Xbox Cloud Gaming previews phone controls on smart TVs
Microsoft is testing two ways to play Xbox Cloud Gaming on a TV with fewer hardware hurdles. One needs no controller at all, only a phone, while the other cuts the TV out of the controller's connection.
Both are previews
Microsoft is actively testing both features, so some things may not work as expected. When, or whether, they reach everyone is unclear.
A Wi-Fi link for the Nano Controller
Cloud connect is open to US players who own the new $49.99 Xbox Nano Controller. A controller usually talks to the TV over Bluetooth. Here it goes over Wi-Fi straight to the cloud server that runs the game. Microsoft says the direct link may lower input lag and make play feel snappier.
To set it up, connect the controller to Wi-Fi from the Xbox beta app on Android or iOS, or from the Xbox Accessories app on PC. After that, log in with the same Xbox account in a supported cloud gaming experience.
Two limits apply. Cloud connect works only on smart TVs and the web, and not yet with every cloud gaming experience. Anyone setting it up through the PC app must also be enrolled in the Xbox Insider program.
A phone in place of a gamepad
The other preview suits someone with a smart TV and no controller within reach. It runs on Android and iOS phones. A QR code on the TV starts it, and the controls open in the phone's browser, so no app is installed. Some games offer control layouts tailored to how they play.
Switch it on in the TV's Xbox app under Settings, then Account, by enabling Preview Features. Launch a game with no physical controller connected and the TV offers the phone for that session.
It is rolling out in every region that has Xbox Cloud Gaming. The TV, though, must be a compatible model. Microsoft lists them on the Xbox support page.
Our take
The two previews solve different problems. Microsoft gives no figure for how much input lag cloud connect saves, so the benefit for Nano Controller owners is unproven. A release timeline from Microsoft would settle whether either becomes standard.
Source: Android Authority