Amazon and Microsoft recently expanded Xbox Cloud Gaming support to two more Fire TV devices: The 4K Fire TV Cube and the 1st Gen Fire TV Stick 4K Max, which join the current-gen Fire TV Stick 4K and 4K Max models as budget-friendly devices capable of streaming Xbox games with a Game Pass Ultimate membership.
Xbox Cloud Streaming Starter Kit
Total price with deals: $119
While you can play Game Pass games a wide selection of devices–including Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One consoles, Windows PCs, Android phones, and select Samsung Smart TVs–the Fire TV streamers are the most affordable devices for getting up and running with Game Pass.
Fire TV devices aren’t capable of downloading and playing digital games directly on the devices themselves like you can on Xbox or Windows PC, instead relying on Game Pass Ultimate’s cloud streaming feature. That limits how many games you can play on Fire TV streamers compared to console or PC, but almost every Microsoft-published titles supports cloud streaming–including Halo Infinite, Forza Horizon 5, Fallout 4, Doom Eternal, and more–plus a large selection of third-party and indie games. Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can also play most Xbox first-party games on launch day with little more than a Fire TV device, Xbox controller, and a decent internet connection–including the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. That’s pretty good for streaming devices that cost a fraction of an Xbox Series X|S.
Build your Xbox Cloud Streaming Bundle
Considering Fire TV streaming devices are now some of the cheapest devices you can play Game Pass games on, we’ve put together a quick guide to help you create your own Xbox cloud streaming bundle centered the Fire TV. You’ll find links to all three major components you’ll need: A compatible Fire TV device, an Xbox Controller, and a subscription to Game Pass Ultimate. We made sure to comb through the listings for all three pieces to help you get the best deals for your Xbox Cloud streaming setup.
Note that since all the computing is handled by Xbox’s cloud servers, game performance is dependent on the strength of your internet connection, so it’s worth checking Microsoft’s cloud streaming requirements to ensure your home network is up to par.
Fire TV devices
We’ll start with the Fire TV streamer, since that’s the centerpiece of the setup here. Assuming you don’t already own one (or another device with Game Pass support) you’ll want to grab either the Fire TV Stick 4K, Fire TV Stick 4K Max 2nd Gen, or Fire TV Cube from Amazon, all three of which are on sale for up to 40% off.
Note that the 1st Gen Fire TV Stick 4K Max is also supported but is no longer sold. Nevertheless, those who already own the 1st Gen Fire TV Stick 4K Max can now use it to play Xbox games via Game Pass Ultimate.
Xbox Controller deals
The other device you’ll need for your Xbox cloud streaming setup is an Xbox wireless controller. The controller is available in multiple color options, many of which are on sale at Amazon and Walmart.
Game Pass Ultimate
The last thing you’ll need is a Game Pass Ultimate subscription. Microsoft is upping the subscription price from $17/month to $20/month starting September 12, but if you act fast, you can grab a batch of prepaid Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership cards at a discount from Amazon. With the discount, you can get 1-month cards for just $15 each, or 3-month cards for $45. These prices match the cost of Game Pass Ultimate before the last price increase–so you’re saving against the current subscription cost, too. While this is a great way to load up on several months of Game Pass Ultimate at once, you can also buy a card or two and redeem them later if you don’t want to use them right away.
