The Xbox One is getting a keyboard and mouse to use with the console.
Xbox One
It has long been rumoured that the machine would support the desktop device for specific games and app use and now Xbox director Mike Ybarra has confirmed the controller alternative is "definitely coming".
Ybarra also revealed that he and staff are aware that gamers have concerns that players using a keyboard and mouse for certain online multiplayer titles will have an advantage against those playing with controllers and they are working to address any issues.
Speaking at a PAX West panel at the weekend, Ybarra said: "We have to be very smart in how we do that (introduce keyboard and mouse). We'll leave it a lot up to developer choice. A lot of people tweet me and say, 'You can't do this because of fairness,' and we understand that. We run two platforms; the Windows platform and the Xbox platform."
Ybarra thinks that future games which support both peripherals will offer players a choice of who they compete against, depending on their method of play.
He explained: "If you have a competitive game, people probably are going to want the choice to say I'll play with other keyboard and mouse people or I'll play only with controller people, or that I'll play with any of those. So you'll see our first games supporting keyboard and mouse soon; I can't announce what that is, but soon. And then based on developer interest, they'll choose to do keyboard and mouse going forward, or not."
Microsoft's 'Gears of War 4' already supports cross-play between Xbox One and PC owners, pitting controllers against a keyboard and mouse setup.
When competing online players can choose whether or not they want to play with PC users.