If it even runs at all on it. But I'd try it out of morbid curiosity. Can't see me leaving the series s behind though anytime soon.
This is gonna be huge. Might not be for a few years still, but eventually the internet speeds will be at a point where games will play just fine over tech like this. This isn’t a now move, it’s a move that will pay off significantly down the line.
And this is actually great for me. I travel a ton for work and usually stay in Airb&b’s that have decent enough TV’s. Can just plug this sucker in and game away. Now just give me my Xbox handheld and all my bases will be covered.
If people on fire tv are only going to play cloud gaming, then I think the game pass ultimate might be overpaying. They should make a tier for cloud gaming only.
Another sensible move. PlayStation may sell the hardware but Xbox is selling games and is everywhere. It might not be what everyone wants but if anyone thinks Xbox is dying, they are so wrong.
It was already possible to do this, even if it wasn't 'officially' supported.
More devices where XB games are available = More XB gamers = more XB games. I like this a lot. I have a 7 TVs between two homes. I buy firesticks for all my TVs. The ability to play on firestick will save me having to buy consoles for every TV.
This is (a big part of) the future. I'm not sure what kind of deal is in place with Samsung but if the Gamepass app becomes more widely 'built in' or downloadable on most new TVs/Roku, Apple TV, then Xbox will really be available everywhere without the need for a console or PC. As noted above, this is all well and good if you have good speeds and preferably, ethernet available.
This feels like the biggest 'next step' for Gamepass and will be the main way I'll use my subscription. Currently my series S is gathering dust in the bedroom but this would change everything for me. Assuming it all works well enough of course...
Does anyone know if this will work with the Fire TV Cube?
I thought Microsoft had to give the rights to cloud gaming to Ubisoft as part of the ABK deal?
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