Katarzyna Petru
The Xbox app still hasn’t made it to either Apple TV or Google TV, but there are alternatives that allow you to play games from Xbox on other TVs in the house – via local Wi-Fi or Ethernet. The team at FlatpanelsHD tested three available solutions to see which one works best.
This is not the first time we’ve tried to take console gaming to other screens — previously, we described a way to run games from PlayStation on Apple TV and Google TV (with the PXPlay app). This time, we’re focusing on Xbox, where unfortunately there isn’t one perfect app for both platforms.
Xbox on Apple TV
The best solution for the Apple ecosystem turned out to be the OneCast app. It can be tested for free for 7 days, and the full version costs 15 dollars (a one-time purchase includes Apple TV, iPhone, and iPad). OneCast allows you to stream games not only from your own console at home but also from Xbox Cloud – although this guide focuses on local playback. It supports both Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.
The setup process is not the most convenient — it is necessary to log into your Xbox account via a browser (not on Apple TV). This is a requirement from Microsoft if we want to use the Remote Play feature.
During testing, we launched titles like Dirt and Ori and the Will of the Wisps. Both titles ran smoothly, with low latency — even slightly lower than with PXPlay for PlayStation. The image is compressed, but when the “1080p HQ” mode is turned on, it looks quite decent.
Important: OneCast streams only in 1080p SDR. There is no 4K, HDR, or Dolby Atmos sound. It works best with an Ethernet cable – Wi-Fi increases latency and the risk of stuttering.
Remember to manually enable the “Game” mode on your TV, as the app will not do this automatically.
Sound, Control, and Minor Bugs
There is no support for Dolby Atmos, but you can connect AirPods to Apple TV – spatial audio with head tracking even works, which provides a taste of surround sound. Interestingly, you can also play with the DualSense from PS5 controller.
A downside is that the Xbox console can automatically turn on a TV connected via HDMI when we start streaming from another room. This can be bypassed by turning off HDMI-CEC on the console, but then the Xbox will no longer automatically turn on the main TV. Despite these drawbacks — for $15, OneCast is a great way for kids to play in a room without needing to buy a second console.
Xbox on Google TV
On devices with Google TV, things are more complicated. Originally, the XBPlay app worked, which also supported the Steam Deck, but it was discontinued on September 30. Instead, there is an alternative with nearly the same name – XBXPlay, which costs 7 dollars.
The setup is even more cumbersome than in OneCast – you have to log in to your Xbox account on the TV screen using the Google virtual keyboard. Fortunately, you only need to do this once.
Experience and Quality of Performance
ChooseTV connects via Xbox Remote Play, but it cannot wake the console from standby — you have to do this manually. Similar to OneCast, Xbox turns on the connected TV through HDMI, which can only be disabled in the console's HDMI-CEC settings. When connected via Wi-Fi, the latency is noticeable, especially on Chromecasts, so Ethernet is a must. Over the cable, the game runs smoothly, with minimal input lag.
The stream quality is 1080p SDR without HDR and without Dolby Atmos. ChooseTV offers quite a few settings and works seamlessly with Xbox and DualSense controllers, which can be paired via Bluetooth. Unfortunately, we noticed that the controllers do not automatically turn off when Google TV goes into sleep mode — this seems to be a system bug. This issue does not occur on Apple TV.
Overall impression? ChooseTV works well, although not as “smoothly” as OneCast on Apple TV. But for 7 dollars, it’s a fair option for Xbox fans in the Google ecosystem.
Summary
Platform | App | Price | Resolution | HDR / Atmos | Experience |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apple TV | OneCast | $15 | 1080p SDR | ❌ / ❌ | Stable, smooth, good quality |
Google TV | XBXPlay | $7 | 1080p SDR | ❌ / ❌ | Works, but requires Ethernet |
PXPlay (PlayStation) | – | $5 | 1080p / 4K | ✔️ / ✔️ | The most refined solution |
If you want to play Xbox games on a TV in another room – OneCast on Apple TV is currently the best solution. It runs stably, supports controllers, AirPods, and provides sufficiently good image quality.
On Google TV, it can be done via XBXPlay, but prepare for more setup and the need to use an Ethernet cable. It’s not yet an ideal solution, but it allows you to turn any TV in your home into a mini-Xbox – without buying another console.
Source: Flatpanelshd
