Microsoft is expanding the Xbox cloud gaming application to millions of TVs running the Vidaa operating system, including a number of Hisense’s models.
The Xbox cloud app makes it possible to stream Xbox games to your TV without buying an actual console, meaning that users can play top video games without investing hundreds of dollars in the hardware.
However, to be able to play games through the app, users will also have to pay for a Game Pass subscription. The cheapest tier is the Essential membership subscription, which is priced at £6.99 per month and provides access to a library of 50 games. The Premium membership costs £10.99 per month and gives users a library of 200 games, while the Ultimate tier costs £16.99 and enables full access to Microsoft’s library of more than 400 titles available through the cloud.
In addition to the subscription, you’ll also need to invest in a controller, which could be the official Microsoft Xbox device or a Bluetooth-enabled third-party controller.
As such, while you’re not required to invest in an Xbox console, cloud gaming still isn’t free. But to celebrate the launch of the app on Vidaa-powered TVs, Hisense is giving away both free subscriptions and controllers to those who want to test the service out. The company said that anyone who buys a qualifying Hisense RGB MiniLED, regular Mini-LED or Laser Cinema between August 5 and November 3 will be given a redeemable code. Using this code, they’ll be able to claim an Xbox Design Lab controller free of charge and get a one month trial of the Xbox Game Pass Premium subscription.
Hisense U.K.’s Head of Strategy and Go-To-Market Operations Rob Andrews said consumers expect more from their home entertainment set-up than just TV shows and movies, which is why the company is embracing the Xbox app. “By launching the Xbox app and bringing cloud gaming directly to Hisense TVs, we’ve taken a genuine step forward in making home gaming more accessible to households across the U.K., meaning a premium gaming experience is now accessible with just a few pushes of a button,” he exclaimed.
Microsoft and Hisense only announced the launch this week, but according to the former, the Xbox app has been rolling out on select Vidaa TVs since the beginning of the month, and will be gradually released on more models in the coming weeks.
This is all part of Microsoft’s strategy to make Xbox gaming more accessible on devices besides games consoles, targeting people who can’t justify spending money on such expensive hardware. It has been pursuing this strategy for a few years, and the Xbox app has long since been available on TVs from LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics and Amazon Fire devices.
Vidaa OS is an operating system developed by Hisense for its smart TVs, similar to Samsung’s Tizen and LG’s webOS. But unlike those companies, not every Hisense TV runs the Vidaa platform, with some using Google TV, Android TV and Roku instead. Presumably, such models are not included in Hisense’s new deal, as the Xbox app isn’t yet available on those operating systems.
We should note that, like Samsung and LG, Hisense also licenses the Vidaa OS to other TV brands, and so some third-party TVs may also be getting access to the Xbox app. But they won’t qualify for Hisense’s special offer.
If you have a Vidaa OS TV and you don’t see the Xbox app just yet, you’ll have to be patient, as the rollout of the updated firmware could take several weeks to complete.
