Microsoft is starting to release keyboard and mouse support in Fortnite next week. First, the functionality is available to insiders. Players are only matched with other players who also use keyboard and mouse.
From November 14, the first games will be supported by keyboard and mouse. Besides Fortnite, it is also Warframe, Bomber Crew, Deep Rock Galactic, Strange Brigade, Vermintide 2, War Thunder and X-Morph Defense. Microsoft has been testing the functionality at Xbox Insiders in the Alpha Ring for some time, but this week it will be extended to more insiders.
Microsoft also mentions a list of games that will receive ‘in the future’ support for keyboard and mouse. When that is not known, but it will be after November. These include Children of Morta, DayZ, Minion Master, Moonlighter, Vigor, Warface and Wargroove.
Developers themselves have the opportunity to separate players who play with keyboard and mouse from players who play with a controller. Presumably, developers will make that distinction in games where the input method can provide an advantage. Epic Games does so at least at Fortnite.
Furthermore, at its XO18 event, Microsoft announced that Designed for Xbox input devices is coming. Such keyboards and mice feature an Xbox button and support a new feature called Xbox Dynamic Lighting for light effects. Razer will make such equipment and will announce it at the CES exchange in January.