Microsoft will reportedly bring Xbox Game Pass streaming directly to TVs and standalone devices, no console required, in the next year reports GamesBeat.
According to the outlet’s sources, Microsoft is planning to release an Xbox streaming device similar to an Amazon Fire or Roku Stick. In addition, they are planning a Samsung TV App to allow users to stream cloud games direct to their televisions without any additional device. No word on equivalent apps for LG, Sony, Panasonic, TCL, Hisense or other TV manufacturers.
Game Pass will be streaming only via these app-only or plug-and-play devices as opposed to the console itself which allows for downloading and local play. Thus a strong internet connection will be necessary.
Microsoft first suggested plans to bring Xbox cloud gaming to smart TVs last summer and is intent on bringing the service to as large a user base as possible.
This comes hot on the heels of Microsoft bringing “Fortnite” back to mobile devices as its newly announced partnership with Epic Games will make the popular game playable through Xbox Cloud Gaming and free on all supported browser-enabled devices.
The game, which was removed from both Apple and Google’s mobile app stores in 2020, was previously playable in browsers using Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. The latest version will be free for anyone with an Xbox account and marks the first entirely free game that Microsoft has brought to its cloud service.
The good news has been tinged with a bit of bad though as Microsoft experienced a major outage over Friday-Saturday with users unable to purchase or launch games or start Cloud Gaming sessions for up to 12 hours.
The downtime again highlights the potential problems of online DRM, and how such systems can sometimes lock users out of the software they’ve purchased.
