As part of its whole One Terabyte Xbox One announcement today, Microsoft threw some side news out for wire-haters: You can finally buy the $25 wireless Xbox One controller adapter for PC “starting this fall.”
Beginning today, new PC drivers for the Xbox One controller will be available for download, offering PC gamers a better way to play using the Xbox One controller. We’re planning to release the drivers as part of a Windows update in the near future; however, today, we’re offering early access to. *Size compared to Xbox Wireless Adapter for Windows. Controller and headset sold separately. For use with the Xbox One Wireless Controller or Xbox Wireless Controller and controller compatible games on PCs and Tablets running Windows 10 with USB 2.0 or USB 3.0. Fix for Xbox One Wireless Adapter Not Working in Windows 10 - XBOX ACC Driver June 22, 2016 by Matt When I received the new Oculus Rift last month, one of the bundled accessories was a wireless Xbox One controller with a wireless USB adapter. Xbox Buy an Xbox One or Xbox One S, Get an Xbox Wireless Controller in Windows 10 News Source: Buy an Xbox One or Xbox One S, Get an Xbox Wireless Controller - Xbox Wire How to Resolve Bluetooth Pairing/Connection Failure in Drivers and Hardware.
Or at least you can if you upgrade your computer to Windows 10. Yes, Microsoft is holding back wireless Xbox One controller capabilities as a Windows 10 exclusive. As if that’s the thing that’s going to make you smack your forehead and go “Maybe it really is time to upgrade from Windows 7.”
I’ve understood (though not necessarily agreed with) other Windows 10 exclusives—I can see the logic, for instance, in holding back DirectX 12. That’s a huge upgrade incentive for we legions of Windows 7 gamers. But a driver for a USB dongle? One that adds functionality that people expected from this controller at launch?
Low blow, Microsoft. Objectively, it’s not a huge deal. Windows 10 looks to be shaping up nicely, and since it’s a free upgrade I’m probably going to move up sooner rather than later. Plus I have my trusty wired Xbox 360 controller as a fallback.
But subjectively, this sort of announcement makes Microsoft look desperate. It’s like I can feel the whoosh of the stick swinging toward my back, even though the carrot was more than enough to suffice. I was already going to upgrade. There’s no reason to keep hitting me.
It’s this whole “We’ll tell you what’s good for you” mindset that gives Microsoft a bad reputation in the PC gaming community to begin with, because it’s a console-focused attitude. It’s why every time Microsoft reiterates how much it “cares” about PC gaming, I roll my eyes.
Windows 10 Pro Xbox One Wireless Controller Driver Download
Caring about PC gaming means supporting an open platform. It means enabling users across a broad spectrum of hardware and software to utilize your technology. If they can run it, they should be able to run it.
Xbox One Wireless Controller Manual
My computer doesn’t “magically” gain any new broadcast capabilities when I upgrade it to Windows 10. This is purely a driver issue, and Microsoft decided not to build drivers for people on Windows 7 and Windows 8. That’s ridiculous. It’s the exact opposite of an open community.
And you know what? I doubt it will stand. PC gamers are at their best when it comes to fixing perceived slights. I can almost (almost) guarantee that some enterprising individual will flip Microsoft the bird and build Windows 7 driver support for the wireless adapter, and I hope that’s the case. Because those people—the nameless coders who see a problem some corporation created and fix it for the hell of it--really care about PC gaming and the well-being of this community.
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