Microsoft Expands Xbox Controller Features in Windows 11 Update

Windows 11 Build 22631.5116, currently available for Windows Insiders, is set for wider release soon. The update integrates an Xbox controller-based PC navigation feature, allowing users to operate the touch keyboard. The X button functions as backspace, the Y button serves as a spacebar, and keys align vertically when a controller is detected.

This build also includes enhancements to File Explorer, a redesigned settings homepage for commercial users, and various bug fixes. Microsoft initially tested the Xbox controller typing feature in October 2024 before disabling it in later updates. The feature has now returned, optimized for broader accessibility.

Industry sources suggest this functionality aligns with Microsoft’s efforts to support the upcoming Xbox handheld gaming device, internally referred to as “Project Kennan.” Co-developed with ASUS, the handheld is expected to feature an AMD Ryzen APU and may debut later this year, with an anticipated starting price of $499.