Microsoft announced that it was partnering with TV manufacturers to make an Xbox app available on televisions. The service will be available to gamers and consumers using its xCloud streaming service. This will increase the number of ways by which an Xbox can be used. It also spoke of its own Microsoft streaming stick.
Microsoft has not mentioned a release date, nor has it mentioned which smart TV manufacturers will bundle this new app. It has also not mentioned pricing for these devices nor is there a first look. It revealed only a few details in a special press briefing, before its E3 showcase on Sunday, June 13, which will focus on games.
Last November Xbox chief Phil Spencer in an interview with The Verge had dropped a hint that an Xbox app will appear on smart TVs within the next twelve months. In October, he dropped hints about TV streaming sticks for Microsoft’s xCloud gaming service.
It looks like further details about the Xbox app for smart TVs and the streaming stick will be released in the future when the devices will be ready to ship.
Microsoft is looking to broaden its efforts and the Xbox Game Pass addition to smart TVs is one of the steps it is taking to move it beyond phones and consoles.
Liz Harmen, head of gaming experiences and platforms at Microsoft said that they were working with global TV manufacturers to embed the Game Pass experience directly into internet connected TVs. Then all that a gamer would need would be a controller; to play games on TV.
Microsoft’s xCloud is also coming out of beta soon which is good news for Apple device users. It is focusing on its cloud services as its main rival Sony Is struggling with the manufacture of its PS consoles due to shortage of chips. The Xbox cloud streaming service will move to the Xbox Series hardware on the server. This will improve load times and frame rates and give players access to optimized games on Xbox Series X/S.
Photo Credit Microsoft
