Xbox will soon let players map keyboard keys to controller buttons

Xbox is preparing the ability to map keyboard keys to controller buttons in the future.

The new feature has been added to the latest Alpha and Alpha Skip-Ahead builds of the operating system, which are currently only available to members of the Xbox Insider programme.

This is generally done to test the feature and make sure it’s working as well as possible before it’s rolled out to all Xbox users in a future console system update.

According to the patch notes for the latest Alpha build, the feature currently works on the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 and the Xbox Adaptive Controller.

“For the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 and the Xbox Adaptive Controller, the Xbox Accessories app now supports mapping keyboard keys to your controller,” the patch notes state.

“To get started, open the Xbox Accessories app > Configure > create a new profile or edit an existing one > select a button to map > choose Primary or Shift > then move over to the new Key tab.

“You can also find this feature in the Xbox Accessories app on your Windows PC by joining the Windows Gaming preview from the Xbox Insider Hub. Learn more about joining the Windows Gaming preview in the Xbox Insider Program FAQ.”

Xbox notes that players can only map a controller button to a single key, as well as any combination of modifier keys (Win, Shift, Ctrl, Alt).

For example, you could theoretically map the Share button to S on the keyboard, or Ctrl+Alt+S, but not Ctrl+Alt+S+A.

It also notes that input support is game dependent, so some games will offer full support, partial support or no support.