Xbox TV App and Streaming Stick Could Be Coming Soon

An Xbox TV app reportedly is in the works to allow more people more access to Xbox games without the need for a dedicated console. 

According to The Verge, Microsoft is working with TV manufacturers on an Xbox app to bring the Xbox Game Pass to more people’s homes through xCloud streaming technology. Microsoft also is said to be working on a dedicated xCloud streaming stick to use with the new app. 

"We’re working with global TV manufacturers to embed the Game Pass experience directly into internet-connected TVs so all you’ll need to play is a controller," Liz Hamren, head of gaming experiences and platforms at Microsoft, said during an E3 press briefing.

These announcements come ahead of Sunday's E3 Showcase event, so more official news could come next week about when to expect an Xbox TV app and streaming stick. 

Microsoft also announced on Thursday that upgrades are coming in the next few weeks to the xCloud service. The service will move to the Xbox Series X hardware, which The Verge reports will bring dramatic improvements to load times and frame rates.

Microsoft’s new streaming focus can be seen throughout the gaming industry, as more and more companies shift to a subscription-based gaming model. Xbox Game Pass, PSNow, Apple Arcade, Google Stadia, and more are all cloud-based/subscription-based gaming platforms. 

Experts have said that an industry shift to subscription-based gaming services would give some gamers access to more games at a lower cost and open the market to new customers. However, it also could hurt an entire community of gamers who rely on physical copies of games.