Key Takeaways
- The Xbox app will be available on Fire TV via Fire TV Stick in July.
- Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can play games via the cloud on Fire TV.
- No console needed, just a Fire TV, a Bluetooth controller, and a subscription.
Microsoft and Amazon have announced that the Xbox app will soon be available for download on your Fire TV or Fire TV Stick. The Xbox app will be available for download sometime this July, and all Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will be able to play games over the cloud with just a controller.
Xbox has lagged behind in console sales in recent years, so it’s been rolling out its cloud and Game Pass services to as many devices as possible. Currently, you can access Game Pass on your Xbox console, PC, mobile device, or select Samsung TVs to play games natively or via cloud streaming. The latter option means you can play even the newest, most technically demanding games on any device with the app, including Fire TV in the future.
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Microsoft and Amazon team up to stream games without a console
How the Xbox app works on Fire TV
Xbox home screen screenshot
With this new partnership, the barrier to entry for current-gen gaming is lower than ever before. All you need to access the latest and greatest games (excluding PlayStation and Nintendo exclusives, of course) is a Fire TV or compatible Fire TV Stick, a Bluetooth controller, and a Game Pass Ultimate subscription. Currently listed as compatible Fire TV Sticks are the Fire TV Stick 4K Max and Fire TV Stick 4K.
“The expansion of Xbox gaming to Fire TV devices gives players another option to enjoy their favorite games using the devices they already own, and for those who don’t own an Xbox console, it’s an affordable and convenient way to get started in gaming,” said Ashley McKissick, corporate vice president, Xbox Experience and Platform Engineering. “There’s something for every type of player with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, and we look forward to welcoming even more people to join the Xbox gaming community.”
If you don’t already have one, you’ll need to get a Game Pass Ultimate subscription to use the app on your Fire TV. Game Pass is an Xbox subscription service that comes in different tiers and gives users access to a vast catalog of both first and third-party games. Ultimate is the highest tier of Xbox’s subscription service, costing $17 per month, but it’s the only one that gives you access to cloud gaming. You also get all the other perks, including access to the entire Game Pass library on your console (if you own or get it), PC, and online multiplayer.
Please note that when accessing Game Pass through a Fire TV, you will not be able to download or purchase games. This device only supports the cloud gaming feature of Game Pass, so you will be limited to games available through cloud streaming and will experience varying levels of latency and picture quality depending on your internet speed. Xbox currently recommends speeds of 20 Mbps or higher for cloud gaming, with a 5 GHz connection recommended.
Any Bluetooth-enabled controller, including official Xbox console controllers, will work with Fire TV and play with the Xbox app.
Microsoft and Amazon haven’t announced a specific release date for the app, but it will definitely be released in July.
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