Xbox’s August 28, 2024 update expanded Xbox Cloud Gaming to two additional Amazon Fire TV devices and made Discord more useful on Xbox consoles. Linked Xbox and Discord users can find friends under “Happening now,” join Discord voice channels, watch Discord streams, and stream gameplay to Discord.
This is the 2024 Xbox August update—not the separate August 28, 2025 update, which focused on features including cross-device play history and the Xbox PC app.
What changed for Xbox Cloud Gaming?
The update expanded the Xbox app’s Fire TV compatibility. The newly supported devices named by Xbox are:
| Fire TV device | Support status in the August 2024 announcement |
|---|---|
| Fire TV Stick 4K Max, 1st generation | Added with the update |
| Fire TV Cube, 3rd generation | Added with the update |
| Fire TV Stick 4K Max, 2nd generation | Previously supported |
| Fire TV Stick 4K, 2nd generation | Previously supported |
On these devices, games are streamed through the Xbox app rather than installed locally. You need the app from the Amazon Appstore, a Microsoft account, a compatible Bluetooth controller, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for the cloud-enabled Game Pass catalog described in the announcement. Xbox lists the Xbox Wireless Controller, Xbox Adaptive Controller, DualSense, and DualShock 4 as compatible controller options.
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- MODERNIZED DESIGN — Experience the modernized design of the XBOX Wireless Controller with sculpted surfaces and updated geometry that enhances comfort and control during long gaming sessions.
- PRECISION PERFORMANCE — Stay on target with a hybrid D-pad and textured grips on triggers, bumpers, and back case for improved accuracy and handling.
- SHARE BUTTON: Seamlessly capture and share content such as screenshots, recordings, and more with the new Share button.
- VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY — Connect via USB-C for plug-and-play on console and PC, or quickly pair and switch between supported devices with XBOX Wireless and Bluetooth support.
- BUILT-IN AUDIO SUPPORT — Plug in compatible headsets using the 3.5mm audio jack for direct voice chat and immersive in-game sound.
Xbox described the service as access to “hundreds” of cloud-enabled titles in the Game Pass Ultimate library. That does not mean every Game Pass game supports cloud streaming. Device, game, and service availability can also vary by market; the Fire TV announcement referred to Game Pass Ultimate members in more than 25 countries rather than worldwide availability.
What the Fire TV expansion does not change
- It does not make every Fire TV Stick or Fire TV television compatible.
- It does not provide local game installation on the Fire TV device.
- It does not make the full Game Pass catalog cloud-enabled.
- It does not guarantee console-equivalent latency or image quality. Streaming results depend on the network and may be less consistent than playing locally.
Xbox did not publish one universal internet-speed requirement in the announcement, so network performance should be judged by the quality and stability of the connection rather than by an invented minimum figure.
What Discord added on Xbox
“Happening now” activity
After linking—and, for some existing connections, relinking—your accounts, Discord friends can appear in the Xbox Guide’s Friends list under “Happening now.” The panel can show when friends are playing a game or participating in Discord voice chat.
This is more than ordinary presence sharing: it gives you an entry point into Discord activity from the Xbox interface, without requiring Discord to be open on a computer or phone for basic discovery and console use.
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- MODERNIZED DESIGN — Experience the modernized design of the XBOX Wireless Controller with sculpted surfaces and updated geometry that enhances comfort and control during long gaming sessions.
- PRECISION PERFORMANCE — Stay on target with a hybrid D-pad and textured grips on triggers, bumpers, and back case for improved accuracy and handling.
- SHARE BUTTON: Seamlessly capture and share content such as screenshots, recordings, and more with the new Share button.
- VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY — Connect via USB-C for plug-and-play on console and PC, or quickly pair and switch between supported devices with XBOX Wireless and Bluetooth support.
- BUILT-IN AUDIO SUPPORT — Plug in compatible headsets using the 3.5mm audio jack for direct voice chat and immersive in-game sound.
Join Discord voice from the Xbox Guide
- Link your Xbox and Discord accounts.
- Sign in to the Xbox console with the linked Xbox account.
- Press the Xbox button to open the Guide.
- Open Parties & chats.
- Select Discord Voice.
- Choose a Discord server and voice channel.
Discord Voice is an alternative to Xbox Party Chat for that session. According to Discord’s Xbox FAQ, you cannot remain in Xbox Party Chat while using transferred Discord voice chat.
Watch a Discord stream on Xbox
- Join or open the active Discord call or voice channel on Xbox.
- Open the call’s member list in the Xbox Guide.
- Select a member who is streaming.
- Choose Watch Stream.
Discord documents supported viewing resolutions of 480p, 720p, 1080p, and 1440p. If a stream uses an unsupported resolution, the streamer may need to change it. The viewer can watch from Xbox without using Discord on a phone or PC.
Stream Xbox gameplay to Discord
- Open the Xbox Guide.
- Go to Parties & chats > Discord.
- Select a Discord server and voice channel.
- Choose Stream your game.
- Adjust the available settings and select Start stream.
