Xbox Cloud Gaming Adds Keyboard and Mouse Support, Opening New Possibilities for Players

Xbox Cloud Gaming just leveled up. In a major update rolling out this week, Microsoft announced that keyboard and mouse support is now fully integrated into Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta), allowing a new level of control, flexibility, and accessibility across its growing cloud-based ecosystem.

Until now, Xbox Cloud Gaming—Microsoft’s streaming platform for Xbox Game Pass titles—required a compatible controller or touchscreen to play. With the addition of keyboard and mouse compatibility, hundreds of games previously limited to consoles can now be played more comfortably on desktops and laptops, particularly by those who prefer traditional PC-style input. This update could be a game changer for fans of first-person shooters, strategy games, and simulation titles that benefit from precision controls.

Microsoft confirmed that dozens of titles already support the new input methods, including fan favorites like Halo Infinite, Sea of Thieves, and Minecraft. Going forward, developers will have the option to include keyboard and mouse input for future cloud-compatible releases. For users, the only requirement is a supported browser or the Xbox app for Windows, along with a steady internet connection. Once connected, players can simply plug in their peripherals and jump straight into gameplay—no console required.

This move represents a key step in Microsoft’s ongoing plan to unify gaming across console, PC, and cloud platforms. With Xbox Cloud Gaming now supporting both controller and keyboard/mouse setups, the service becomes a more viable entry point for a broader audience, including PC gamers who may not own an Xbox console.

Industry analysts see the update as a boost for the Xbox ecosystem, especially as Microsoft continues to push toward a more device-agnostic future. It also signals increased pressure on rival services like NVIDIA GeForce Now and Amazon Luna to expand and refine their own input options.

As Xbox continues to blur the lines between console and cloud, keyboard and mouse support could mark a pivotal moment for the platform—one that further embraces player choice while opening new doors for how and where we play.