This first-party Xbox title is set to allow mouse and keyboard on console
The ultimate choice
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Microsoftwill let those playingRedfallon their Xbox choose between a controller and a keyboard. Making this the second first-party title released by Microsoft in 2023 with this option available.
Redfallis an upcoming co-op FPS game with a release date of May 2. Brought to us by Arkane, the devs behindPreyandDishonored,this bloodthirsty shooter has murderous vampires around every corner. In a post-apocalyptic open-world town, you’ll have to take these beasts down in either single-player or co-op modes.
However, the violence may not stop at the blood-thirsty vampires. According to the official Xboxstore pageforRedfall, this FPS will support a mouse and keyboard on consoles, not just controllers.
This option can work without too many arguments, thanks toRedfall’s lack ofplayer-versus-player components. Therefore, while you may be able to outperform your teammates, there won’t be any salty vampires typing nasty words in chat, shaming you for using a more accurate mouse or an aim-assisting controller.
Are there others?
While this is unusual,Redfallisn’t the first game to do this.Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition,released in 2019, allows you to plug a keyboard into yourXbox Series X| S.
This gives players with a keyboard a sizable advantage. A mouse is more favorable when dealing with real-time strategy games due to the accuracy, speed, and precision needed when selecting things.
On the other hand, it was a disadvantage for a long time to use a mouse and keyboard in the FPS multiplayer shooterHalo Infinite. Thanks to the aim assist provided by controllers, playing against those with a keyboard and mouse was child’s play. However, 343 Industries fixed this with mouse aim-assist.
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Fight to the death
BothHalo InfiniteandAge of Empires II: Definitive Editiondemonstrate why games that allow controllers and keyboards can be so contentious. The benefits and shortcomings of each option are so different that they can impact an individual’s gameplay massively, whether this is increased actions per minute thanks to a mouse or aim assist with a controller.
However, games likeRedfallmay be the only time this debate isn’t so contentious. Allowing players to choose between what best suits them, whether this is a controller or a keyboard, seems like an excellent feature for titles where the choice doesn’t have a massive impact on the outcome of a game.
While I’ll always sit on the side of the mouse and keyboard, maybeRedfall’s newest feature will give me a better appreciation of controllers as I finally fight alongside them against a common enemy; angry vampires.
Elie is a Features Writer for TechRadar Gaming, here to write about anything new or slightly weird. Before writing for TRG, Elie studied for a Masters at Cardiff University JOMEC in International Journalism and Documentaries – spending their free time filming short docs or editing the gaming section for their student publications.
Elie’s first step into gaming was through Pokémon but they’ve taken the natural next step in the horror genre. Any and every game that would keep you up at night is on their list to play - despite the fact that one of Elie’s biggest fears is being chased.
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