Get 55% off this Fire TV 4K and Xbox Controller bundle this Prime Day
If you’re looking for a great gaming deal on Prime daylook at this: Amazon’s Fire TV 4K Max is coming bundled with an Xbox Core controller for $69. Considering the Xbox Core controller by itself costs $60 and the Fire TV 4K normally costs $50, you’re saving over $40.
But why would you buy these two products together? Amazon recently unveiled the Xbox app for two of its streaming products: the 2023 models of the Fire TV Stick 4K and the Fire TV Stick 4K Max. This means you can play your Xbox Game Pass subscription games without the need for a console or PC. Unfortunately, the app doesn’t work with older sticks, we tried it and you can Game Pass Ultimate to play.
Please note that this deal comes with a black controller, not the white one pictured above. However, new members do get a free month of Game Pass Ultimate.
How is it going?
Cloud gaming may be the future, but its present is still rather uncertain. I tested the Fire TV 4K Max with both an Xbox Core controller and a Sony DualSense handset, with the Sony connecting to the Fire TV more easily via Bluetooth. Since the streaming stick hadn’t been used in months, it took five separate updates before I was able to connect the Xbox controller.
Look at this: Xbox Cloud Gaming is coming to Amazon Fire TV
Having just tested the Cloud Gaming feature on the Meta Quest 2, I know what to expect, but overall I found the Quest to be more responsive than the Fire TV. While the graphics were relatively sharp, there was noticeable lag in some games on the Fire TV 4K Max. Since there are so many variables at play (I used both separate systems on separate networks), it’s harder to pinpoint issues without further testing. I do like that the app initially nags you to enable Gaming Mode on your TV. I was fine with the Fire TV setting for games like Peggle or Slay the Spire, where response time wasn’t a concern. However, the platformer Hollow Knight was nearly unplayable. YMMV.
On the plus side, I use the Steam Link app on an Apple TV 4K all the time at home, but the only downside is that blacks display as dark green. With Xbox Cloud Gaming on the Fire TV, I didn’t have the same issue with blacks while playing Resident Evil — blacks displayed fine.
If you’re serious about cloud gaming and want to minimize lag as much as possible, you’re best off getting a powerful wired system like the Apple TV 4K or the Nvidia Shield TV Pro might be a better option.
On the other hand, if you are a casual gamer or still want to buy these two products separately, this is a very good buy. If this is not your thing, check out our other Prime Day Gaming Deals for other options.
