The two previews at a glance
| Phone as controller | Nano "cloud connect" | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | A supported Android or iOS phone acts as a virtual gamepad | The Nano uses Wi-Fi to reach the cloud session directly |
| Where | Supported smart TVs, in countries where Xbox Cloud Gaming is supported | The US only, for now |
| Where it works | Supported smart TVs | Supported smart TVs and the web |
| Hardware needed | A phone with a browser | An Xbox Nano Controller |
Microsoft says the phone preview is rolling out on supported TVs in countries where Xbox Cloud Gaming is supported. The Nano preview is limited to the US. Microsoft says both are tests, so "availability and supported games or devices may be limited", as The Verge put it when quoting the company.
Your phone as a controller
The pitch is simple: you want to play a cloud game on the TV and your controller is in another room, or you never owned one. You can use a supported Android or iOS phone as your controller on a supported smart TV.
According to Microsoft's announcement, the controls open in the phone's browser, so you don't need a separate app. Some games get controls tailored to how they play. Microsoft doesn't list which games or TV models qualify, so expect some trial and error.
How to turn it on
- On the latest supported smart-TV Xbox experience, open Settings > Account and turn on Preview Features.
- Launch a game with no physical controller connected to the TV.
- Choose the option to use your phone for that session.
- Scan the QR code the TV displays to connect the phone.
If the option doesn't appear, check two things first. Is a physical controller still connected? Is the TV app up to date? Both come straight from Microsoft's instructions. Beyond that, the announcement gives no troubleshooting guidance.
Sending feedback
- On the phone: after scanning the QR code, tap the Xbox icon in the top-left corner and select "Give Feedback."
- On the TV: open the Guide, or use the profile icon in the app's main menu, and select Give Feedback.
Nano cloud connect
Normally a controller pairs over Bluetooth with the device showing the game. Windows Central describes the old arrangement this way: playing Xbox Cloud Gaming on a TV or web browser meant connecting your controller via Bluetooth. Cloud connect changes the path. Microsoft says that instead of Bluetooth to the TV, the controller uses Wi-Fi to connect directly to the cloud server running your game, which can help reduce input latency.
Note the hedging in "can help" and "may feel more responsive". Microsoft has published no latency numbers. Windows Central goes further than Microsoft's own wording on latency, and it compares the feature to Google's Stadia controller. Microsoft itself makes neither claim, so treat both as commentary. 9to5Google also drew the Stadia comparison, noting that the Verge spotted the Wi-Fi feature on the Nano, as on Google's Stadia Controller.
Setup steps
- Set up cloud connect on the Nano with the Xbox beta app on Android, or the Xbox Accessories app on PC. Setup through the PC app requires Xbox Insider enrollment.
- Follow the app's prompts to join the controller to your Wi-Fi network.
- Open a supported Xbox Cloud Gaming experience and sign in with the same Xbox account you used during setup. The controller then connects through cloud connect.
Microsoft warns that cloud connect is an early test and won't work with every cloud gaming experience yet. For now it works on supported smart TVs and the web. Feedback goes through the Feedback icon in the Xbox Accessories app on PC or in the Xbox mobile app.
Context: how the Nano got here
Microsoft introduced the Nano on October 14. It's a compact controller priced at $49.99, with all 18 standard gameplay inputs, a rechargeable battery, a programmable Action Button, and Xbox Wireless plus Bluetooth support. That announcement made no mention of Wi-Fi cloud connect.
The feature surfaced early. According to The Verge, Tom Warren revealed the day before that the Nano supports a direct Wi-Fi connection to Xbox Cloud Gaming. The setup pop-up was reported to call it a preview that may not work as expected. Warren also expects the technology in a future Elite controller. That is his expectation, not a Microsoft commitment.
What it means for Windows and PC players
- A PC route exists, but only for setup. The Xbox Accessories app on PC can configure the Nano. Cloud connect works on the web and on supported smart TVs, and Microsoft doesn't say which browsers or PCs qualify.
- The phone controller targets TVs, not PCs. Microsoft describes it only for supported smart TVs. The announcement doesn't mention using it with Windows.
- Cloud play is getting less dependent on Bluetooth. Bluetooth pairing on TVs and browsers is a familiar pain point, and cloud connect sidesteps it. Whether the lower latency is noticeable is unproven until testers report back.
Bottom line
These are previews with real limits: US-only for Nano cloud connect, supported TVs only for the phone option, and an unpublished list of games and devices. If you own a Nano and live in the US, setup takes a few minutes and Microsoft is asking for feedback. If you want to try the phone controller, switch on Preview Features and launch a game with no controller connected. Don't expect measured latency improvements until independent testing appears.