Microsoft is partnering with TCL to bring its Xbox app to supported TCL smart TVs, with the rollout expected “in the coming months” as of September 2026. The app will allow TCL TV owners to access Xbox Cloud Gaming and stream Game Pass titles or select games they own through a subscription.
The timing aligns with Microsoft’s planned November 2026 launch of a pay-as-you-go option for Xbox Cloud Gaming, which will allow users to access the cloud streaming service without an Xbox Game Pass subscription — a setup that could appeal to those who do not own an Xbox console. Microsoft has also been testing free, ad-supported cloud gaming for Xbox Insiders, which may expand access further if it rolls out broadly.
At the same time, Microsoft is introducing monthly cloud gaming hour limits for existing Game Pass subscribers. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers will be capped at 15 hours of cloud access per month, Premium subscribers at 10 hours, and Game Pass Essential subscribers at 5 hours. Subscribers who exceed their allotment will need to purchase additional bundles of cloud hours.
TCL joins a growing list of TV manufacturers that have partnered with Microsoft to distribute the Xbox app. Hisense began adding the app to its VIDAA OS-based TVs earlier in 2026, and Samsung, LG, and Amazon Fire TV devices already have access to the Xbox app.
The expansion to TCL TVs extends Microsoft’s cloud gaming reach to users who may not own dedicated gaming hardware, while the introduction of hour caps and pay-as-you-go pricing signals a shift in how Microsoft structures access to its cloud streaming service.
Source: The Verge