- Xbox Cloud Gaming will stop working on 2020 Samsung smart TVs on November 3, 2026, removing the ability to stream games without dedicated hardware.
- Recent updates to the Xbox streaming platform rely on modern Chromium web components that Samsung’s 2020 operating system cannot run and will not be updated to support.
- Newer Samsung displays (from 2021 onward) will retain access, debunking early rumors that Microsoft dropped the feature to cut costs.
If you own a 2020 Samsung TV, there’s some bad news for you: while your TV itself will continue working normally, one of its popular features is about to disappear. Xbox Cloud Gaming will no longer be available on these older Samsung TVs starting November 3, 2026, meaning owners will lose the ability to play Xbox games directly through the TV’s app without needing a console.
The information comes from an email issued by Microsoft to impacted customers, which was acquired by Jez Corden of Windows Central. The business explains that updates to Xbox Cloud Gaming technology will no longer work with these models’ operating systems. For the time being, access will be retained on compatible Samsung smartphones starting in 2021.
According to the outlet’s update, the new functionalities of the service require updated Chromium APIs, and Samsung has no plans to update the 2020 TVs. Corden studied sources to provide this enhanced explanation.
Simply put, obtaining a game via the internet requires suitable software, and simply having a screen capable of displaying video is insufficient. If the service begins to use capabilities that the TV’s platform does not support, a problem emerges. And the power of the game’s servers does not address the issue.
The original article claimed that the withdrawal could be related to cost-cutting initiatives. However, Windows Central has updated it, stating that its sources rule out any plans to discontinue Xbox Cloud Gaming and credit the decision to Samsung TV support. It’s critical to distinguish this explanation from the original accusations.
For the buyer, the outcome is equally frustrating. It is normal to expect a TV to keep its functionalities for a major chunk of its existence, while simultaneously acknowledging that services evolve. Six years may seem like a long time for a software update; however, for a well-functioning television, the discourse is very different.
This situation highlights an important concern for future purchases: aside from brightness, contrast, and refresh rate, how long will the apps and underlying platform be updated? Smart features, like AI, appear fantastic during a sales pitch, but their future availability is contingent on actions beyond the buyer’s control.
What makes this situation more frustrating, however, is that these TVs aren’t necessarily falling behind because of their hardware. The issue is simply that a software feature is being discontinued. So, if you own one of these TVs, it may be worth checking whether your model is affected before November 3.
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Sajjad Hussain is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Tech4Gamers.com. Apart from the Tech and Gaming scene, Sajjad is a Seasonal banker who has delivered multi-million dollar projects as an IT Project Manager and works as a freelancer to provide professional services to corporate giants and emerging startups in the IT space.
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