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Comment by Someone1234 | Hacker News Reader

If games consoles supported Mouse & Keyboard, I'd legitimately switch to them as my main gaming machine. The hardware and value propositions are definitely "there."

Obviously controllers work extremely well for certain game types, I even use them on PC when the game calls for it, but I won't be convinced first person shooter-like games (with or without integrated "aim assist") are a good controller experience.

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Mouse and keyboard works in games that support it today: https://beta.support.xbox.com/help/Hardware-Network/accessor...

Both Xbox One[1] and Playstation 4 [2] support keyboard an mouse input. However, irrc the games have to choose to support it, so there does not appear that there'd default mappings for the keyboard (which kind of makes sense).

I think there are some games on both platforms giving you the option to use keyboard and mouse, most don't. But with the arrival of the new generation, maybe more developers decide to implent this feature.

[1] https://beta.support.xbox.com/help/Hardware-Network/accessor... [2] https://support.playstation.com/s/article/Use-Keyboard-and-M...

The problem is that this completely ruins any competitive FPS on console. The keyboard/mouse players have a huge advantage.

Games like fortnite (used to?) puts you in lobbies based on input type not platform. Switch was lumped into mobile IIRC.

Controllers are fine when you're used to them! I absolutely suck at using a mouse and keyboard, but I've been using a controller since the PS1 and reguarly come out on top when playing cross-platform games (including battle royales or ranked games at high levels). Just give it a while and it'll click :)

If that were true why do FPS continue to ship with "aim assist?" When the game is aiming for you, it is hard to know how good you actually are at it.

controllers will never be as good as a mouse and KB. I go back and forth from my PS4Pro and PC, and even in PC games I use a controller and kb/mouse. In GTA5, yeah, I'm too used to the controller to switch, but when I got the Master Cheif Collection for PC, what was a frustrating time in some firefights became almost easy in Reach and Halo 1.

You’re going to lose firefights if you have a controller and your opponents have mouse and keyboard. That’s why some games try to separate those users into separate ranking systems.

Exactly. I used to run a Quake 2/3 clan back in the day, and was on a clan for RTCW Enemy Territory. I jumped on Quake Live server last year with some folks used to controller pay, I crushed them, and I'm out of practice. These kids may be great at Halo multiplayer on consoles, but you're going to lose to a keyboard and mouse.

I agree that keyboard/mouse allow for greater precision for shooters, however I prefer console controllers for shooters anyway because of the difference in "posture" since its handier to have on the couch or standing in front of the TV. However because of the inherent advantage in accuracy I'd rather everyone have to use the same equipment since it levels the playing field.

Instead of the whole xCloud idea (which I doubt is going to work) I see much more in the console as the workhorse for heavy games. Stream the input to the console and the video back to the device. Many home networks are well equipped the handle this latency. It would allow me to game on any device from home instead of just having a controller.

You can already for Win10 and Oculus Rift, not sure if mobile is supported yet but probably will be soon.

https://beta.support.xbox.com/help/games-apps/apps-help/how-...

This!

I love my PS4, but I cannot play first person shooters on it at all. I'm completely hopeless.

Trying to aim with the mushroom sticks just feels impossible for me.

Also most console FPS games that I've tried have a field of view that is too narrow, and hardly any I've tried let you change this.

If Microsoft launched a thing that could double as a PC and a console I'd throw my money at them.

What is it that prevents Windows 10 from running on an Xbox?

The PS2 supported mouse and keyboard. Not many games bothered with it.

So pick up an Xbox which supports mouse and kb for modern games?

Only problem is that enablement is up to the games dev and not the player, unless you want to add a XIM device which is 'cheating'.

Pretty sure that would make them PCs.

The fact that the PC and the XBox share the same OS/ecosystem is not enough. A game console is deliberately limited what it can do. You can, for example, remove DirectX from Windows no issue, but for a gaming platform that would be devastating. The simplicity is reflected in the UX.

Pretty sure that still makes them games consoles with a mouse and keyboard as input devices.

Are they not PCs now?

They don't really support generic software

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