Earlier this month, Xbox once again expanded its Cloud Gaming program, this time bringing the Game Pass library to certain Amazon Fire Stick devices. While the experience has been getting mixed feedback so far shall we say, the mega-retailer has now doubled down on its partnership with Xbox.
As spotted by Tom Warren, Amazon is now bundling its '4K Max' Fire Stick with an Xbox Series X|S controller and one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for new subscribers. Here's a look at that bundle:
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What we find interesting is that big old 'no console required' tag right there. We get it, hyping up Xbox Cloud Gaming has been a big Microsoft mantra for years at this point - it's just interesting to see them effectively market Xbox games as interactive entertainment that doesn't need an Xbox console.
This listing is live over at Amazon US at the moment, but we did recently hear rumours that suggested Xbox could be cutting back on its console marketing in certain other regions. Those were only rumours, but even so, you can see the team's cloud-first marketing at play here with this new Amazon bundle.
What do you make of this console-less Amazon bundle, then? Tell us your thoughts down below!
[source x.com]
Comments 20
Xbox need to up the game if they want to put so much into xCloud because right now it’s bang average.
are they taking ps6 preorders?
I've seen more marketing garbage updates for cloud streaming like the Amazon fire stick and the official Xbox website being cloud compatible then the console itself.
They really really want this to be the standard in the future.
Garbage who wants to play games on a firestick
Cloud gaming. Huh say no more 🤮🥴🙄
I don't want to game on the cloud, do I look like Lakitu?
Cloud gaming
“How many times do we have to tech you a lesson old man!?” - SpongeBob guy
in a way this is good cause it will turn many people off about cloud gaming and game pass once they try it. its the next knetic flop.
@MjJmediablogger I agree if looked on from OUR perspective as Xbox enthusiasts. But if you look at the wider market to people who might only play games on their very average phone then xCloud could be an upgrade.
Looks like Xbox is trying to turn Gamepass into a better Stadia.
I just bought a couple fire sticks for prime day. Gamepass wasn't my intention for buying them but I am excited to try it out.
I dumped over 800 dvd and blu rays onto a computer and am using that computer as a home server to stream my physical movie, music and games to all my devices. Getting the digital media benefits from my physical collections.
Just in time for the school year to start. Nice.
Cloud Gaming is a perfectly viable way of playing... if you have the connection speed and stability. Playing on PC with a wired 1gbps connection, it works like a dream and - other than the fact that it's 1080p and has that streamed video look about it - when actually playing, you wouldn't know you were playing through the Cloud. However, I am absolutely in the minority when it comes to my internet speeds and therein lies the problem. The current state of the internet infrastructure in most countries right now and how readily available fast speeds are just aren't at the point they need to be.
Removed - flaming/arguing; user is banned
"Amazon now selling Fire Stick, Xbox controller & GPU bundle" Hey the new Xbox generation has begun
For just $80 + 240/yr + Prime membership, you, too, can enjoy the thrill of fuzzy compressed 720p-1080p medium latency gaming in nearly Xbox Series S quality!
I can see the appeal. GP subs are going to reach 1 billion gamers easy!
@themightyant Not at $20 a month it's not. Even Apple couldn't convince their acolytes to pay $10/mo for unlimited ad-free iOS games. If Apple couldn't get Apple faithful to part with $10 on an Apple, Microsoft sure as heck isn't going to get Amazon streamers to pay $20. The PRODUCT could do it. But, like PSVR2 and the (ironically technologically superior) Stadia, the price killed it before it launched.
@Mustoe "Still believe Microsoft have its sights set on traditional console hardware?"
You know how they are. After this fails to move the subscriber needle (and at the price, I believe it will fail to meet expectations by a long shot, it's priced completely wrong for the intended market) then they'll try fawning over the consoles again briefly. Then they'll move onto something else again.
Do people realize that one company can have multiple product and service offerings? If cloud gaming isn’t for you, it’s not for you! Stick to Series X!
These product really seems to have annoyed some people for some bizarre reasons. Giving people more choice in how they play games is somehow a bad thing
Worth checking if your TV can download the Xbox app, then you don't need the Firestick.
I've just discovered the above, and to add insult to injury for Amazon/ Microsoft, it even works with a PS5 controller!
Though maybe it's still a good thing for MS. They can now get £15 a month from me that they'd never have got.
Amazon and Xbox doing this together is pretty cool to be honest, Don’t think it’s a bad thing for Xbox to branch out more.
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