Microsoft could begin testing keyboard and mouse support for Xbox Cloud Gaming (2023)

FAQs

Does Xbox Cloud Gaming have mouse and keyboard support? ›

Microsoft's cloud gaming service Xbox Cloud Gaming lets you play your favorite Xbox games in the cloud, but it runs on physical Xbox consoles (not PCs) behind the scenes, and doesn't support keyboard and mouse controls.

For mouse and keyboard support, players need to use the Keyboard & Mouse for Xbox xCloud third-party browser extension. Once this extension is installed, players will be prompted to activate keyboard and mouse support when their browser is streaming Fortnite.

You can use wired USB mice and keyboards for navigation in select games and apps, and—with a keyboard—for getting around on Xbox and Windows devices. Note Xbox supports the use of mouse and keyboard in some games and apps, but it doesn't work for all content.

Xbox touch controls are available for select games, allowing you to experience a different way to play—by touch and without a controller. Some games have native or custom touch controls built into them, providing a more tailored touch experience for each game's unique gameplay.

Game Pass Ultimate or a supported free to play game is required for cloud gaming. On your Windows device, launch the Xbox app for Windows. Select Search on the taskbar, type Xbox, and then select it from the list.

It's on Microsoft's list of supported cloud controllers but note that Microsoft says that if you're using a web browser to play cloud games, the Xbox Wireless Controller "is currently the only officially supported controller" and, "Other controllers may or may not work for cloud gaming on a browser." The DualShock 4 ...

And the good news is, you don't have to choose. One of the advantages of PC gaming is that you can use keyboard and mouse, or a controller, or both.

Pairing a mouse and keyboard with your Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One can net you more precise controls and superior customization versus the standard controller, but it's also not ideal for every game you come across.

Game Pass Ultimate or a supported free to play game is required for cloud gaming.

the reason you need a controller is all the cloud games are actual console games not the pc equivalents and they all run off hardware like a console (basically they run exactly like a console). the odd games that do support KnM on the actual console won't here as you are not directly connected to the machine.

Does Xbox Cloud Gaming run well? ›

Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass cloud streaming platform has some incredible promise, and works well for the most part, but there is a range of technical hurdles that remain, potentially holding back mainstream adoption.

Close all other tabs in your browser or restart your browser and use only one tab for cloud gaming. Close other apps or programs that are running on your device, then try again. Restart your device, then try again.

Using any PC you have at home you could stream a game just like you would a TV show on Netflix and play it immediately. That means a powerful PC is no longer needed to do the heavy lifting. Using Shadow, you can instantly transform just about any laptop, Mac, smartphone or tablet into a powerful gaming device.

Called Cloud Gaming with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate - often referred to as Xbox Cloud Gaming - it offers more than 300 Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and original Xbox games to be played on PC, Mac, Chromebook, Samsung Smart TVs, Android and iOS devices over a data connection.

Technically, Cloud gaming is a subset of remote streaming—while remote streaming usually refers to using your own PC, cloud gaming lets you access a PC that's part of a larger server center, usually for a fee.

Thanks to all of your testing and feedback, we have moved to the next chapter and are now offering the Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) experience as part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate memberships at no additional cost. How can I get started playing a game from the cloud?

Any keyboard can work great for gaming. While there are a few features that can optimize the gaming experience, it's important to know that you don't need to buy a gaming keyboard just because you play games.

Although there are several controllers with dials and levers for games, the W, A, S and D letter keys on the standard QWERTY keyboard are also widely used. On gaming keyboards, which are mostly mechanical, the key switches require less depression and result in faster action for games.

Gamers who play MOBAs and RTS games benefit the most from full size keyboards. These are games which usually have a ridiculous number of functions that would benefit from being mapped to the number keys.

Why do people use keyboard and mouse on Xbox? ›

Using a keyboard and mouse on your Xbox One can offer greater precision and control in some games. You can connect a keyboard and mouse directly to the Xbox One, and the console will recognize them. However, some Xbox One games don't support mouse and keyboard, so make sure your game is compatible first.

Evenly Matched. It may not be the most satisfying answer, but the truth is that there is no clear victor between keyboard and mouse vs. controller. It comes down to the genre of game you're playing, and, most importantly, personal preference.

Overall with a mouse you can aim faster and more precise, but someone with skill on a controller can beat a tremendous amount of people using mouses.

The fastest way to do it is by pressing Windows + I on your keyboard. In the Settings app, click or tap on Gaming. Now, in the Gaming category, select Game Mode. In the Game Mode window, you get a brief explanation of this feature: it optimizes your PC for play by turning things off in the background.

Game Pass Ultimate or a supported free to play game is required for cloud gaming. To play games on your Xbox console with cloud gaming: Press the Xbox button  to open the guide, and then select My games & apps > See all. Choose Full library > Xbox Game Pass.

Conclusion. The cold hard truth is, wireless keyboards just don't cut it for competitive gaming. We would love for Bluetooth technology to get to a point where it's just as fast or faster than wired, but we aren't quite there yet.

The Fn key, short form for function, is a modifier key on many keyboards, especially on laptops, used in a compact layout to combine keys which are usually kept separate. It is typically found on laptops due to their keyboard size restrictions.

With the keyboard unplugged, hold down the ESC key. While holding down the ESC key, plug the keyboard back into your computer. After about 5 seconds, release the ESC key. You will see the keyboard lighting flash if the reset is successful.

If you never play games on your machine, Game Mode won't yield any benefit — but if you're a frequent gamer, you might get just that much more performance with it enabled. You can't turn it on just for individual games — only as a system-wide on or off toggle.

If you're experiencing network issues while cloud gaming on an Android device, try clearing the app cache. Go to Settings > Apps, select the Xbox Game Pass app, then select Storage > Clear cache.

What internet speed do I need for Xbox cloud? ›

What type of internet connection do I need? To play Xbox console games from the cloud on your device, you'll need high-speed internet connection (ISP fees apply). Best performance will be achieved at rates of 10 Mbps on mobile devices, 20 Mbps on consoles, PCs and tablets and 5Ghz WiFi or mobile data connection.

Largely the biggest benefit of the Xbox Cloud Gaming and Game Pass experience is the game library, which is fairly large and packed with high-quality titles including DOOM, Halo, and Forza Horizon.

If you have a metered connection and expect to play a game for an extended period, we recommend installing the game. For the best experience, a high-speed network connection (20 Mbps or higher) is recommended for cloud gaming on the console.

For optimal cloud gaming, we recommend a wired (Ethernet) connection with a download speed of at least 50Mbps. A 5.0GHz, 4G LTE, or 5G wireless connection will also work, but a wired connection will ensure a stable connection.

Game Pass Ultimate or a supported free to play game is required for cloud gaming. Cloud gaming on Android devices is supported by the Xbox Game Pass app. The app for Android is available in: Google Play Store.

Wireless technology is so good these days that even competitive pro gamers often use them over their wired counterparts. The difference in latency between a top tier wired and wireless mouse is so small as to be imperceptible, even for pro gamers.

Bluetooth gaming mice are a great tool to have if you're a gamer or someone who spends a lot of time on the computer. These models let you control your device wirelessly, and the best ones are responsive, accurate, and comfortable to use. If you're looking for a new mouse, consider one of these options.

For years, wireless wasn't a good option on gaming mice because of latency or lag. Nowadays, good wireless gaming mice can have latency just as low as that of wired gaming mice and even lower than that of Bluetooth or non-gaming wireless mice—even some esports pros use wireless gaming mice now.