The next
generation of Xbox finally arrived in the UK back in November, bringing with it
the potential for better graphics, faster loading speeds and, of course, a brand-new
gamepad. At first glance the official Xbox Series S|X wireless controller doesn’t
look to be doing anything terribly innovative compared to other options, but
the truth is that it cleverly builds upon the Xbox One’s existing template in
several ways to help improve every user’s play experience.
And though
it may come as a surprise, the official Xbox Series S|X wireless controller isn’t
just compatible with the console it’s named after but indeed a whole range of
platforms. In this short blog post we’ll explore where and how exactly it can
be used, helping you to better enjoy the benefits like true D-Pad support,
textured trigger grips and the dedicated Share button on systems sitting
outside of the Xbox Series X|S eco system.
Does the
Xbox Series S|X wireless controller work on Xbox One?
Whereas Microsoft admittedly lost its way towards the
beginning of the Xbox One’s lifecycle, for Xbox Series S|X the tech giant has
been all about ubiquity. That means making it as easy as possible for players
to enjoy Xbox games wherever they want using the official Xbox Series S|X wireless controller – including their previous
platform: the Xbox One.
This is
particularly useful for die-hard console players who have picked up the new
gamepad separately but are yet to jump into the next generation with a new Xbox
Series X or S. Connecting the controller to your Xbox One console is as simple
as holding the central Xbox button down the same time as the connection button
that sits under the unit’s disc drive. Before long you’ll be enjoying Microsoft’s
last-generation console on your brand-new controller. The gamepad’s new Share
button functionality should even work, too.
Does the
Xbox Series S|X wireless controller work on PC?
PC players
have a lot of control options when it comes to how they like to play their
games. But while a traditional mouse-and-keyboard setup works well for
first-person shooters and isometric RPGs, the Xbox One controller was the
number 1 choice for many PC die-hards who wanted to enjoy a more relaxed and
simple experience on their souped-up machine. Knowing this, Microsoft has made it
just as easy to connect the new Xbox Series S|X wireless controller with PC
gaming platforms like Steam, GOG and Uplay.
To pair the
Xbox Series S|X wireless controller with your PC, all you need to do is make
sure that both have been updated with the latest software. From here you need
to turn on the controller and press down the pair button on the top for 2
seconds. Your PC should then recognize it from the ‘Add Bluetooth Device’
option within your PC’s settings. Wait for the Xbox Series S|X wireless
controller to appear in the list and then simply connect.
Does the
Xbox Series S|X wireless controller work on Android Devices?
Thanks to
the beauty of Project XCloud, players with a Game Pass subscription can stream
Xbox games directly from the cloud to any Android device of their choosing.
Some games work okay with touch controls, but they’ll only really live up to
their full potential if you play games on your Android device using an XboxSeries S|X wireless controller.
Getting the
controller to communicate with your phone or Android device works similarly to
how it is with PC, where you must set your phone to search for new Bluetooth
devices and you hold down the gamepad’s pair button for three seconds. Once both
are connected you’re ready to play a massive selection of Xbox games on the go.
Just be sure to download the Project XCloud app from the Google Play store and
you’ll be streaming and playing in no time.
Does the
Xbox Series S|X wireless controller work on PlayStation 5?
It should
come as no surprise to learn that the Xbox Series S|X wireless controller is
currently not compatible with PlayStation 5. Players on that platform are
stranded using the DualSense controller. And though Xbox and PlayStation have
been growing quite chummy by allowing cross-play on select online games, don’t
hold out any hope that you’ll be able to use Xbox’s newest gamepad with Sony’s
next-gen console.
Where
can you purchase an Xbox Series S|X wireless controller?
The Xbox Series S|X wireless controller is
available to buy from a range of different UK retailers, but one that’s held
consistent stock on all three available colours is GAME. There you can pick one
up in either Shock Blue, Carbon Black or Robot White, ready to keep gaming for
longer with the gamepad’s smattering of new features. Click here to check out GAME’s best deals.
