If you’ve ever tried to type on a gamepad or gaming device, you know it can be a pain – especially with this new generation of portable gaming PCs like the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally X. So it’s nice to see that Microsoft is currently testing out a new and improved gamepad keyboard layout for Xbox controllers in Windows 11.
The Verge reports That said, the new layout isn’t the only thing PC gamers with Xbox controllers can look forward to — they’ll also be able to use the X button for backspace, the Y button for space, and the menu button on a connected Xbox controller to hit enter (just like you would on a physical keyboard). Microsoft is also adding vertical alignment (which takes into account the arrangement of keys in the vertical orientation) to make typing with the on-screen keyboard easier.
The new on-screen keyboard is currently being tested by users in the beta channel of the Windows Insider program. We expect it to be available to all eligible users soon (unless Microsoft changes its mind).
The bigger picture of Windows handheld gaming
I think it’s smart of Microsoft to continue developing Windows 11 to improve its gaming capabilities while also working on other things, like the AI-based Copilot tool. Windows 11 is now the most used operating system among PC gamers (at least according to a recent Steam study ), and while it runs fine on gaming laptops and desktop PCs, the OS is less well-suited for gaming handhelds, which have smaller screens and rely on controller input rather than the traditional keyboards and mice that Windows was originally designed for.
While the new gamepad-friendly on-screen keyboard has been well-received by many so far, there’s still more work to be done – and handheld PC gaming is an exciting and growing market. As The Verge points out, Microsoft can still improve things, like being able to log into Windows with an Xbox controller, and making the on-screen keyboard automatically appear when you select text fields to write in.
I can imagine Microsoft addressing this in the near future, as we recently wrote about Microsoft’s improved Windows Game Bar with Compact Mode, which makes it easier to control your device while playing a game – even on a smaller screen. The Xbox app has also received controller improvements to make it easier to navigate the app while using an Xbox controller, so it’s good to see Microsoft not getting completely distracted by adding AI to every part of Windows 11.
If Microsoft’s handheld gaming offerings continue to improve, I think it might make Valve, the company behind the Linux-based SteamOS operating system that the Steam Deck uses, sweat a little. I’m certainly curious to see what else Microsoft has in store when it comes to Windows on handheld devices, something I haven’t felt in a long time.