Microsoft and Amazon bring Xbox Gaming to Fire TV devices

Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming service is available on various devices including PCs, phones, and select TVs. Now, the service will be available to a lot more users via Fire TV Sticks, thanks to a collaboration between Microsoft and Amazon.

The service will arrive on select Fire TV Sticks in July 2024 via the Xbox app that will be made available on the Amazon Appstore. For now, the supported devices are the $60 2023 Fire TV Stick 4K Max and the 2023 Fire TV Stick 4K (curr. discounted to $40 on Amazon). Interestingly, none of Amazon’s Fire TV smart TVs are supported. Microsoft also mentions that the service will be available in over 25 countries.

In addition to having a compatible Fire TV Stick, users will need an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription if they don’t already have one as well as a solid internet connection. They will also have to connect a compatible Bluetooth-enabled controller. Amazon mentions the Xbox Wireless Controller, Xbox Adaptive Controller, and PlayStation’s DualSense or DualShock 4 as compatible controllers that work seamlessly.

With Xbox Gaming now available on the Fire TV Stick, it provides a way for many more people to enjoy video games without a console. And for those who already own a console, there’s the benefit of being able to enjoy your games on another device especially when you are away from home. Simply take your Fire TV stick and controller with you when going on a trip.

This announcement is fitting considering Microsoft originally planned to launch an Xbox streaming device in 2021 but canceled it as it couldn’t achieve the ~$100 price tag it wanted. The supported Fire TV Sticks cost under $60 which is significantly cheaper than what Microsoft would have announced.