Microsoft has started rolling out two Xbox Cloud Gaming previews. On supported Smart TVs you can now use your phone as a controller, and in the US the new Xbox Nano Controller can connect straight to your cloud session over Wi-Fi.
Xbox Wire announced both previews on 4 November, and says both are still being tested, so availability and supported games or devices may be limited for now.
Xbox Cloud Gaming previews at a glance
- Phone as controller: Supported Smart TVs, in every country where Xbox Cloud Gaming is available
- Cloud connect: Xbox Nano Controller, US only, on supported Smart TVs and the web
- Status: Previews, rolling out from today
Your phone becomes the pad
If you want to play a cloud game on your TV but there’s no controller nearby, you can now use a supported phone instead. The controls open in the phone’s browser, so there’s nothing extra to install, and Microsoft says some games will get controls tailored to how they play.
To try it, turn on Preview Features under Settings > Account in the latest supported Smart TV experience. Launch a game without a physical controller connected and you’ll get the option to use your phone for that session, connecting by scanning a QR code on the TV.
Cloud connect skips the TV
The second preview confirms what was reported last month. Instead of pairing to your TV over Bluetooth, the Xbox Nano Controller can use your Wi-Fi to connect directly to the cloud server running your game. Microsoft says that can help reduce input latency, so play may feel more responsive.
It’s an early test, so it won’t work with every cloud gaming experience yet. Setup is done through the Xbox beta app or the Xbox Accessories app on Windows, which needs Xbox Insider enrolment. Connect the controller to your Wi-Fi network, then open a supported Xbox Cloud Gaming experience and sign in with the same Xbox account you used during setup. Xbox has a cloud connect setup guide with the full steps.
Feedback wanted
Microsoft says it will use feedback from both previews to shape future updates. For the phone controller, tap the Xbox icon on your phone or use Give Feedback in the TV app’s Guide or profile menu. For cloud connect, use the Feedback icon in the Xbox Accessories app or the Xbox app.
There’s no word yet on when cloud connect will expand beyond the US. Read more about Xbox Cloud Gaming on cloudy.games, and follow us on X and Facebook.
