Last month, Microsoft announced the launch of three new consoles Xbox Series X and Series S. Technically the same as the current consoles, they would have more internal storage space and a slight facelift. The catch? They will still have a very high price.
But thanks to a new partnership between Xbox and Amazon, there’s no need to look for a new console if you want to play all the best Xbox games. Starting this month, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members can play cloud-enabled games through the Xbox app on select Fire TV Stick devices.
That means games like Starfield, Forza Horizon 5 AND Consequences 4 it’ll be more accessible than ever, and you’ll only need a compatible Fire TV Stick and a Bluetooth controller – that’s a lot cheaper than a new Xbox Series X – to start playing.
Better yet, because everything works on a Fire TV Stick, you can remove it from your TV and bring your Xbox games with you on vacation or at your mates’ house. Here’s how to set up and start playing Game Pass Ultimate games on your TV.
Step 1: Get a compatible Fire TV Stick
Not all Fire TV Sticks will be able to run games on Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. Sadly, even if you have a Fire TV Stick 4K, it will have to come out in 2023 in order to play cloud-based games.
There are only two compatible Fire TV Sticks – the second-generation Fire TV Stick 4K Max and the second-generation Fire TV Stick 4K. The former costs £69.99 and the latter £59.99 – a fraction of the cost of an Xbox Series X. Plus, they’ll also be on sale during Prime Day.
The newest Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K max streaming is faster and smarter than the previous first generation model. It features a new quad-core processor, supports wifi 6E, 4K ultra HD, Dolby Vision, HDR, HDR10+ and Dolby Atmos. You get double the internal storage (16GB instead of 8GB), so you can store more apps and games, and you get the new improved Alexa voice remote with buttons for the latest channels and content.
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The Amazon Fire TV 4K is 30 percent more powerful than the first-generation model, thanks to the quad-core processor inside. Like the previous model, it supports Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos, HDR, HLG and HDR10+.
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Step 2: Download the Xbox app to your Fire TV Stick
Once you’ve booted up your Fire TV Stick, head over to the Amazon App Store and download the Xbox app. Then simply sign in with your Microsoft account. If you’re already an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate member, you’ll have instant access to stream and play any of the hundreds of cloud-enabled titles in the Game Pass Ultimate library. If you are not, you can register within the app.
However, the most affordable way is to buy an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership online, where you will find the best deals.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate normally costs £12.99 per month – that’s pretty affordable. For a whole catalog of new Xbox games to play every month. But if you buy a membership through a reputable digital game code retailer’s CD-Keys instead of using Xbox directly, you can save £4.50 a month.
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Step 3: Connect a Bluetooth controller
Finally, connect a compatible Bluetooth controller to the Fire TV Stick. Most Bluetooth-enabled controllers should work – Microsoft has a list of compatible controllers on its website), but if you have an Xbox Wireless Controller, an Xbox Adaptive Controller, or even a dualsense PlayStation controller or dualshock 4 controller , you will be able to start playing.
What is Xbox Game Pass Ultimate?
Xbox Game Pass is like having a Netflix subscription, but for Xbox games. New games are added every month, including brand new titles on release day. There are hundreds of games in the catalog, including Starfield, Consequences 4 AND Forza Horizon 5.
In addition to games on the Fire TV Stick, you will also be able to download games directly to your computer for online and offline play. You’ll also gain access to new free games every month, as well as members-only sales.
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