Microsoft has significantly revised its cloud gaming interaction model on the Xbox Cloud Gaming platform. The company introduced two new features that allow game control without a traditional gamepad: a smartphone can now act as a full-fledged controller, and a new compact Nano Controller connects directly to cloud servers via Wi-Fi. Both options are in preview status and, as of this publication, are available exclusively to users in the United States.
Smartphone as a full controller on TV
The first innovation allows using a mobile device as a control interface while streaming games via Xbox Cloud Gaming on supported TVs. The controller interface opens automatically via the browser, eliminating the need to download separate apps to your smartphone. For a number of titles, developers have provided custom button layouts adapted to the specific game mechanics. You can activate the feature on the TV via the Settings > Account section in the cloud interface, where you need to enable the Preview Features option.
Nano Controller and Cloud Connect technology
The second key innovation is aimed at reducing input lag. Microsoft is launching a feature to connect the new compact Nano Controller directly to cloud servers via Wi-Fi using Cloud Connect technology. Unlike the classic scheme where the gamepad transmits a signal via Bluetooth to the TV, which then broadcasts it to the cloud, the Nano Controller bypasses the intermediate link and connects to the server directly. This shortens the data transmission chain and, consequently, reduces response latency.
Configuration and availability restrictions
Initial configuration of the Nano Controller is carried out via the Xbox beta app on Android or the Xbox Accessories utility on PC. Participation in the Xbox Insider preview program is required for PC connection. After initial setup, the controller connects to your home Wi-Fi network and automatically pairs with the Xbox cloud session when a game is launched. Both new options are in preview status, so the list of compatible devices and games may be limited and expand as updates are released.
Historical context: The legacy of Google Stadia
A similar approach to using Wi-Fi controllers and mobile devices as a control remote for a cloud session was previously employed by the defunct Google Stadia service, which was shut down in 2023. Microsoft is effectively borrowing part of the technical concept, adapting it to its own ecosystem and expanding functionality through the browser interface on TV. Notably, both features were introduced amid temporary restrictions on cloud gaming, which gives the update additional strategic context: the company aims to maintain the service's appeal to the existing audience while terms of service are shifting.
What this means for players
For users in the US already subscribed to Xbox cloud gaming, the new options open the possibility to play Halo Infinite, Forza Horizon 5, Starfield, and other library titles without having to hold a full-sized gamepad. Timelines for availability in other markets have not yet been announced. Given the preview status, Microsoft may adjust the list of supported devices and games before a general release, so players are advised to monitor updates via the Xbox beta app and the Xbox Insider program.
