Traditionally, gaming companies like Xbox have always been restrained to their hardware; whether that means selling game consoles or video games exclusive to that hardware. However, in recent years, Xbox has been pushing a lot of its titles to PC (not surprising, considering the Microsoft family ties), and other platforms via cloud gaming (surprising).
It’s better for the consumers because it means that you don’t need to be restrained to an Xbox to enjoy some of the best games that the platform has to offer. Xbox has taken another step forward, bringing its Xbox Cloud Gaming app via the Gaming Portal on LG smart TVs on webOS. That platform was one major exception, but no longer.
Xbox and LG Bring Cloud Gaming Straight to Your webOS-Powered Smart TV
Xbox has been pushing its cloud gaming platform a lot more than any company that has attempted it has done before; and yes, that even includes Google with its now-dead Stadia platform. Microsoft must see a benefit to it, and it is all the better for the consumers as it breaks them away from the hardware constraints and gives them the ability to play on smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, and computers.
But let’s focus on the smart TV aspect of things. You’d be quick to assume that pretty much every major smart TV platform supports Xbox Cloud Gaming, but that’s not the case. While Amazon Fire TV and Samsung smart TVs have had access for some time, LG’s webOS and Google TV both don’t have official support for the app.
Well, that’s set to change now, at least for the LG users in the crowd. LG and Xbox have partnered to bring the official Xbox app to webOS smart TVs through its Gaming Portal. What that means is that LG users can finally get access to Game Pass Ultimate on their TVs, allowing them to access hundreds of games without needing to spend any extra money on an Xbox.
And you’re not limited to only Game Pass titles, as you can buy digital titles, exactly as a console owner would do. They’re tied to your account, so if you do eventually get yourself an Xbox or choose to use cloud gaming on another device, you can play them there.
What Is LG’s Gaming Portal?
You already know about the Xbox Cloud Gaming app but you might be wondering what the Gaming Portal that was mentioned earlier. For the most part, it is exactly what it sounds like. It is a section of LG’s webOS that contains everything related to gaming on your smart TV.
The Gaming Portal can be accessed right from the home screen of your LG smart TV and gives you access to cloud gaming apps such as Nvidia’s GeForce Now, and of course, now Xbox Cloud Gaming. You also get access to casual webOS games that you can play with the TV’s remote control.
It also adds a little bit of a tailored experience by showing you lists such as the top 10 games in terms of popularity, special picks by the platform’s editors, and more. It’s amazing how gaming has become so detached from traditional hardware.
