Xbox One controllers work with your PC now

By Will Fulton June 5, 2014

microsoft xbox one review controller front angle — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Xbox One controllers are finally compatible with Windows PCs, Xbox hypeman Larry “Major Nelson” Hryb confirms on his blog. The latest Microsoft console’s gamepad works with any game that supports Xbox 360 controllers.

The drivers set to be bundled into an upcoming Windows update, but eager fans can get them now via a direct link in Major Nelson’s blog post. Simply download the drivers, plug in your controller via USB, and let your PC sort out the rest. Before long, you’ll be playing your favorite games with Xbox One controller’s improved functionality in no time.

Recommended Videos

This driver release should also create additional options down the road when new Xbox One controller updates are released. Unlike the Xbox 360, Xbox One gamepads have sophisticated software built into them that can be tweaked via firmware updates. Currently, that’s only possible via the console (read our step-by-step), but PC support potentially opens the door for plug-and-play updates on your Windows machine as well.

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Will Fulton is a New York-based writer and theater-maker. In 2011 he co-founded mythic theater company AntiMatter Collective…

Gaming

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 won’t be as taxing on your PC

A rainbow colored hot air balloon in the sky.

One of the biggest obstacles to playing Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 is how taxing it is to run on your platform of choice, both in terms of performance and storage. For the next game in the series, Xbox and developer Asobo Studio are making it just a little easier to run.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 will be around 30GB smaller at installation than its predecessor: 127GB versus 157GB. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 was one of the largest games around, and even prompted some people to purchase more powerful hardware for their PCs. And that installation number doesn't even include all the extra content you could buy. While 2024 will still be quite big, trimming it down will make it easier to install on your drive, which probably wasn't that big to start with if you have an original Xbox Series X/S.

Gaming

Overwatch 2 is now on Xbox Game Pass, and it comes with perks

Overwatch 2 skins: Cardboard Reinhardt, Turtleship D.Va, Cyberdragon Hanzo, Street Runner Genji, Bee Mercy, and Cleric Lifeweaver

Blizzard Entertainment surprise dropped Overwatch 2 on Xbox Game Pass on Tuesday, despite the game being free to play and already on Xbox.

You might find this to be a strange addition, but as a Blizzard blog post specifies, this is more about encouraging players to link their Battle.net and Xbox accounts. As a reward, players that do so will receive six exclusive skins: Cardboard Reinhardt, Turtleship D.Va, Cyberdragon Hanzo, Street Runner Genji, Bee Mercy, and Cleric Lifeweaver. (The image of a Reinhardt in a cardboard suit is delightful.) Players will also get 30 Mythic Prisms that they can use in the Mythic Shop for other skins.

Gaming

3 new Xbox Game Pass games to play this weekend (September 13-15)

Key art for Age of Mythology: Retold.

If you're a fan of strategy or simulation video games, this will be a great Xbox Game Pass month for you. Its biggest day-one releases -- Age of Mythology: Retold, Ara: History Untold, and Frostpunk 2 -- are all strategy games, while games like Expeditions: A MudRunner Game and Riders Republic are keeping things interesting on the simulation front. If you're looking for something to play this weekend, I'm highlighting a trio of games that provide entertaining sandboxes to play around in.
Age of Mythology: Retold

Following remakes of the three Age of Empires games and the launch of Age of Empires IV, World's Edge gave the series' fantasy spinoff some love. Age of Mythology: Retold is a real-time strategy game similar to the Age of Empires titles in many ways, as players are building up towns and fighting rival civilizations. The biggest twist Age of Mythology provides is the Major and Minor Gods players choose before playing, which give them additional abilities. This remake also gives the experience a graphical overhaul, lets players reuse god powers, and has well-implemented controller support. Whether you're a fan of the original or never played it before, this is worth checking out. Age of Mythology: Retold is available on PC and Xbox Series X/S via Game Pass Ultimate.
Core Keeper