Windows will support Xbox One controller 'very soon'

Folks looking forward to using their Xbox One controllers to play games on Windows might soon be in for a treat. In a post over on the NeoGAF forum, Xbox's Larry Hryb – or Major Nelson as we often know him – said that Windows drivers for the controller will be released "very soon."

Microsoft first promised support last year and there's no doubts a lot of gamers out there eager to use their Xbox One controllers this way. And why not, it's a great controller. All we need now are those drivers, so we'll be sitting, waiting. Patiently. Maybe.

Source: NeoGAF via Polygon

Richard Devine
Managing Editor - Tech, Reviews

Richard Devine is a Managing Editor at Windows Central with over a decade of experience. A former Project Manager and long-term tech addict, he joined Mobile Nations in 2011 and has been found on Android Central and iMore as well as Windows Central. Currently, you'll find him steering the site's coverage of all manner of PC hardware and reviews. Find him on Mastodon at mstdn.social/@richdevine

101 Comments
  • Finally, cant wait to reduce the amount of controllers I have
  • How does this work if I have my Xbox One and my PC in the same room? Right now the controller automatically connects to my Xbox One, but what if I connect it to PC? Would it then lose connectability to my X1? How to switch back and forth? This is assuming that the PC allows for wireless connectivity too.
  • Ain't no controller like a PS controller!!
  • Gross. No thanks. The Dual Shock's ergonomic design is crap, and it has been that way since 1995 because Sony sucks an innovating. The Xbox One controller is the best I've ever used.
  • That's what makes it the best, it's been that way since o.g PlayStation, no need to change something that's perfect
  • It has never been the best controller because the ergonomics have always sucked. Saturn controller > PS1 controller Dreamcast controller > PS2 controller Xbox 360 controller > PS3 controller Xbox One controller > PS4 controller
  • To each his own homie... For me.. PlayStation all day everyday..
  • I'm assuming they're supporting connection to PC via the USB port. the same way that you can play on the Xbox One via USB and avoid batteries altogether.
  • I hope they keep it wireless. Cords are anathema. Batteries aren't an issue when you get rechargeable ones.
  • WP too please, or at least give WP 360 controller support!
  • Thank you
  • Yessss
  • Yes, be nice if the article clarified which Windows, though we can presume it is the computer/laptop version. Really hoping for OTG support for WP/L1520 for mouse/keyboard..maybe controller? Be real nice for Bluetooth mouse/keyboard support. Hope heaped on hope, the life of a WP fan. When you think about it though, its like really! This day and age - still missing these common features! With Surface Pro 3 Microsoft has shown they can do something decent, even above the competition, so here's more hope WP will come into its own now that MS has full on control.
  • One Windows
  • thatd be pretty cool
  • This^ WP OTG support for controller.
     
