Xbox Cloud Gaming now lets your phone double as a controller on smart TVs

TL;DR A new Xbox Cloud Gaming preview lets you use your phone as a controller on supported smart TVs. It works with Android and iOS devices, and you don’t even need to download an app. Xbox is also previewing cloud connect for the Xbox Nano Controller in the US. Cloud connect lets the Xbox Nano Controller connect directly to cloud servers over Wi-Fi, which Microsoft says can help reduce input lag. Xbox Cloud Gaming is a convenient way to play Xbox games on your smart TV without a console. But what if you don’t have a controller handy? Microsoft is now trying to fix that by letting you turn your phone into an Xbox controller. The company has announced two new Xbox Cloud Gaming previews. The first lets you use an Android or iOS phone as a makeshift controller on supported smart TVs. You connect by scanning a QR code on your TV, and the controls open in your phone’s browser, meaning you don’t even need to download an app. What’s more, some games will feature control layouts tailored to how they play.