News in short

• Xbox Cloud Gaming now lets players use a supported Android or iPhone as a controller on select smart TVs.
• The phone-controller option is rolling out in preview in regions where Xbox Cloud Gaming is supported.
• Xbox Nano can also connect to cloud gaming sessions over Wi-Fi, with the feature currently available to US users in preview.
• Both updates are being tested, so supported devices, games and availability may remain limited.

Xbox Cloud Gaming is adding more ways to play without a traditional game controller. Microsoft is testing a phone-as-controller feature for select smart TVs. It is also introducing cloud connect support for the newly launched Xbox Nano controller.

The new features are rolling out in preview. Microsoft says the tests will help it gather feedback before a wider release. Availability may vary by country, device and game, so not every Xbox Cloud Gaming user will see the options yet.

Xbox Cloud Gaming lets you use your phone as a controller

The phone-controller feature lets players connect a supported Android phone or iPhone to a compatible smart TV. They can then launch games through the Xbox Cloud Gaming app without a separate physical controller.

When the feature is active, the game’s controls appear in the phone’s browser. Microsoft says these touch controls will be tailored for select games. This means the layout may differ depending on the title being played.

The change could make cloud gaming easier to try in a living room. Players who do not own an Xbox controller can use a compatible phone instead. It may also help households where a controller is not readily available, although the experience depends on supported games and devices.

How to enable phone controls on a smart TV

Users need the updated Xbox Cloud Gaming app on a supported smart TV. They can open the app’s settings and find the Preview Features section under Account. After enabling the option, they can launch a game without a physical controller.

The app should then offer the option to use a phone as the controller. Players can follow the on-screen instructions to connect their supported Android or iOS device. The phone’s browser will open the game-specific control layout.

This feature is currently a preview rather than a final, universally available release. Users should check whether their television, region and chosen game support the experience before relying on it for a gaming session.

Xbox Nano adds direct Wi-Fi cloud connect

Microsoft is also testing cloud connect with the Xbox Nano controller. The compact controller launched on November 4 and costs $50. In the preview, users in the US can connect it to supported smart TVs and the web through Wi-Fi instead of Bluetooth.

Xbox says the Nano can connect directly to the cloud server running the game. The company expects this approach to help reduce input latency. Lower latency can make button presses feel more immediate, particularly in games that depend on quick reactions. Actual performance can still vary with network conditions and the device being used.

The feature does not support every Xbox Cloud Gaming experience yet. Microsoft is testing it on supported smart TVs and the web, with access currently limited to users in the US.

How to set up Xbox Nano cloud connect

Players can set up cloud connect through the Xbox beta app on Android or the Xbox Accessories app on a Windows PC. They need to connect the Nano controller to Wi-Fi during setup.

Once the controller is online, users can open Xbox Cloud Gaming on a supported smart TV or through the web. They must sign in with the same Xbox account used during the controller setup. The feature remains in preview, and the available games or compatible devices may be limited.

Xbox Cloud Gaming expands beyond Game Pass

The controller updates arrive as Xbox changes how players access cloud gaming. Xbox Cloud Gaming is now available as a standalone option, outside a Game Pass subscription. Microsoft began testing cloud playtime packs with Xbox Insiders last month and plans to make them broadly available to Xbox users this month.

During the preview, Microsoft introduced three cloud playtime packs. They offer 10, 25 and 50 hours of cloud gaming at introductory prices of $3.99, $7.99 and $11.99, respectively. These packs provide a separate way to access cloud gaming for users who do not want a Game Pass subscription.

The Xbox Nano is a pocket-sized controller priced at $50. Microsoft announced it last month, and it went on sale in select regions on November 4. Its new Wi-Fi cloud connect option is another step toward letting players access cloud games across more screens.

For now, both controller features remain experimental. Phone controls could lower the barrier to entry for smart-TV cloud gaming, while Nano’s Wi-Fi connection aims to improve responsiveness. The broader rollout will depend on Microsoft’s testing and the supported games, devices and regions.