What’s better than playing a great title on your new Xbox One? Playing that great title on the Xbox One with all your friends chipping in with their inputs in the game. Back in the day, Nintendo 64 was the first to introduce the accessibility of four players at once without having to buy any additional accessories. But since then, the functionality hasn’t been dealt with much. However, Microsoft is also aware of the situation and has done something exceptional about it.
Microsoft, probably in a drive to go a step ahead of Sony in the next generation console race, has revealed that the Xbox One can be connected to up to eight controllers at any given time. And that’s something Sony doesn’t have (although the PlayStation 3, hypothetically, is said to accept up to seven controllers at once).
Videogamer was the first to point out the new feature coming right out of Xbox’s own website. The site also revealed that each controller carries a 30 foot wireless range (already seen this in Wii U controllers). The Xbox One is said to achieve this wireless controller functionality using a new IR technology standard that Microsoft is currently using for the console.
Categorized under Additional Features for the controller, the official site states:
“Contents: - Wireless Controller and AA Batteries (2).
- 30ft wireless range
- Connect up to 8 Wireless Controllers at once to your console.
- Menu and View buttons for easy navigation.
- Seamless profile and controller pairing. Infrared LEDs in the controller can be sensed by the Kinect sensor.
- Expansion port for add-on devices like the Chat Headset.
- Compatible with Xbox One Play and Charge Kit and Xbox One Chat Headset.”
For the sake of comparison, Nintendo’s Wii U can support up to five controllers that can be connected to the device at once. However, only one of them can work as the Wii U Pad, with the rest being standard controllers – Wii Remote, Wii Remote, Classic Controller, Classic Controller Pro, Wii U Pro.
And no, we don't yet know how many controllers the PS4 will support at launch.
As far as the official description for the controller itself is concerned, Microsoft states: “Experience the action like never before with the Xbox One Wireless Controller. New Impulse Triggers deliver fingertip vibration feedback, so you can feel every jolt and crash in high definition.”
“Redesigned thumbsticks and an all new D-pad provide greater precision. And the entire controller fits more comfortably in your hands. With over 40 innovations, it’s simply the best controller Xbox has ever made.”
The Xbox One is arriving this November, although a specific release date is yet to be revealed.
