Long-Awaited Xbox One Feature Coming to Preview in October
During Tuesday’s jam-packed episode of Inside Xbox, Phil Spencer announced that mouse and keyboard support for Xbox One is finally on the way.
The last time we heard about the feature was a year ago during Major Nelson’s Xbox PAX Panel when Microsoft’s Mike Ybarra said it’s “definitely coming” when responding to a fan question. The long-awaited feature will begin rolling out first in Xbox Preview next month and will be initially tested on Warframe, the popular free-to-play multiplayer shooter.
Spencer was quick to point out that mouse and keyboard support will be a tool for developers and that they will have full control over whether their games can support it or not. It’ll be up to them to decide if the feature will be beneficial to the game and the community.
“If you’re a dominant FPS player right now on controller and you’re worried that all the sudden you’re gonna get swamped because a bunch of mouse and keyboard players are gonna get flooded into your game, that’s not what we’re doing,” said Spencer during an interview on Inside Xbox. “We’re putting choice into the hands of the developers about the games that they want to bring.”
“It’s important to note that mouse and keyboard support for games is added on a title-by-title basis, entirely at developers’ discretion,” said Jason Ronald, Director of Program Management at Xbox. “For all other titles, nothing changes. 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.”
There isn’t any information as to when the feature will launch to the public but it’s probably safe to say everyone should get it before the year is up. Fans can expect to hear more about mouse and keyboard support during the X018 fan event in Mexico City on November 10th which is being called “a celebration of all things Xbox.”
What games are you hoping will get mouse and keyboard support on Xbox One? Let us know in the comments below.
SOURCE: Xbox Wire