Roku fans jealous as Amazon Fire Sticks receive game-changing upgrade today with access to hugely popular app
AMAZON Fire TV Stick owners can now play Xbox games on their device – even if they’ve never owned the console.
The upgrade, which was announced in late June, has finally landed on screens today.
It comes with the launch of the Xbox Cloud Gaming app in the Amazon Fire Store, which lets users beam games from the internet to their machines.
Simply connect an Xbox joypad to your TV and you’ll be able to play Xbox games just like a regular console.
It’s all thanks to today’s Wi-Fi speeds, which tend to be fast enough to render gaming graphics on the fly.
Unlike a movie where the footage is pre-loaded, games require machines with bigger processors to render games as you play them.
However, that is no longer necessary for households with a sturdy internet connection.
“One of the biggest benefits of cloud gaming is the ability to play premium games without needing a console,” Amazon explained.
“The Fire TV Stick may be compact, but it can stream and run graphically intense Xbox games like Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II.
“This portability also means you can easily move your cloud gaming setup from the living room TV to a different room or even take it on the road.
“As long as you have a solid internet connection and your compatible Fire TV Stick, and a compatible controller, you can take your Xbox Game Pass games and saved progress travels with you.”
Microsoft is reportedly working to allow Xbox fans to play their existing library of games, should they have one.
But for now, players must pick up titles that are part of the Xbox Game Pass.
While the Xbox Cloud Gaming app has arrived for Fire TV customers, fans of the rival company Roku appear to be missing out on the upgrade.
“Hey @Xbox, add your cloud gaming app to @Roku devices next,” one onlooker wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Another added: “I wish they’d figured it out with Roku. Fire Sticks kind of suck.”
WHERE TO FIND XBOX APP
The Xbox app will only be available on two types of Fire TV products to begin with:
- Fire TV 4k Max (2023)
- Fire TV Stick 4k (2023)
The app is also available on Samsung’s newest lineup on TVs.
HOW TO PLAY XBOX GAMES ON FIRE STICK
To play Xbox games on your Fire Stick or Fire TV, you will need three things:
- A compatible Amazon Fire device (check list above)
- A Bluetooth-enabled wireless controller
- An Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription
Once you have all three, simply download the Xbox app onto your Fire TV device from the app store.
XBOX GAME PASS ULTIMATE – ALL THE PERKS
For £12.99/$9.99 per month, here's what you'll get from Xbox Game Pass Ultimate...
- Online console multiplayer
- EA Play membership
- Xbox Cloud Gaming
- Download console and PC games
- Earn Rewards Points by playing games from Game Pass catalog
- Free perks like in-game content and consumables
- Regular additions of new games (including day-one releases)
- Premium member benefits, deals, and discounts