Xbox One Controller Compatible With Samsung Gear VR
By John Jacques 26 September 2016
Microsoft announces that the Samsung Gear VR will support the new Xbox One controllers via bluetooth, a feature coming soon to Minecraft: Gear VR Edition.
Microsoft had previously stated that the company would be expanding support to third parties in regards to the new Xbox One controllers, and this week MineCon has played host to that promise coming to fruition. As events in MineCon unfolded this weekend, Microsoft has confirmed that the new Xbox One controllers will work with the Samsung Gear VR, a coexistence long-rumored due to Microsoft’s partnership with Oculus.
In regards to the new controller itself, Microsoft had stated earlier that the new Xbox One controllers featured Bluetooth support, and could connect to certain PCs without the use of a dongle. This weekend’s Samsung Gear VR compatibility announcement marks the first major foray into third-party support utilizing this functionality, and an official Xbox release indicated that more announcements would be flowing forth sooner rather than later:
“We’re working hard to make the Xbox Wireless Controller compatible with all controller-supported Gear VR games and future games, too.”
The first game to support the new device functionality will be none other than Minecraft: Gear VR Edition, which isn’t all too surprising given where the announcement took place. Gamers currently attending the California-based convention have been able to use the new controllers to play Minecraft: Gear VR edition all weekend, and everyone around the globe who owns a Gear VR headset will be able to test out the Xbox One controller functionality for themselves when the Boss Update releases this October for the Pocket, Windows 10, and Gear VR editions of the game.
A post on the official Xbox website also confirmed that controller support for games like Herobound, Spirit Champion, Omega Agent, and End Space would be arriving within the next few months.
Samsung Gear VR aside, Microsoft also recently made good on its promise to bring Minecraft to the Oculus Rift, with support for the VR headset arriving in a free update for Minecraft: Windows 10 Edition. With both Oculus Rift and Samsung Gear VR now boasting additional compatibility for the new Xbox One controller, fans of the block-building game should be relatively happy with all of their platform options, especially considering that the PC-based Frostburn update released this June. Even on the film side of things, the Minecraft movie finally got a release date this summer, a fact that almost seems overdue considering how much money the Angry Birds film raked in at the box office.
Will you be using an Xbox One controller with your Samsung Gear VR, Ranters?
Source: Xbox
