Microsoft is testing two new ways to control Xbox cloud games. One lets players use their phone as a controller on a smart TV. The other lets the new Xbox Nano controller connect straight to cloud servers over Wi-Fi.
The cloud connect option goes live as a preview in the US first. Players elsewhere can try the phone controller instead. Microsoft says both features are still being tested, so games and devices may be limited.
π The Backstory
Cloud gaming sends a game from a remote server to your screen. Any delay between your button press and the picture is called latency, and it can ruin fast games. Bluetooth adds some of that delay.
Connecting the controller over Wi-Fi is meant to cut that lag. Microsoft has pushed cloud gaming for years, but it still trails console play. Removing the need for extra hardware is central to its plan.
π― Why It Matters
It means you could play console games on a TV with nothing but your phone. Fewer gadgets to buy makes streaming games more realistic for casual players.
Microsoft is testing two new ways to control Xbox cloud games. One lets players use their phone as a controller on a smart TV. The other lets the new Xbox Nano controller connect straight to cloud servers over Wi-Fi.
The cloud connect option goes live as a preview in the US first. Players elsewhere can try the phone controller instead. Microsoft says both features are still being tested, so games and devices may be limited.
Cloud gaming sends a game from a remote server to your screen. Any delay between your button press and the picture is called latency, and it can ruin fast games. Bluetooth adds some of that delay.
Connecting the controller over Wi-Fi is meant to cut that lag. Microsoft has pushed cloud gaming for years, but it still trails console play. Removing the need for extra hardware is central to its plan.
It means you could play console games on a TV with nothing but your phone. Fewer gadgets to buy makes streaming games more realistic for casual players.