LG TVs get a new update – Xbox cloud gaming without a console

The Xbox app, which supports cloud gaming, has been released for select LG webOS-based smart TVs. The app allows Xbox games to be streamed directly to the TV from Microsoft’s servers, eliminating the need for a local console to play games.

To play, you need a valid Game Pass Ultimate subscription (€17,99/month), a Bluetooth controller, and a stable internet connection. Hundreds of games are available to download from the Game Pass Ultimate library, including new releases in the Forza Horizon series and Microsoft Flight Simulator. Streaming of owned games is supported for games that are not part of the service's selection, such as Assassin's Creed Shadows and Hogwarts Legacy.

The application is only available on TVs equipped with the webOS 24 operating system version. Based on this, 2022 OLED models and selected 2023 and newer LG smart TVs have been announced as supported. An exact model list has not been published, but the application can be found in the TVs' own app store.

LG is the second TV manufacturer to introduce Xbox cloud gaming, after Samsung introduced it in 2022. Cloud gaming has become increasingly popular in recent years: alongside Microsoft, PlayStation Plus Premium and Nvidia GeForce Now offer the services. Updates to new smart TVs have been seen as a key part of manufacturers' strategies, as consumers have been asked to provide more versatile entertainment solutions without separate devices.