Microsoft has announced this Xbox Cloud Gaming will arrive natively on Samsung smart TVs later this month, allowing users to play Xbox games directly from their TV, without the need for a console.
Last week, I was invited to practice an initial version of the technology, which will be rolled out to all Samsung 2022 TVs on June 30 via the new Samsung Gaming Hub.
The user interface of the Samsung Xbox application. (Microsoft image credit)
The service is virtually identical to how Xbox Cloud Gaming currently works on smartphones and browsers. Open the app and you’ll be greeted with a familiar home screen of recently played games, along with categories for newly added, most popular and other discovered sources that can be browsed using a paired Bluetooth controller. From this screen, just click on a game to view its product page and start playing.
Once you take the launch, the service takes a few seconds to prepare the game stream, but once loaded, everything works the same as if you launched from a console, including cloud storage, settings, achievements, and more. what. other information linked to your Xbox account. As with other devices, most games will require an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription to play via Cloud Streaming, although at least one, Fortnite, does not require a subscription. Otherwise, all games currently available for playback via Xbox Cloud Gaming will be playable on the TV application without a console.
As we commented in our original Xbox Cloud Gaming Review, the quality of your service experience depends greatly on the quality of your internet. Thus, streaming to a stationary device such as a TV where you can optimize your Internet connection (ideally via hardline Ethernet) is essentially the ideal setting for streaming streaming to the cloud. I have no doubt that the test scenario I experienced was basically as good as it can be on the internet, but it’s also not a particularly difficult set of conditions to set up at home, rather than relying on unstable Wi-Fi. . (or worse, mobile data connection).
The Samsung Gaming Hub, which contains the Xbox Cloud Streaming app. (Image credit: Samsung)
I tried the service by playing Forza Horizon 5, Halo Infinite, and Hollow Knight, all of which responded with little or no entry delay. Visually, the streams were crisp and clear, though I’m sure there would be noticeable differences when compared to a game played with an X series. The quality of the transmission reaches a resolution of 1080p at 60 fps, although I was told that the TV does a bit of improvement to improve the visual quality.
I also briefly saw the new Samsung Gaming Hub, a unique gaming window that will reach all Samsung TVs of the 2022 model. The TVs will be paired with most Bluetooth controllers (not just Xbox controllers) as well as Bluetooth for game audio and party chat. The center itself serves as an aggregation and discovery platform for all your connected gaming devices and services, including
Samsung’s 2022 models are currently the only TVs to support Xbox Cloud Gaming, but more TVs are expected to be supported in the future.
For more news on Xbox, be sure to check out our Xbox Bethesda Showcase coverage this weekend at 10:00 a.m. PT on Sunday, June 12th.