Xbox Cloud Gaming previews — Microsoft is giving Xbox Cloud Gaming users two experimental control options, both arriving as previews. The company announced that players can try using a smartphone as a controller on smart TVs, while the Xbox Nano controller gains a cloud connect feature that links straight to cloud servers over Wi-Fi. The cloud connect preview begins today for players in the United States.
The phone controller option is aimed at smart TVs and arrives for previewers outside the US. It runs through the Xbox Cloud Gaming website, which means a dedicated Bluetooth controller is no longer required to start streaming. Instead, a phone can serve as the input device.
How cloud connect works on the Xbox Nano
Cloud connect changes how the Nano controller communicates with a game. Rather than pairing over Bluetooth with the TV, the controller uses Wi-Fi to reach the cloud server that is running the game. Microsoft says this direct path can cut input latency, which may make gameplay feel more responsive.
The feature is not available to everyone at once. During the preview period, Microsoft notes that both experiences remain under testing, and that supported games or devices may be limited. Availability is also restricted, so some users may not see the options immediately.
US players who want to try cloud connect on the Nano controller need to set it up through the Xbox beta app on Android or the Xbox Accessories app on PC. The setup process is separate from the smart TV phone controller preview.
A simpler setup for the phone controller
The phone controller preview takes a different path. On Xbox Cloud Gaming, users can turn it on by toggling preview features in the Settings > Account section. That makes the option accessible without extra hardware or a separate app.
Both previews share a common goal: removing friction from cloud play. The phone controller lowers the hardware barrier on smart TVs, where a Bluetooth gamepad might otherwise be necessary. Cloud connect targets a different kind of friction by shortening the route between the controller and the server.
What the previews mean for players
Because these are previews, the experience may change. Microsoft has framed both features as tests, and the company has not indicated how long the preview period will last or when the options might move beyond preview status. Players who join early should expect limited device and game support.
The two announcements also reflect different priorities. The phone controller is about access, letting more people try Xbox Cloud Gaming on a TV without buying a separate controller. Cloud connect is about performance, using Wi-Fi to connect the Nano directly to the server running the game.
For now, the US preview centers on the Xbox Nano and cloud connect, while the smart TV phone controller preview is available outside the US. Players who meet the requirements can opt in through the appropriate app or setting and see whether the new control methods change how cloud games feel.
