If you can't get your hands on an Xbox Series X, don't worry. There may soon be a new way to play Xbox games without a console.

In an interview with The Verge, Xbox boss Phil Spencer said that just as xCloud allows you to stream Xbox games to your Android phone, an Xbox app that allows you to stream Xbox games to your smart TV He said Microsoft could create one.

"When The Verge asked about the possibility of an Xbox TV app, Spencer explained, "I think that will happen in the next 12 months.

"And when The Verge asked about the possibility of an Xbox TV app, Spencer explained.

The beta period has now ended, and you can access Xbox game streaming as part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. With a controller, a complete set of Xbox games can be played this way, but some can be accessed with touch alone.

Given that Google Stadia has already seen the ability to stream games to a smart TV via a connected Chromecast, it is not a big leap for Microsoft to create its own smart TV app. After all, Microsoft is already working closely with Samsung to provide apps and Game Pass for models like the Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. So there is plenty of room to expand this partnership to Samsung TVs.

With the right smart TV, a good Internet connection, and an Xbox wireless controller, streaming games directly to the TV for a monthly fee would be nothing more than a shrewd move for Microsoft. After all, Redmond's company is already pushing Game Pass quite a bit.

While there may be some technical hurdles in terms of compatibility with TV operating systems and addressing latency issues, this potential next step in xCloud game streaming seems rather logical.

Also, for those who are struggling to get an Xbox Series X or Xbox Series S (check out our article on where to buy an Xbox Series X if you are having trouble), smart TV apps like this could be a panacea for the console shortage that will last until 2021 It may be a panacea for the console shortage that will last until 2021.

Nevertheless, Microsoft, which has one of the largest cloud platforms in the world and already offers much of its software in the form of streaming services, is not likely to abandon Xbox hardware altogether. Rather, Spencer sees Microsoft having an Xbox ecosystem that blends the console and streaming services.

"I don't think these will be the last big pieces of hardware we ship," Spencer said.

"When you think about xCloud, our version of Stadia and Luna, what it needs to evolve into is a game that actually works between a hybrid environment of cloud and local compute capabilities," Spencer explained. 'It's really a hybrid of both.'

We may still have to wait a year or so before such an Xbox TV app becomes a reality. But it's yet another reason why 2021 could be a very interesting time for Xbox.