This first-party Xbox title is set to allow mouse and keyboard on console
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Microsoft lets those play redfall choose between a controller and a keyboard on their Xbox. This is the second first-party title released by Microsoft in 2023 with this option available.
redfall is an upcoming co-op FPS game with a May 2 release date. Brought to us by Arkane, the developers behind it Prey And dishonored, this bloodthirsty shooter has murderous vampires around every corner. Set in an open-world post-apocalyptic city, you must take down these beasts in single player or co-op modes.
However, the violence cannot stop at the bloodthirsty vampires. According to the official Xbox shop page (opens in new tab) for redfalldoes this FPS support a mouse and keyboard on consoles, not just controllers.
This option can work without too many arguments, thanks Redfall’s lack of player-versus-player components. Therefore, while you may be able to outperform your teammates, there won’t be any salty vampires typing nasty words into chat and shaming you for using a more accurate mouse or an aim assist controller.
Are there others?
Although this is unusual, redfall isn’t the first game to do this. Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, released in 2019, you can connect a keyboard to your Xbox Series X| S.
This gives keyboard players a significant advantage. A mouse is more beneficial when dealing with real-time strategy games because of the accuracy, speed and precision required when selecting things.
On the other hand, for a long time it was a disadvantage to use mouse and keyboard in the FPS multiplayer shooter Halo infinity. Thanks to the aiming aids of controllers, playing against people with a keyboard and mouse was child’s play. However, 343 Industries solved this with mouse aim assist.
Fight to the death
Both Halo infinity And Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition showing why games that allow controllers and keyboards can be so contentious. The benefits and shortcomings of each option are so different that they can greatly affect an individual’s gameplay, whether it’s more actions per minute thanks to a mouse or aim assist with a controller.
However, games like redfall is perhaps the only time this debate is not so controversial. Letting players choose between what suits them best, be it a controller or a keyboard, seems like an excellent feature for titles where the choice doesn’t have a huge impact on the outcome of a game.
While I may always be on the mouse and keyboard side redfall‘s latest feature will give me a better appreciation for controllers as I finally fight a common enemy alongside them; evil vampires.