Windows 11 Xbox
Credit: The Verge
Microsoft is rolling out a new gamepad keyboard for Windows 11 that lets users type with an Xbox controller. This update makes the on-screen keyboard in Windows 11 easier to use with an Xbox controller. You can now type into text fields more smoothly throughout the operating system.
The gamepad keyboard has shortcuts made for an Xbox controller, including the X button for backspace, the Y button for the space bar, and the menu button to hit enter. These shortcuts are identical to the ones Microsoft uses in the Xbox dashboard.
Microsoft is working on combining the best parts of Windows and Xbox. All this fits with rumors of an Xbox gaming handheld that is reportedly being co-developed with Asus.
Microsoft has also made the Game Bar in Windows more handheld-friendly, thanks to a compact mode for smaller screens. The main Xbox app for PC was also updated last year with controller improvements to make it easier to navigate with just a controller, as reported by The Verge.
The gamepad keyboard first went into beta testing in September and is now available in the Release Preview version of Windows 11. This means it will be available to all Windows 11 users in the coming weeks and to those who opt into the latest non-security updates in a matter of days.
As PC and console gaming become more similar, these improvements might make Windows a better choice for gamers, which it already is. But even for people who pefer consoles.
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