  • When will the gameshub support Xbox One achievement's?
  • Probably never. Seems like they don't care its been months
  • Months? From what? WP8.1 developer release? Just over one month.
  • I think he means months since the xbox one released
  • Yep that was what i was talking about that it should of been there since the one released including the windows 8 hub as well
  • They don't even show on xbox.com
  • You can see all of your achievements and game videos on Smartglass for Xbox One.
  • Yes, but the games hub on 8.1 should be updated to support the Xbox one better...
  • Microsoft has such a huge opportunity with Xbox integration. They really need to get their shit together.
  • Indeed they do huge possibilities but nope they sit on their arse and do nothing
  • Why have two apps when I can have it all in one place
  • I hope any dongle they release is more discrete than the 360 controller's receiver.
  • I hope there is no more dongle needed for the XBox One. I never understood why the 360 controller needed a 4.5' cord and Zune HD sized receiver.
  • My receiver is about the same size as the battery pack in the controller itself :S
  • Its because the 360 used a proprietary wireless signal. It wasn't Bluetooth. Without it you wouldn't be able to connect the 360 controller at all.
  • I should have used the sarcastic tag. I am aware of how the controller communicates, I think the design of the dongle was horrible. All of Microsoft's mice and keyboards use these tiny nano dongles, but the 360 controller looked like it was using an IR receiver from the early 00s. It makes the 360 controller a terrible travel companion for my Surface.
  • Which is why I would get the wired controller to plug in.
  • Well, I'd do it because of the huge battery hog the 360's wireless receiver was. It made your 360's controller life go to crap, from what I read. I always went wired because of those stories, and the simple fact my desktop was right next to my bed, so the wired solution was no inconvenience...and it was about $30-40 cheaper.
  • There were murmors that the XB1 controller uses Wi-Fi direct but I think they eventually said it was proprietary. That would have been awesome since it wouldn't have required any dongle at all! If it requries a dongle for wireless then they need to make one of those nano dongles that most peripherals use now. Include an extension cord with it in case you need to place it somewhere else.  Hopefully they even support wireless in the first place. It's possible they might support only USB connection since the XB1 controller now transmits data over the USB port if it's plugged in unlike the 360 wireless controller. 
  • I remember reading an article a few months back specifying it was using white-fi IEEE 802.11af
    http://research.microsoft.com/apps/mobile/news.aspx?post=/en-us/news/fea...
  • Fairly certain the solution will be over USB only. I'll be surprised if they release a wireless dongle (at least any time soon).
  • "very soon"
  • I'm satisfied with my 360 controller on Windows tbh.
  • I have an Afterglow 360 controller. It's so damn annoying. I wish there was a switch to turn off the lights. The Xbox One controller support can't come soon enough. The question is will it support wireless or just a wired connection?
  • I have an Afterglow 360 as well... The switch is on the back of it ...a little black button... To turn off the lights..
  • Wow that thing looks like it's straight out of the 90's. I thought we stopped doing clear electronics housings?
  • We have to buy a new wireless receiver
  • I wouldn't mind that
  • WP support would be great!
  • The picture in the title is showing a windows phone and Xbox One controller ? Will this ever become a reality? Will you be able to use an Xbox controller with windows phone the same way Sony phones do with a playstation 3 controller on android?
  • They do ? (Sony)
  • Yep they do. You can use a ps3 controller with Sony phones on android now
  • Any Android will work actually. The benefit of have such an open OS
  • Of course it can be done with any android phone but Sony actually have a setting on the phone to easily pair with the DualShock 3 PS3 controller..... I see absolutely no reason why this cannot be done on Windows Phone with an Xbox controller.
  • Just a matter of when :)
  • Lets wish. I really hope it happenes sooooon
  • I believe Microsoft has adopted that as their official slogan... Including the smiley face
  • If you REALLY didn't know why... The PS3 uses bluetooth while the Xbox controllers (both 360 and One) use their own proprietary wireless signal that other devices do not have receivers for. They use their own signal because (as they say) it reduces the input lag and interference while also increases the strength and range of the signal. On Windows (both 8 and RT) the solution will be over USB only unless they release a dongle. Don't expect it any time soon for Windows Phone. However, you can already buy controllers for Windows Phones, such as the MOGA.
  • I have an Xperia S Tablet, I know its not a phone, but it works nicely. Also, if you use an emulator and map the gamepad for games without controller support, works pretty good.
  • Hi! How was JEE advanced? Did it go well? :)
  • Just saying, but I've like many already seen the click on attachment for WP. I love my job. ;) but the pic shows, Titanfall on the phone. It's just a theme thing.
  • +1 I love Titanfall. My favorite game right now. WPC App via Nexus 5.
  • Yay rt??
  • Indeed! I have fun using my Xbox 360 controller with my Surface 2 (RT) plugs right into the USB 3.0 port and works perfect with Halo spartain assault, GTA san andreas, Rayman, and a few others..
    And yes, I also use the same 360 controller with my desktop gaming PC.
  • I'm looking at the picture and wondering if it'll ever happen anytime in the future ( ._.)
  • Finally!!
  • So cooool
  • No "thanks for the tip"? :/
  • you tipped em?
  • I tipped them after you told me on the forums. So you deserve that tip more than me. :P
  • Windows phone????
  • what does "very soon" mean? In two months:D
  • I really hope a Windows RT support too :D
  • 360 controller has RT support... my afterglow 360 controller works perfectly with my Surface 2 RT
  • The only reason I wouldn't expect it to support RT is if the driver needs to be downloaded and installed. Hopefully they release it as an install through Windows Update soon after if not right away.
  • You can download and install software and drivers on RT. They just require a Microsoft signature. So it is possible for Microsoft to distribute the driver via download.
  • $5 says that the "very soon" is E3.
  • Its funny because my ps4 controller works fine with my Windows 8
  • How?
  • Just plug with a usb cable
  • Don't you have to manually map controls to each game though right? Isn't a generic driver that it uses?
  • It dont use a drive, just plug a usb cable and its done :)
  • and there is a non official xbox one driver... so what? I can use a 360 controller that wouldn't have much advantage over xbox one with a non official driver....
    but congratulations for your worthless comment.
  • Why its worthless? And did i mention that you cant play with a 360 controller? I just said its funny The ps4 controller works ( The ps3 dont work for example ) i mean, some guys over here are so fanboys that they almost explode in hate just because they read the word "ps4"
  • yeah but xbox controls are better
  • Both The ps4 and The x box one are good
  • Will built in controller support stay one of my dreams forever?
  • Awww yeah, about to be codNapped
  • Yes please
  • I wonder if RT will be supported?
  • I hope so... would love to have that Titanfall edition controller plugged into my Surface 2 RT
  • Wiresd it just needs a driver, that is the holdup....you can take a Xbox one controller with a microusb cable and connect it to a PC, it will fi d it but no driver found. This should be a fairly easy thing for MS, this should of been done months ago
  • No prob on PC, I just use 360 controller or a Ps3 controller with mij, but I see the phone in the background. Does that mean it will sync with Windows phone?
  • Sooo will this work with the current 360 wireless dongle? Or will there be a new one sold for it?
  • So are we saying have better controls over the system like with smart glass being so limited? Or full support meaning I can use this as a controller without smart glass? It sounds cool if I can use it without smart glass but other than that, this is pointless IMO. WPC App via Nexus 5.
  • Please do it! Do it! Do it!
  • Will it be over Bluetooth or require a dongle?
  • yesssssssssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • If I didn't get a moga controller, I'd wait for this...
  • Woot!!!
  • waiting a long time since XBOX One is revealed. I really want XBOX One controller for my PC gaming, even though my XBOX 360 controller is doing great.
  • I'm not so certain. It wouldn't explain why it's taking so long.
  • How soon is very soon. Using ps3 controller right now. And not big fan of it.
  • Windows 8.2 / Windows Phone 8.2 November 2014
  • I really want to get back into Batman Arkham City on PC and I'm waiting until I can use the One controller.