How Microsoft is trying to include mouse, keyboard support for Xbox Cloud Gaming – Times of India

gamers who prefer playing with a mouse and keyboard are opting for platforms like Nvidia GeForce Now as their choice for Windows-based cloud gaming. Representative Image (Credit — iStock)

Xbox Cloud Gaming which is a part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate currently supports only controllers and touch controls. Users are forced to use an Xbox gamepad if they want to play titles via the internet on their PCs and laptops. Among all the primary PC-based streaming services, Xbox Cloud Gaming has been one of the highest-quality libraries, including games from Microsoft, Bethesda, EA and other publishers. However, gamers who prefer playing with a mouse and keyboard are opting for platforms like Nvidia GeForce Now as their choice for Windows-based cloud gaming.
According to a new report by WindowsCentral, Microsoft’s latest move can change the situation for gamers who wants to play titles with a mouse and keyboard. The tech giant has teased the support for these gaming peripherals for a long time now, however, the company has now reportedly shown the first glimpse of the feature being tested. The report suggests that the Xbox app has recently been updated with a redesigned Xbox Cloud Gaming interface which includes — icons for mouse and keyboard support and a filter for the search tool, that allows users to look for games that support mouse and keyboard.
Xbox Cloud Gaming mouse and keyboard support: Availability
As per the report, users who are a part of the Windows Gaming Insider package (via the Xbox Insider app on Windows 10 or 11) will have access to a more advanced update ring for the Xbox app and the Xbox Game Bar. The icons for mouse and keyboard support and the search tool are now available only for beta testers. However, the report couldn’t confirm when this feature will be made available to the general public.
How will the new change look
The report has also shared an image to describe how the new change will look in the Xbox app. According to the photo, a mouse icon will be added next to the controller icon whenever the app checks for required peripherals for cloud gaming. However, the report mentions that this new build makes the system a little buggy as thumbnails refuse to load and cloud games refuse to boot with this version of the app.
Other changes to the Xbox app
According to the report, the Xbox app will also include a new search area which will allow users to filter cloud games by their input methods. Apart from touch controls and controller support, one of these filters includes mouse and keyboard support.
The report also claims that since Xbox Cloud Gaming uses Xbox console hardware for delivering its titles, the platform will support mouse and keyboard only for the games on Xbox Cloud Gaming that already support the same in consoles.
On activating the search filter, users will find only two games — Psychonauts 2 and Sea of Thieves which also support mouse and keyboard on the console. The report states that these are the two games that are currently being tested with the new feature. Moreover, it will be interesting to see how the video algorithm handles the more precise movements of a mouse.