Xbox One controller to get 3.5mm headphone jack
Microsoft to finally let gamers plug in their own headphones on Xbox One
Good news for gaming audiophiles: Microsoft’s finally adding a 3.5mm headphone jack to its Xbox One controller. Until now, Xbox gamers have had to put up with sub-standard audio from headsets adapted to use Microsoft’s proprietary headset connection or purchase a special adapter to plug in regular headphones.
The leak comes from Microsoft’s own support site, which details a new controller layout with a 3.5mm jack on the bottom of the controller. The support page says the socket is “only available on controllers released after June 2015″.
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The move will bring Microsoft in step with the PlayStation 4, which offers a 3.5mm headphone jack on its wireless controllers. It’s also indicative of Microsoft’s intention to make the Xbox One a home entertainment hub, with Xbox Music and video-on-demand services being shared between the Xbox and Windows 10 devices. An update to the Xbox app on Windows 10, due before the launch of the operating system, will also allow Xbox owners to stream their games across the home network to Windows 10 PCs, laptops and tablets.
Microsoft is set to announce a refresh of the Xbox One hardware at next month’s E3 conference. The revised hardware is expected to offer support for 4K display output and possibly include an integrated TV tuner, turning the device into a PVR as well as a games console.
The price of the existing Xbox One hardware has dropped considerably over the past few months, with consoles now available for as little as £250, without the Kinect hardware.