The feature streams the audio and video of the game currently being played. It does not stream non-game apps or Xbox services. If you close the game or switch to another app, the stream pauses, although you remain in the Discord voice channel.
Discord Nitro is optional. Discord says Nitro can enable higher-quality streaming up to 1080p, with up to 60 frames per second on Xbox Series X|S. Xbox One streaming is limited to 30 frames per second; a 60-fps option is not available on Xbox One.
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- MODERNIZED DESIGN — Experience the modernized design of the XBOX Wireless Controller with sculpted surfaces and updated geometry that enhances comfort and control during long gaming sessions.
- PRECISION PERFORMANCE — Stay on target with a hybrid D-pad and textured grips on triggers, bumpers, and back case for improved accuracy and handling.
- SHARE BUTTON: Seamlessly capture and share content such as screenshots, recordings, and more with the new Share button.
- VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY — Connect via USB-C for plug-and-play on console and PC, or quickly pair and switch between supported devices with XBOX Wireless and Bluetooth support.
- BUILT-IN AUDIO SUPPORT — Plug in compatible headsets using the 3.5mm audio jack for direct voice chat and immersive in-game sound.
How to link or relink Xbox and Discord
For desktop linking, open Discord, select User Settings > Connections, choose the Xbox icon, select Continue, and complete the connection.
Users who linked their accounts before Discord Voice on Xbox became available may need to relink them. The 2024 Xbox announcement specifically called out relinking as the way to activate the expanded Friends-list integration.
Some transfer workflows still use mobile apps. To transfer Discord voice from Discord mobile, join a voice channel, open the audio controls, select Join on Xbox, choose your console, and select Transfer Audio. Discord’s desktop workflow uses Transfer Voice to Xbox and then a QR-code process involving the mobile apps. Discord says the Xbox mobile app must be installed for the mobile transfer process.
Privacy settings that can block Discord features
Xbox privacy and online-safety settings can prevent communication or voice transfer. Check that cross-network communication is permitted and that online-status visibility is enabled where required. Discord’s privacy and safety standards continue to apply when using Discord Voice or streaming from Xbox.
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- BOLD STYLE, BUILT TO PERFORM — Define your swagger with a wild, head-turning design. Stay elegantly on target with textured triggers built for every moment.
- RUBBERIZED GRIPS — Hold on to the action with rubberized grips on the back cases, designed for comfort and control during long gaming sessions.
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- PLAY ACROSS EVERY SCREEN — Quickly pair with, play on, and switch between devices including console and PC. Stream games across mobile, gaming handhelds, Smart TVs, and supported VR headsets with XBOX Cloud Gaming.
Menu names can change between Xbox software versions, so look under your Xbox account’s privacy and online-safety settings if linking, presence, or voice transfer fails.
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Discord friends are missing from “Happening now”
- Update the Xbox console, Discord, and the Xbox mobile app.
- Relink the Xbox and Discord accounts.
- Check Xbox privacy, online-safety, and presence settings.
- Restart the console and Discord apps.
“Transfer didn’t work. Your console needs an update”
Update the Xbox before trying Discord Voice again. Discord identifies an outdated console as a possible cause of this message.
Voice transfer fails from mobile or desktop
Make sure the Xbox mobile app is installed, the intended console is signed in with the linked account, and that you are using Join on Xbox on mobile or Transfer Voice to Xbox on desktop. Review Xbox privacy settings if the transfer remains blocked.
A Discord stream will not start
Confirm that you are connected to the correct Discord server and voice channel, start from Parties & chats > Discord, and ensure an actual game is active. Xbox One users should not expect a 60-fps option. If an active stream pauses, check whether the game was closed or another app was opened.
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A viewer cannot watch a stream
The viewer must be in the active call or voice channel. Ask the streamer to use one of Discord’s supported resolutions and verify that the stream has not paused because the streamer changed apps.
Other features in the August 2024 Xbox update
The complete update also included selective installation options for Xbox or PC games with additional features, helping reduce download time and storage use. It added a Toggle hold accessibility option for the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 and Xbox Adaptive Controller, plus a controller shortcut for turning off a connected device through the Xbox Accessories app.
Who benefits most?
- Fire TV owners without an Xbox console: The update provides a way to play cloud-enabled Game Pass titles on specifically supported Fire TV hardware, provided they have Game Pass Ultimate and a controller.
- Cross-platform gaming groups: Discord Voice, activity discovery, stream viewing, and gameplay streaming make it easier to play with friends outside Xbox Party Chat.
- Existing Xbox and Discord users: No new hardware is required for the Discord features, but account relinking and current software may be necessary.
- Xbox One owners: Discord streaming works, but the documented 60-fps option is unavailable.
- Xbox-only Party Chat users: Discord is useful only when the group needs cross-platform communication; it is not a replacement that can run simultaneously with Xbox Party Chat.
Keep the date straight
The relevant announcement is Xbox’s August 28, 2024 update, also confirmed in Discord’s August 28, 2024 changelog. A separate August 28, 2025 Xbox update covered different features, including cross-device play history, the Xbox PC app, and Gaming Copilot preview. It should not be treated as the source of the Fire TV and Discord changes covered here.
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