Xbox Aims To Turn Your iPhone Or Android Into A Cloud Gaming Controller

Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming service is about to get more accessible as the company is now rolling out a preview that allows players to use either their phone or the recently launched Nano controller to play their games. This upgrade comes as Microsoft attempts to entice players to jump into “Cloud Playtime” packs, which is a new pay-as-you-go option.

While players have been able to use the Nano controller with Bluetooth, this update will let players use cloud connect, instead. It uses Wi-Fi to directly connect the controller to the service, which the company says can help cut down on latency for a more responsive gaming experience. To set this up, players will need to use either the Xbox beta app on an Android device or the Xbox Accessories app on a PC to configure the controller. Unfortunately, players who only own Apple devices look to be left out in the cold on this one, but hopefully that changes at some point down the line.


Thankfully, both Android phones and iOS devices can be used as input device when a traditional controller isn’t available. This already sounds like a clumsy proposition, but the button layout that Microsoft has opted for looks even stranger, with no directional pad and the game's buttons clustered around the right stick. We wonder how players will react to it once they get to test it.

This could be a great option for those who often find themselves on the go; while the Nano controller is small enough, it’s still one more thing to have to lug around, while you'll presumably always have your phone. To enable this feature, users will need to visit “Settings,” choose “Account,” and enable “Preview Features” from within their smart TV's Xbox app.

It’s still very early days for these new controller options, though, as Microsoft says that “availability and supported games or devices may be limited while we learn from your feedback.” A perfect example of this is the Nano controller preview, which is only available for those who live in the US. Hopefully this preview phase goes smoothly, and it becomes widely available sooner rather than later.