Xbox’s recent update has caused uproar and many are furious with it, leading many fans to take an angry position towards it.
Xbox is no longer supporting an assortment of third-party gaming accessories, yet will continue supporting cheating tools much to the ire of fans.
Microsoft is prohibiting “unauthorized” USB devices, ironically given how difficult and sometimes costly it can be to get third-party accessories approved by them.
This ban even extends to fair accessories such as flight sticks, wheels for racing games or joystick/fighting pads that would normally be allowed under fair use rules – including joystick/fighting pads used with games like Tekken or Street Fighter.
However, Xbox has announced in an unexpected and disappointing turn that it will continue supporting unfair accessories – specifically XIMs – even as these appear unfair for use with its system.
If you are unfamiliar with what an XIM is, it is a device for first-person shooters that enables players to connect keyboard and mouse directly into their console while attributing commands as though using normal controllers.
A mouse emulated without needing a PC gives players access to precise targeting without using one; this tactic, often considered unfair by console players who use standard control sticks for aim, often makes online matches of competitive shooters such as Call Of Duty or Rainbow Six Siege even more frustrating, with many saying using such devices amounts to cheating.
Unfortunately Microsoft does not see things this way and XIMs will escape hardware ban in an action much criticized by players and the general public alike despite Microsoft’s pledge of protecting users during online matches.
Going forward, optimizing your gameplay with more immersive or useful control methods is only possible with hardware supplied directly by Microsoft or one of its partner/approved vendors.
Tragic indeed, since so many accessories did an outstanding job of increasing player immersion or providing easier means of control – such as those used by fighting game tournament organizers using fighting pads as tournament controllers online.
Hopefull there will be enough fan outrage that Xbox will reverse course and work toward banning XIMs; that would only be fair.
