Xbox Live Creators Program adds keyboard and mouse support on Xbox One

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by Radu Tyrsina 

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xbox live issues

The limit between gaming and console PC is starting to become more and more blurred as Microsoft’s new Xbox Live Creators program could add keyboard and mouse support on Xbox One.

The Xbox Live Creators Program

At the GDC 2017, Microsoft revealed the Xbox Live Creators program which is an initiative to make it easier for developers to release games with Xbox Live functionality across Windows 10 and Xbox One. During the Build 2017 event, Microsoft revealed more details about what kind of Windows features can be enabled on the Xbox One with the help of this program.

Implementing keyboard support

Andrew Parsons, Microsoft’s senior program manager for game developers noted that the Xbox Live Creators Program will allow developers to enable all Windows features on the Xbox One. He said that implementing keyboard support via the program could offer enormous benefits for certain sectors of the development community. He referred especially to studios that are specialized in genres that usually rely more on keyboard control schemes, such as real-time strategy games.

A mixed experience

The debate revolving around which device (keyboard and mouse vs. dedicated controller) offers a better gaming experience has been present among players for a very long time. The Xbox Live Creators Program could turn out to be an effective and also efficient way of giving both gamers and developers the best experience by mixing these two worlds.

Compatibility issues

There is one big obstacle that might complicate the whole process of offering keyboard and mouse support on the Xbox One. James Yarrow, engineer at Microsoft, said that support for mice will probably fail to work. Parsons also stated that most models of mice will not be compatible.

On the other hand, enough mice will work just fine, and Microsoft is hoping to add support for all of them in the near future.

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Radu Tyrsina

Radu Tyrsina Shield

Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time). For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web. Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they're looking for.