The Xbox One mouse and keyboard era is arriving soon, as Microsoft revealed that support for the peripherals on the console will be rolled out to Xbox Insiders over the coming weeks.
Microsoft mentioned Xbox One mouse and keyboard support as early as July 2015, as part of the company's unification of the console and the Windows 10 as gaming platforms. It took over three years for Microsoft to keep its promise, and it arrives at a time when mouse and keyboard support for non-PC video games have been receiving criticism.
Xbox One Mouse And Keyboard Support Arriving Soon
On Xbox Wire, Microsoft revealed that developers will now be able to integrate mouse and keyboard support into Xbox One games. However, doing so will be at their discretion.
"Mouse and keyboard input is not enabled by default for games. Each development team knows their titles best and we support them in creating the right experience for their games as they see fit, to ensure an optimal and fair gaming experience," said Jason Ronald, the Xbox's director of program management.
Microsoft also announced that Warframe, a free-to-play cooperative shooter, will be among the first games that will integrate mouse and keyboard support once the feature rolls out to testers in the Xbox Insider program.
To provide Xbox One owners with topnotch hardware for the incoming mouse and keyboard support, Microsoft teamed up with Razer for new accessories for the console. Microsoft will share more about its partnership with Razer on Nov. 10, during its Inside Xbox stream.
Xbox One Mouse And Keyboard Controls: Is It A Good Thing?
Mouse and keyboard controls have recently received criticism, primarily because gamers who choose this input option have a significant advantage over other gamers who use traditional input methods.
Last year, Overwatch game director Jeff Kaplan said that his team objects to the use of mouse and keyboard on consoles, as its makes movement and aiming in the multiplayer shooter much easier compared to controllers, giving these players an unfair advantage. The same issue surfaced with PUBG Mobile earlier this year, when players started using a keyboard and mouse while their opponents stayed with the difficult touchscreen controls of their smartphones.
Striking a balance between players on controllers and players on the mouse and keyboard will be crucial for the success of the feature. This is because not everyone has the option to pick up a mouse and keyboard for the Xbox One, due to the added cost. This is probably why mouse and keyboard support is first rolling out to Xbox Insiders, to gather feedback on how to keep things fair.
