Xbox Cloud Gaming is Coming to Samsung Smart TVs This Month

Microsoft has announced that Xbox Cloud Gaming will be coming natively to Samsung Smart TVs later this month, allowing users to play Xbox games directly from their TV – no console required. 

Last week, I was invited to go hands-on with an early build of the tech, which will be rolling out to all 2022-model Samsung TVs on June 30 via the new Samsung Gaming Hub. 

The service is practically identical to the way Xbox Cloud Gaming currently works on smartphones and browsers. Open the app and you’re greeted with a familiar home screen of recently-played games, along with categories for recently added, most popular, and other discovery feeds, all of which are navigable via a paired Bluetooth controller. From this screen simply click into a game to view its product page and start playing. 

Once you hit launch, the service takes a few seconds to prepare the game stream, but once you’re loaded in, everything functions the same as if you’d launched from a console, including your cloud saves, settings, achievements, and any other info linked to your Xbox account. Just like on other devices, most games will require an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription to play via Cloud Streaming, though at least one – Fortnite – doesn’t require a subscription. Otherwise, all games that are currently available to stream via Xbox Cloud Gaming will be playable on the TV app, console free. 

As we discussed in our original review of Xbox Cloud Gaming, the quality of your experience on the service is wildly dependent upon your internet quality. In this way, streaming to a stationary device such as a TV where you can optimize its internet connection (ideally via hardline Ethernet) is essentially the ideal scenario for gaming via cloud streaming. I have no doubt that the testing scenario I experienced was basically as good as it can get, internet-wise, but it’s also not a particularly difficult set of conditions to set up at home either, as opposed to relying on a shaky Wi-Fi (or even worse, mobile data) connection. 

I tested the service playing Forza Horizon 5, Halo Infinite, and Hollow Knight, all of which felt responsive with little-to-no input lag. Visually, the streams came through crisp and clear, though I’m sure there would be noticeable differences if compared side-by-side with a game being played off a Series X. Streaming quality comes in at 1080p resolution at 60fps, though I was told that the TV does a bit of upscaling to improve visual quality.

I also briefly saw the new Samsung Gaming Hub, a one-stop shop for gaming that will be coming to all 2022-model Samsung TVs. The TVs will pair with most Bluetooth controllers (not just Xbox controllers), as well as Bluetooth headsets for game audio and party chat. The hub itself serves as an aggregator and discovery platform for all your connected gaming devices and services, including

Currently, 2022 Samsung models are the only TVs that will support Xbox Cloud Gaming, but it’s expected that more TVs will gain support in the future. 

For more Xbox news, be sure to check out our coverage of the Xbox Bethesda Showcase this weekend at 10am PT on Sunday, June 12.