Xbox Cloud Gaming on smart TVs can now use your phone as the controller, in a preview Microsoft began rolling out on November 4. It works with Android phones and iPhones, and the touch controls open in the phone’s browser. You don’t need to install an app. The preview is rolling out in countries where Xbox Cloud Gaming is supported.
Microsoft pitches the feature for times when you don’t have a controller nearby. It isn’t presented as a replacement for one.
How to use your phone as an Xbox Cloud Gaming controller
- Open the latest Xbox experience on a supported smart TV.
- Go to Settings > Account and turn on Preview Features.
- Launch a game without a physical controller connected.
- Pick the option to use your phone for that session.
- Scan the QR code on the TV with your phone. The controls then load in your phone’s browser.
Some games will get touch layouts tailored to how they play. Microsoft warns that availability, supported games and supported devices may be limited during the preview. Xbox keeps a list of compatible TVs on its verified devices page.
Nano Controller gets cloud connect in the US
The second preview is for the Xbox Nano Controller, and it’s limited to the US for now. Called cloud connect, it changes how the controller talks to your game. Xbox describes it this way:
Instead of a Bluetooth connection to your TV, cloud connect uses your Wi-Fi to connect directly to the cloud server running your game.
Microsoft says this can help cut input latency. For now it works on supported smart TVs and on the web, not in every cloud gaming experience.
To set it up, use the Xbox beta app on Android or the Xbox Accessories app on PC. The PC route requires enrolling in Xbox Insider. Xbox has a cloud connect setup guide on its support site.
What it means for cloud players
Both previews make cloud play on a TV easier to start. The phone in your pocket can now stand in for a controller, while Nano owners get a more direct link to the server. Both are still previews, so expect gaps in game and device support. For background on Game Pass Ultimate’s cloud play rules, see our earlier report on Xbox cloud gaming time limits.
Sources: Xbox Wire, Xbox Support
This post was written with AI assistance from public sources and published under the editorial responsibility of AndroidPure’s editor. How we work.
