Xbox One Mouse and Keyboard Support: Everything We Know

Microsoft has announced the formal rollout of mouse and keyboard support for Xbox I, offer an all-new input method to the panel. While limited to a select pool of titles, its arrival brings promising new capabilities beyond the standard controller. Nosotros've wrapped up everything you lot need to know so far.

Xbox I mouse and keyboard support explained

Equally tradition with most gaming consoles, Xbox One has historically been a standardized platform, featuring uniform experiences across hardware and software. In recent years Microsoft has distanced itself with increasingly "PC-like" features, with updates delivering improved role and flexibility. The latest addition is the long-awaited arrival of full mouse and keyboard support.

Mouse and keyboard support has been a long time coming, with the official word on its "imminent" inflow dating back to 2022. With the rise of unauthorized adapters mimicking gamepads, native support brings formal regulation ensuring proper execution and balancing. Support heads to a select library of titles soon, promising an optional PC-like experience if desired.

Related: Official Xbox mouse and keyboard support could be amazing (and disruptive)

Xbox One mouse and keyboard features

Mouse and keyboard back up brings increased flexibility, yet its inflow has also faced criticism. A high-DPI mouse offers vastly improved precision over controller thumbsticks, sparking worries in shooters and other competitive titles. Similarly, every bit the mouse and keyboard are increasingly adopted, some worry controller users will be deprioritized.

Microsoft is approaching mouse and keyboard support on a title-by-championship basis, only offering the input if desired by the developer. Once the feature arrives at a platform level, developers will have the ability to add support alongside controller input, tailoring its implementation around their championship. Microsoft states it has educated developers on keeping games "fun, fair and correctly balanced" to ensure its arrival doesn't negatively impact those on a standard Xbox One controller. Developers will be able to separate players by what inputs they're using, to maintain competitive fairness.

Related: Pros and cons of Xbox One mouse and keyboard support

Every bit detailed via an internal presentation we leaked in June, Microsoft is looking to bring full-fledged mouse integration to the console. This allows users to leverage more advanced mouse features, and enable developers to integrate them into their games.

Support for up to v mouse buttons.

Back up for wheel move (horizontal and vertical).

Ability to query for mouse capabilities.

Power to report absolute pointer location.

Ability to report relative pointer motion.

Power to set cursor glyph and visibility.

New API for polling the above information.

While documents from before in 2022 seem to indicate that every game on the platform must primarily support a controller, contempo data seems to betoken that mouse and keyboard-only titles might be on the cards, for games where controller support but doesn't brand sense, such equally management simulation games.

Listing of Xbox One mouse and keyboard games

With mouse and keyboard back up yet to hit the panel, we're nonetheless to receive details on how many titles volition offering implementation. Microsoft claims it's "working closely with studios of all sizes" ahead of launch, indicating a sizeable library of titles could be on the way.

The first game to natively back up mice and keyboards on Xbox One is Warframe, a cooperative third-person shooter which offset saw success on PC. Start built for a mouse and keyboard input, its arrival could be a natural fit, taking its learnings from the PC. Nosotros've also seen partial support for Minecraft debut last year, indicating Microsoft's blocky risk game could exist amidst the early lineup.

Microsoft is expected to denote more than games with mouse and keyboard support on November 10, 2022.

Which Xbox One mouse and keyboard should you buy?

Microsoft hopes "most" keyboards and mice will function with Xbox One, although some outliers will remain. All wired USB mice should piece of work and accessories with wireless USB dongles should besides operate. Withal, the Xbox I'due south lack of Bluetooth and custom driver support ways some conventional keyboards won't connect to the console.

Equally as well detailed in our leaked presentation, a partnership with Razer is to come. Highlighting to third-party manufacturer'southward established product line, Microsoft specifically showcased its sofa-friendly Razer Turret setup. We also expect support for Razer Chroma RGB lighting, with a dedicated app within the Microsoft Store. Official teasers for the collaboration are now surfacing, indicating these plans are still underway.

Xbox One mouse and keyboard release appointment

Mouse and keyboard back up was first detailed in late September, with the promise of its arrival to select Xbox Insiders "in the coming weeks." This makes an October 2022 debut likely for Alpha ring members of the Xbox Insider Program, with a broader rollout in the following weeks. As for the public, nosotros may encounter a release before the year concludes.

On November 10, Microsoft volition also exist hosting its X018 fan event in United mexican states City, with announcements scheduled for its Inside Xbox live show. During this issue, we expect details on additional mouse and keyboard titles and the upcoming Razer partnership.

Your thoughts

What are your thoughts on Xbox One mouse and keyboard support? Drop into the comments department below and allow us know.

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