Microsoft to bring Xbox gaming directly into web-connected TVs

Microsoft on Thursday said it is working on software to let people play Xbox video games on internet-linked televisions without the need for consoles.

“Xbox is exploring new subscription offerings for Xbox Game Pass so more players around the world can experience the most immersive and fun games across devices, geographies, and financial realities,” Microsoft said.

“When you talk about Xbox`s mission to bring the joy and community of gaming to everyone on the planet, which I absolutely love, that is precisely aligned with Microsoft`s mission, which is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more,” said Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.

Cloud gaming through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate will launch in Australia, Brazil, Mexico, and Japan later this year, the company announced.

“We believe that games, that interactive entertainment, aren’t really about hardware and software. It`s not about pixels. It`s about people. Games bring people together,” said Phil Spencer, Head of Xbox.

Xbox is also working with telecommunications providers on new purchasing models like Xbox All Access, which allows consumers to buy both a console and Game Pass for a low monthly price, rather than spending money upfront.

In the next few weeks, cloud gaming on the browser will open to all Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members. With Edge, Chrome, and Safari support, players will be a click away from gaming on almost any device.

“We’re in the final stages of updating our Microsoft data centres around the world with our latest generation of hardware, the Xbox Series X. This means gamers will see faster load times, improved frame rates, and experience Xbox Series X|S optimized games,” Microsoft announced.