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Xbox Cloud Gaming update: Keyboard and mouse ‘platform-level support’ is in the works

Photo credit: Ryland Dean / Unsplash

While Xbox Cloud Gaming offers more ways to play old and modern video games outside consoles and high-end PCs, it comes with a few caveats. For one, the supported devices for controls are currently quite limited. However, it appears that Microsoft is working on adding keyboard and mouse support across the cloud-based platform.

The new information comes from a recent online Q&A, where “Microsoft Flight Simulator” head Jorg Neumann responded to questions from fans. After adding the game to the supported titles on Xbox Cloud Gaming, Neumann confirmed that the next goal is to introduce keyboard and mouse controls for those playing via the cloud. But he said the effort in making this happen is coming mainly from Xbox.

“This is platform-level support, so it has nothing to do with us. Obviously, mouse and keyboard works for our sim. So the platform team is working on this,” Neumann said (via Windows Central). By saying “platform-level,” Neumann likely means that the mouse and keyboard support will be applied to all games currently offered through the Xbox Cloud Gaming service.

It can be recalled that the “Microsoft Flight Simulator” became available through the Xbox Cloud Gaming earlier this month. That means the game, which requires high technical specs to run, is now playable on Xbox One and other devices where Xbox Cloud Gaming is available.

“Microsoft Flight Simulator” was originally released on PC in 2020, then on Xbox Series X/S last year. Console players can use USB-connected and wireless keyboard and mouse controls. This option is also available on Xbox One, but games played via the cloud rely on controls that are supported by Xbox Cloud Gaming. Currently, the cloud-based gaming service only supports touchscreen controls and controllers.

Bringing “Microsoft Flight Simulator” is already good news for both the developers and video game fans. And adding keyboard and mouse controls on platform-level on Xbox Cloud Gaming should be welcome news as well.

For now, it is unknown when the Xbox Cloud Gaming update with keyboard and mouse controls will be released, and Neumann said he does not know about its timeline as well. “I know I can't give a date because it's the platform team. I don't know their dates, but it's coming,” Neumann added.

Photo by Ryland Dean on Unsplash

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