Play PS5 games on your ISP set-top box
Does your ISP set-top box run Android TV or the ISP's own system? If Android TV, Moonlight installs in two minutes. If not, use another option.
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How to tell in ten seconds
| What you see in the menu | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| A Play Store icon | The set-top box runs Android TV | Install Moonlight |
| An ISP app store | Proprietary system | Google TV box via HDMI |
| No app store | TV-only set-top box | Google TV box, or computer via HDMI |
Swipe the table to see all the columns.
Fibre changes less than you might think: the connection between the router and the set-top box is what matters. A set-top box connected via Ethernet always delivers a steadier picture than one on Wi-Fi, even with the same broadband package.
The ISP set-top box is the best possible client
An ISP set-top box already installed under the TV and connected to fibre via Ethernet is the best possible client: nothing to buy, nothing to connect, and the most stable connection in the home. Android TV set-top boxes provide access to the Play Store, and therefore to Moonlight, which is free. The controller pairs with the set-top box like Bluetooth headphones.
French ISP set-top boxes are split into two groups
French ISP set-top boxes are split between two systems. Proprietary set-top boxes do not allow any app installation, and the ISP does not provide a usable browser. There is no workaround: in this case, a €30 Google TV box connected to another HDMI input, or a laptop connected via HDMI, does the job.
Ten seconds to identify yours
- Look for the Play Store icon in the set-top box menu: its presence settles the question
- If it is there, install Moonlight and pair the controller over Bluetooth
- Otherwise, connect a Google TV box to another HDMI input
- In all cases, enable Game mode on the input in use
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| System | Android TV on some devices, a proprietary system on the rest |
| Client | Moonlight from the Play Store, when available |
| Decoding | The set-top box does the work, as it does for a TV programme |
| Controller | DualSense over Bluetooth, paired with the set-top box |
| Screen | The TV, with Game mode enabled on the set-top box input |
| Connection | 25 Mbit/s minimum, 40 comfortable |
Swipe the table to see all the columns.
The game runs on a physical PlayStation 5 hosted in France and dedicated to you alone. You sign in to your PlayStation Network account and play your own titles: Ploud rents console time, never games. The millisecond breakdown is in cloud gaming latency, and the financial comparison is in rent or buy a PS5.
The ISP set-top box is already connected, already on Ethernet. Only the console is missing.
Frequently asked questions
Can you use cloud gaming on a Freebox?
On set-top boxes running Android TV, yes: the Play Store is available and Moonlight can be installed for free. On proprietary set-top boxes, no.
How can you tell which system your set-top box runs?
A Play Store icon in the menu is enough to tell. It is only available on Android TV set-top boxes.
Do you need fibre?
25 Mbit/s is enough, which good ADSL does not always reach. Fibre helps mainly through consistency, not maximum download speed.
What if your set-top box supports neither option?
A €30 Google TV box on another HDMI input, or a laptop connected via HDMI, which costs nothing.
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