Xbox Cloud Gaming introduces beta support for mouse and keyboard input

Greetings, XBOX Insiders! Today, we bring you exciting news about a new Xbox Update Preview that is making its way to the Alpha Skip-Ahead ring. While it’s important to note that some updates may not result in visible changes to the user interface, rest assured that these background improvements are crucial for ensuring a high-quality and stable build for your Xbox consoles. We believe in keeping you informed about all updates, big or small, so that you’re always aware of what’s happening with your device. Let’s dive into the details!

New Features and Experiences

For all our Alpha Skip-Ahead users, we have something special in store for you in this Xbox Update Preview.

Introducing Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta)

As an Xbox Insider, you now have the opportunity to preview Mouse and Keyboard support while playing games via cloud gaming. This feature is available on supported browsers such as Edge and Chrome, as well as the Xbox App on Windows PCs for users enrolled in the PC Gaming Preview. To access this feature on a browser, simply enable Preview features by clicking on your profile picture at xbox.com/play, selecting Settings, and then enabling “Preview features.”

Currently Supported Titles and Known Issues

Here are the titles currently supported for Mouse and Keyboard usage during cloud gaming:

– Fortnite (browsers only)
– ARK Survival Evolved
– Sea of Thieves
– Grounded
– Halo Infinite
– Atomic Heart (Known Issue: Difficulty switching between gamepad and Mouse/Keyboard while streaming game)
– Sniper Elite 5
– Deep Rock Galactic
– High on Life
– Zombie Army 4 Dead War
– Gears Tactics
– Pentiment
– Doom 64
– Age of Empires 2

Additional Considerations for Xbox Insiders

It’s worth noting that some games will display controller UI elements by default. However, the UI will adapt to Mouse & Keyboard input once you start using the Mouse/Keyboard to interact with the game. This includes moving the cursor and pressing keys.

For users on a browser, please keep the following in mind:

– The game stream must be in full-screen mode for mouse and keyboard functionality. You can exit full-screen mode by pressing the ESC key.
– Make sure to click on the game stream element explicitly to “capture your pointer.” Otherwise, your mouse input won’t be sent to the game.
– Pressing F9 will exit mouse and keyboard use for the game.

Fixes and Known Issues

For a comprehensive list of fixes and known issues, please refer to the provided link.

We want to express our gratitude to all Xbox Insiders in the subreddit today. Whether you’ve been here for a while or are just joining us, we appreciate the friendly and community-driven conversations and support that have made this subreddit such a fantastic place. For more information about the Xbox Insider Program, be sure to follow us on Twitter. Stay tuned to future Xbox Insider Release Notes for updates on your Xbox Update Preview ring!