The Xbox cloud gaming app can now be installed on the second-generation Fire TV Stick 4K, and there’s also a workaround for older Fire TV Stick owners, who can now sideload the popular game streaming app onto their devices.
Microsoft said last month that it’s partnering with Amazon to bring the Xbox TV app to the Fire TV platform, and promised it would be available sometime this month. It has now made good on that promise, meaning more people besides Samsung Smart TV owners can now stream Xbox games directly through their televisions.
Previously, the Xbox TV app was exclusive to Samsung’s TVs, having launched back in 2022.
Amazon said Fire TV Stick 4K owners can download the app from the official Amazon app store in more than 25 countries, though it didn’t provide a list of specific territories.
The app officially only works for the Fire TV Stick 4K and Fire TV Stick 4K Max, which are the second-generation of TV dongles made by Amazon. To see the Xbox TV app in the app store, users must first ensure their device is running the latest software version, so they may require an update.
However, AFTVNews reported that there is a way to get the app on older devices running Fire OS 7 and above. Those device owners can “sideload” the app in a process that involves first installing a third-party “Downloader” app. Check out the AFTVNews article for a full, step-by-step guide on how to do this.
The sideloading method is said to work with devices including the 3rd generation Amazon Fire TV Stick from 2020, plus the 1st-gen Fire TV Stick Lite and Max devices, the 2nd and 3rd-gen Fire TV Cubes, and Fire TVs running Fire OS 7 and above. It does not work on older devices not mentioned above.
AFTVNews said the sideloaded version of the app works exactly the same on those devices as it does on the Fire TV Stick 4K and Fire TV Stick 4K Max, with the only problem relating to game controller pairing, which must be done via the Fire TV settings menu, as opposed to doing it in-app.
AFTVNews said it attempted to sideload the Xbox TV app onto some Android TV and Google TV devices, but it was unable to succeed in those attempts, despite Fire TV essentially just being a shrink wrapped version of the Android TV platform.
Users may be pleased to know that once they have the app installed, they can create a Microsoft Xbox account and play the hit game Fortnite for free. To play any other Xbox games though, they’ll have to sign up for a subscription, with the most premium option being the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate plan, which costs $17 per month and provides access to the full library of games, including titles like Fallout 4, Forza Horizon 5 and Starfield.
Users will also be able to access some of their previously purchased Xbox games using the app at no cost.
The Amazon Fire TV Xbox TV app supports Xbox game streaming in HD resolution only, without HDR or Dolby Atmos.
