The Xbox Nano has a hidden cloud secret

Microsoft’s upcoming Xbox Nano controller can link directly to Xbox Cloud Gaming over Wi-Fi, a capability the company has not yet formally announced. The miniature device is set to launch tomorrow, and the direct-to-cloud connection is intended to improve latency for cloud gaming. The feature has been anticipated since the Xbox Nano leaked earlier this year.

The Nano will join Microsoft’s cloud servers directly rather than routing through another device, an approach comparable to how Google’s Stadia controllers operated. The cloud connect capability is currently being tested privately on the new Xbox Cloud Gaming website. Using it requires pairing the controller over Wi-Fi to Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming servers through the Xbox mobile app.

Microsoft is expected to introduce the capability as a preview for the new Xbox Nano controller in the near term, before it is fully supported across Xbox Cloud Gaming on the web and on smart TVs. Reporting earlier this year first indicated that Microsoft was developing a controller with Wi-Fi connectivity aimed at reducing Xbox Cloud Gaming latency. The same functionality is expected to appear in the upcoming Xbox Elite 3 controller.

The direct-to-cloud idea predates the Nano. Microsoft had planned to include a direct-to-cloud feature in a new Xbox controller codenamed Sebile, which was tied to an Xbox Series X refresh console in 2024. That refresh console was canceled, and it remains unclear when a new Xbox wireless controller with direct cloud functionality will reach the market.

For US gamers, the feature matters most where cloud streaming depends on network response times, since a controller that talks to servers over Wi-Fi bypasses some of the latency associated with standard wireless setups. The Nano’s launch tomorrow will mark the first public availability of the miniature controller, though Microsoft has not yet confirmed the cloud connect feature officially. The company has also not detailed when the preview will expand beyond its private testing.

More gadget news from TechManNews.