Home Gaming The Xbox One’s mouse and keyboard support is coming, but it’s “months away”

The Xbox One’s mouse and keyboard support is coming, but it’s “months away”

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The Xbox One is getting cross-platform play with PC in a big, big way – with just about every Microsoft-published game heading to Windows 10 as well. That includes shooters like Gears of War, and strategy games like Halo Wars 2.

These are both genres that tend to play better on the PC Gamer’s input of choice the old Mouse and Keyboard. With cross play coming, that’ll lead to an unlevel playing field in those sorts of games. To that end, Gears of War 4 will only allow cross platform play in non-adversarial modes, like Horde and co-op. But that may soon be changing. The promised Keyboard and Mouse support for Xbox One is coming – though it’s still a while off.

Speaking to PCgamesN, Xboss Phil Spencer said that Mouse and Keyboard support will be coming.

On the subject of its arrival, Spencer said: “when we enable PC and mouse on console it’ll be interesting to see how many of those creators think about running their PC and mouse-only game on console, and then this idea of Play Anywhere might get even more interesting for those guys.”

That’s interesting, as it’ll be up to game creators to decide if and how it’ll be implemented. Something like Halo Wars would certainly benefit from mouse and keyboard – and I’d have no problem if some multiplayer shooters had cross-platform, mouse and keyboard –only lobbies.

When’s it happening though?

“I keep talking about it in the press and my platform team keeps shaking their head, because they… Truthfully in our dev kit modes now keyboard works, mouse support is a little bit further away. I say it because I know it’s not years away, it’s more like months away, but we don’t have an exact date yet.”

 

Last Updated: June 15, 2016

11 Comments

  1. Gavin Mannion

    June 15, 2016 at 09:10

    Personally I think it’ll destroy any online console tournaments… the Mouse and Keyboard will always be superior in FPS and RTS games.

    I like the idea of it being in only non-adversorial modes though, that makes it a lot more fun

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief Maximum Effort

      June 15, 2016 at 09:27

      But surely then that will eliminate the excuse that PC gamers are superior?

      Reply

    • GooseZA

      June 15, 2016 at 13:10

      Not only tournaments, any public multiplayer really. Really don’t like the idea of logging into Overwatch and all of a sudden the Widowmakers are using mouse and keyboard (or any other heroes I guess but widow is crazy strong on PC at the moment)

      I’ll never use a mouse and keyboard on console (ewwwwww) and I really hope they limit this support to things like chat, apps and maybe selected RTS / RPG games. They should flat out not allow it in FPS.

      Reply

  2. Darren Peach

    June 15, 2016 at 09:10

    There goes the whole premise of a console. Mind you, If my fellow console users are half as lazy as me, It won’t make much difference.

    Reply

  3. HairyEwok

    June 15, 2016 at 09:13

    So basically i see this happening. PC people that have a Xbone will be able to destroy people who have just a remote in FPS games.

    Reply

    • Darren Peach

      June 15, 2016 at 09:20

      Not necessarily. You get those freaks of nature that are good no matter the input.

      Reply

  4. Darren Peach

    June 15, 2016 at 09:21

    A keyboard and mouse for a console sounds crazy in winter.

    Reply

  5. Guild

    June 15, 2016 at 09:29

    Ya, think I’ll just buy a PC then

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief Maximum Effort

      June 15, 2016 at 09:34

      Just don’t break it

      #NeverForgetTheTrophyBreak

      Reply

      • Guild

        June 15, 2016 at 11:14

        Ya well….you need to ask Gavin about that
        #wasntme

        Reply

  6. CodeDisQus

    June 17, 2016 at 00:05

    And to think that a couple of years ago, the primary input for the X1 was going to be Kinext….how times have changed!

    Reply

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