One frustration buyers face when using multiple Smart TVs is app compatibility. Samsung, LG, and Sony TVs all use different software, which may or may not support the same apps. LG is filling a void in its TV’s smart capabilities by embracing the Xbox app. Gamers can soon access Xbox Cloud Gaming on many LG displays and stream hundreds of popular titles. Players will need an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription on PCs or Microsoft consoles to join the fun.
LG plans to make the Xbox App available through its new Gaming Portal. LG’s hub organizes all the possibilities in one place and saves gamers from having to search for content. LG’s Gaming Portal will offer the Xbox app and works with other cloud gaming services like GeForce Now and Luna. Players will also find other titles supported by the webOS used by LG 4K TVs. Exactly when TVs will receive these updates is unknown, but Microsoft’s announcement says it will appear “later this year.”
What Will LG TV Owners Need for Xbox Cloud Gaming?
Despite Xbox Cloud Gaming still being in Beta, the technology has evolved since its 2020 debut. Running on improved hardware, graphics have less pixelation, and games exhibit shorter loading times. Players experience lower latency, with shorter delays in inputs registering on screens. Still, streaming games requires sufficient bandwidth. Gamers will want to rely on their TV’s Ethernet port or set up a capable wireless mesh network.
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Some Xbox Cloud Gaming titles support touch controls on smartphones and tablets. However, a wireless Bluetooth controller is a better option for a smart TV when playing console-oriented games. Microsoft’s first-party Xbox controller is an obvious solution with widespread compatibility. Pairing these peripherals to LG TVs is usually straightforward.
Cloud gaming allows players to move between devices without losing progress. For example, virtual racers can start a Forza Motorsport series when commuting and complete events in the evening on an LG smart TV. The Xbox app continues to reach more devices like VR headsets, and PC users can stream games through a browser. The financial incentives are just as enticing, avoiding the need to own an expensive console.
Perhaps the most significant improvement with Microsoft’s cloud service is with game selection. Even the visually spectacular Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is playable without owning the game. Players aren’t limited to Xbox Game Pass titles; some purchased games, like NBA 2K25, will run on LG TVs.
LG OLED TVs are the perfect match for playing the latest Xbox titles over the cloud. While Xbox Cloud Gaming doesn’t yet support 4K, most premium LG sets effectively upscale lower-resolution content. Also, their potent processors eliminate the clunky navigation of many cheaper smart TVs. When not gaming, streaming big-budget movies on Disney+ takes advantage of an OLED panel’s deep blacks.
Currently, we don’t know the release date for the Xbox app on LG TVs. Also, no list exists of the TVs that will receive the update first. Microsoft and LG promise to release these details in the upcoming months.
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