Microsoft has just made gaming on your smartphone or tablet even more accessible with the introduction of touch controls for its Xbox mobile apps. In a recent announcement, the tech giant revealed that it is testing out a new feature that allows players to use touchscreen controls to play games on their mobile devices, eliminating the need for a wireless controller.
The touch controls are currently available in the beta versions of the Xbox mobile apps for Android and iOS. This is not the first time Microsoft has experimented with touch controls for Xbox mobile apps. One notable example is how Surface Duo owners can utilize the dual-screen design to transform their smartphones into portable Xbox devices. However, the most common method prior to this announcement was through the Xbox Cloud Gaming service, where subscribers of the Ultimate Tier could play a limited number of games with touch controls.
According to a blog post on Xbox Wire, Xbox remote play will now support custom touch control layouts for over a hundred games on iOS, Android, and Windows devices. Additionally, a basic touch control layout will be available for most other games. While touch controls may not be the most conventional way to play Xbox games, they serve as a convenient alternative for quick gaming sessions when a wireless controller is not readily available.
In addition to touch controls, Microsoft also revealed some other exciting changes coming to the Xbox hardware ecosystem. One notable update is the introduction of a thumbstick recalibration tool for Xbox Wireless controllers. This tool will allow Xbox owners to recalibrate their thumbsticks, which can be useful for fixing minor issues like inconsistent responses or when replacing thumbsticks on the gamepad.
The announcement of these new features comes just before the release of a new episode on the Official Xbox Podcast, where industry leaders Phil Spencer, Sarah Bond, and Matt Booty will share updates on the Xbox business. This suggests that Microsoft has more exciting developments in store for gamers in the near future.
Overall, Microsoft’s introduction of touch controls for Xbox mobile apps is a significant step towards making gaming more accessible and convenient for players. With the ability to play games using touchscreen controls on their smartphones or tablets, gamers can enjoy their favorite Xbox titles wherever they are, without the need for a wireless controller. Combined with other upcoming updates, such as the thumbstick recalibration tool, Microsoft is continuously improving the gaming experience for Xbox users. Stay tuned for more exciting announcements from the tech giant as they continue to expand what is possible on their mobile apps.
