Earlier this month, Microsoft said it was bringing mouse and keyboard support for the Xbox One. That much-anticipated feature is now available on the Xbox Insider Program. Users on the Insider can check out mouse and keyboard support on the console through the Preview Alpha and Skip Ahead rings.
Specifically, the support can be tested on the Warframe video game. The news was announced by Brad Rossetti, Head of Xbox Preview Program. General Xbox One users will get the support later this month when software version 1811 is released.
If you are not familiar with Warframe, it is a free third-person shooter that has been on Xbox One since 2014. Microsoft is obviously still testing mouse and keyboard support as this is the only title with the feature.
Which games will get support at launch remains to be seen. We guess most Microsoft/Xbox exclusive games will work with mouse and keyboard from the start. However, the company has said it is up to developers to allow support on their titles, so third-party games may take some time to work with mouse and keyboard.
Xbox One Insiders – Alpha Skip Ahead & Alpha Users within the next hour (or do a reboot) check out a new setting in Setting – Devices for a type of Rodent that can help you travel far in a different manner! A quest & survey will be up in the am on how to train and use the Rodent!
— Brad Rossetti (@WorkWombatman) October 23, 2018
Late Support
Either way, it’s good to see the Xbox One will finally work with mouse and keyboard. It’s a feature that has been on Sony’s PlayStation 4 for several years.
Earlier this year, we reported on Microsoft working with game peripheral giant Razer on a keyboard and mouse for the Xbox One. Among the features rumored to be coming to that keyboard include:
- Support for up to 5 buttons
- Support for wheel movement (horizontal and vertical)
- Ability to query for mouse capabilities
- Feature to report absolute pointer location
- Ability to report relative pointer movement
- Ability to set cursor glyph and visibility
- New API for polling the above data
