Microsoft has begun rolling out, on Tuesday, November 4, 2026, an Xbox Cloud Gaming test that lets players use a phone as a controller on compatible Smart TVs. The idea is simple: with no physical controller nearby, the player opens the controls in the phone's own browser and plays on the TV.
How it works on Smart TV
The feature works with compatible Android and iOS phones, on TVs that support Xbox Cloud Gaming, in countries where the service is available. To try it, players must turn on preview features under Settings > Account in the Smart TV experience and start a game with no physical controller connected. Some games will also have controls tailored to how they are played.
According to Xbox Wire, both new experiences are still being tested and availability may be limited by game and device while the team gathers feedback. For the phone controller, feedback can be sent from the phone itself, after scanning the QR code shown on the TV, or through the Smart TV app.
Cloud connect with Xbox Nano
The same announcement also expands the cloud connect test with the Xbox Nano Controller in the United States: instead of Bluetooth to the TV, the controller uses Wi-Fi to connect directly to the cloud server running the game, which can reduce perceived latency. For now, that test covers compatible Smart TVs and the web, and does not work with every cloud experience.
Microsoft says it will use what it learns from the tests to shape future updates to the service. Feedback sent during the preview is therefore part of the process, not just a support channel.
Source: Xbox Wire.
Image credit: Xbox Wire/Microsoft
Transparency: this article was prepared with the help of artificial intelligence, based on verification of public sources on the internet, including official announcements. Please consult the original sources before making any decision.
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