Microsoft launches its Xbox TV app later this month, allowing owners of Samsung’s 2022 smart TVs and monitors to play Xbox games without a game console. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will have access to more than 100 games via Samsung’s 2022 smart TVs, streaming through the cloud, powered by custom Xbox Series X hardware. Fortnite is even available for free streaming if you’re not a subscriber on Game Pass Ultimate.
The Xbox TV app will run much like Netflix on TV and will be available from Samsung’s Gaming Center on June 30 in 27 countries. Just log in to your Microsoft account in the app and stream Xbox games just as you would with Xbox Cloud Gaming in a browser.
The Xbox app running on a Samsung TV. Image: Microsoft
Microsoft and Samsung will support a large number of controllers for the Xbox application, including the Xbox range of controllers, Sony’s DualSense and many more. Just connect a controller via Bluetooth and you’re done. Unfortunately, Microsoft is not increasing its streaming resolution to 4K, so games will be limited to 1080p streaming at 60 frames per second.
Microsoft is partnering with Samsung here for the initial launch of the Xbox app, but it’s unclear when the app will be available on other TVs or even older Samsung models. “We are first introducing the Samsung Smart TV Xbox app, and our intention is to explore other TV partnerships as part of this next evolution of our vision,” said Ashley McKisick, corporate vice president of Xbox gaming experiences and platforms.
This latest Samsung partnership follows similar marketing deals for the Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Cloud Gaming for Android, as well as other partnerships related to Android and Windows.
The user interface of the Xbox TV app is similar to Xbox Cloud Gaming. Image: Microsoft
Originally announced last year, the Xbox TV app is a big milestone for Microsoft’s ambitions for Xbox Cloud Gaming and Game Pass. Microsoft is gradually expanding the scope of Xbox Cloud Gaming by providing the service to iOS devices through the browser and even the web, Xbox One consoles and computers.
Microsoft also has plans for separate Xbox streaming devices that can plug into monitors or TVs and stream games, much like this Xbox TV app. The software maker recently revealed that it is redesigning its gaming streaming device, codenamed Keystone, so that this puck-like hardware won’t be out soon.
We got an early hands-on experience with the new Xbox TV app and you can check out our first impressions right here.
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