Now you really don’t need an Xbox to enjoy Xbox games.
Microsoft announced on Thursday that, starting June 30, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will be able to stream their games through the cloud using a new, dedicated app for Samsung smart TVs and monitors released in 2022. Simply called the Xbox App, you’ll be able to install it on Samsung screens (just like you’d install Netflix or HBO Max) and play Xbox games without the need for an actual Xbox Series X/S console or PC. This ability to stream games through Game Pass Ultimate has been available on mobile devices for a couple of years, but now you can enjoy these games on a big screen.
Obviously, you’ll need something to control the games. In the same announcement, Microsoft said any current wireless Xbox controller (as well as the PS5’s DualSense controller) will be compatible with the app. After launching the app and logging into your Game Pass account, you’ll be able to pair the controller with the TV and start playing.
This is good news for folks who want to play the newest Halo without paying $500 for a Series X, but it’s not a huge surprise. Microsoft confirmed it was working with smart TV manufacturers on streaming solutions a year ago. The Xbox app is technically not even the first of its kind, as Samsung and LG TVs got Google Stadia app support earlier this year. Microsoft is also rumored to be working on an Xbox streaming stick, furthering its lofty cloud ambitions.
But Xbox is obviously a much bigger force in gaming than Google, and Game Pass nets any subscribers instant access to first-party Xbox games. When this app launches, Samsung TV owners will be able to play any new version of Halo, Forza, Elder Scrolls, or even Call of Duty if/when Microsoft’s purchase of Activision passes regulatory hurdles. They won’t even have to wait, either, as Xbox games come to Game Pass on day one.
Hot tip: Use your TV’s Ethernet port if you have one. You don’t want to deal with WiFi lag during those intense Halo sessions.
