Keyboard/Mouse Accessibility Unlikely To Be Blocked On Xbox One

There’s always been some debate on using alternate inputs when it comes to competitive games, at least on a console which should otherwise be a closed ecosystem. While there is an angle to it that says the kind of devices that allow use of different types of controllers on a console can be good for accessibility, more often than not it’s a bad actor who wants an unfair advantage. On Xbox One at least, it seems like combatting these players isn’t something Microsoft is going to try.

Mike Ybarra, the Corporate Vice President of Gaming for Microsoft would respond to a question on Twitter, saying that the tools are there for developers to see and block the use of devices such as Keyboard and Mouse on their Xbox One, which can allow them an advantage in certain genres like shooters. But giving developers the tools is as far as Microsoft will go.

“Our general approach is to empower the developer to manage their game how they want” said Ybarra, when pressed for why Microsoft leaves it up to developers, also explaining that there are positive situations where using the technology makes sense, like with accessibility.

Developers have the choice to use APIs that detect and not allow these. It’s up to them, but the capability is there. https://t.co/jE97R6oj0c

— Mike Ybarra (@Qwik) February 18, 2018