Microsoft’s Xbox app will be coming to Samsung 2022 smart TVs starting June 30th in 27 countries – allowing users to play cloud games without requiring a console.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members will be able to access their games library using the app, while non-members will be able to play “Fortnite” for free. It will be a part of the Samsung Gaming Hub which has partnerships with other game streaming services like Google Stadia, Nvidia GeForce Now and Utomik.
Ashley McKissick, corporate vice president, gaming experiences and platforms for Xbox said in a statement: “We are bringing the Xbox app to Samsung Smart TVs first, and our intent is to explore other TV partnerships as part of the next evolution in our vision.”
Users will be able to connect a Bluetooth-enabled controller such as the Xbox Wireless Controller, DualSense or Amazon Luna pad, and also use a Bluetooth-enabled headset.
Microsoft is also expanding its Game Pass Ultimate offering with a game demos program rolling out within the next year. They also are planning to offer the ability for users to play “select games they already own or have purchased” from the Microsoft Store via cloud streaming. That aims to be up and running later this year.
Microsoft has also claimed it intends to add ‘thousands’ of new custom Xbox Series X server racks around the world, increasing its cloud gaming capacity by 125%.
