The Xbox is always getting new updates that add features and improve performance, but this week’s Alpha update included a feature that might surprise you. Now, certain Xbox users will be able to bind keyboard keys to buttons on their controller.
First, we should note that this update is only available through the Xbox Insider program, specifically its alpha ring. It also only works with the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 and the Xbox Adaptive Controller.
If you meet these requirements and download the update, you can now map keyboard keys to your controller with the Xbox Accessories app. The process for doing this is similar to any binding, as it requires you to create or edit a new profile, select the button to map, and you should see it as an option. There are a few limits to the functionality: You can only map one controller button to a given key, though you can include modifier keys such as Shift, Ctrl, Alt, and the Windows key. This feature is also game-dependent, so it will vary considerably depending on the games you play.
This update also made a few other changes, including fixing bugs that affected foreign language support. However, some users have reported intermittent audio issues across several updates, so watch out for that. In other news, Xbox recently announced that it’s phasing out Xbox Live Gold in favor of Xbox Game Pass Core, and it also announced Xbox Game Pass titles for July and August.
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