Xbox is rolling out two Xbox Cloud Gaming previews starting today: phone-based controls for supported Smart TVs and a Wi-Fi connection that links the Xbox Nano Controller directly to the cloud.
The phone-controller preview lets players use a supported Android or iOS phone to control a cloud game on a supported Smart TV when a physical controller isn’t nearby. The rollout covers countries where Xbox Cloud Gaming is supported, as detailed in the official Xbox announcement.
Cloud connect takes a different approach to input. Rather than connecting the Xbox Nano Controller to the TV over Bluetooth, it uses Wi-Fi to connect the controller directly to the cloud server running the game. Xbox says this can help reduce input latency, potentially making gameplay feel more responsive. That’s a claimed benefit rather than a measured performance result, but the connection path is the important technical distinction.
The two previews address different practical needs: phone controls provide an option when a controller isn’t at hand, while cloud connect targets responsiveness with dedicated hardware. Both remain in testing, with availability and supported games or devices potentially limited while Xbox gathers feedback.
Cloud connect currently works only on supported Smart TVs and the web, and not with every cloud gaming experience. That’s a narrower footprint than Xbox Cloud Gaming overall: the service’s official platform page lists Windows PCs; Apple and Android phones and tablets; Xbox consoles; select LG, Samsung and VIDAA OS-powered smart TVs; Amazon Fire TV; select Meta Quest VR headsets; and supported browsers.
