Microsoft gives PC manufacturers the option of Xbox Wireless integration
Microsoft is going to give hardware manufacturers access to the Xbox Wireless protocol that until now was only used in Xbox consoles. Lenovo is the first manufacturer to release a PC that connects directly to Xbox wireless controllers and accessories.
According to Microsoft, the Lenovo IdeaCentre Y710 Cube is the first computer to use the Xbox Wireless protocol. That means wireless Xbox accessories such as controllers can be connected directly to the gaming PC, which was announced earlier on Tuesday.
In the Lenovo PC, Xbox Wireless is not yet fully integrated into the hardware, but an Xbox Wireless adapter is simply connected internally and concealed in the housing. In the future, Microsoft says it wants to place the receiver directly on motherboards in collaboration with hardware partners. Products that support the protocol will be identified by a logo.
Microsoft says there are more hardware manufacturers besides Lenovo that will build Xbox Wireless into their gaming PCs, citing Astro, PDP and Turtle Beach as examples. In addition, ‘many more’ manufacturers would like to implement the protocol.
In addition to Microsoft’s own protocol, the new controller of the Xbox One S also has Bluetooth, but this allows a maximum of one Xbox controller to be connected to a Windows 10 device. Until now, an optional USB dongle was required to connect multiple controllers. With hardware equipped with Xbox Wireless technology, this is no longer necessary and up to eight wireless devices can be connected.