Microsoft has finally fully opened the gates to digital voice assistants, allowing fair practice when it comes to which digital assistant you want to make use of. Microsoft products would normally limit you to using just their service (ie, Cortana). However, they have been working changing this so that their platforms are a lot more universal in function (smart).
Xbox has already added support for Amazon Alexa (along with their own Cortana) last year, and this move seals the deal with the ability to use Google Assistant as well. Now, the only thing missing is Siri, but you know Apple is never going to allow that to happen (so it doesn’t count).
At the moment, the new Xbox Skill is available as a (public) open beta, before it rolls out as an official feature of the Xbox One console. It will roll out officially sometime this fall.
How to sign up for the beta:
- Join their Google Group with the Google Account you intend to use (that you sign in to your Xbox with)
- Sign in to your Xbox console
- In the Google Home app for iOS or Android:
- Tap “+ Add”
- Tap “Set up device”
- Tap “Have something already set up?”
- Search for and select “[beta]Xbox”
- Sign in with the Microsoft account you use on Xbox
- Follow the instructions to link your Xbox and give it a device name
The new skill will allow you to use Google Assistant as you’d expect, but to also turn your console on or off, open games or apps, control streaming content, and more (ie, “Hey Google, play Gears 5 on Xbox)”.
Signing up for the beta allows you to be able to provide your feedback to developers and help shape the future of Google Assistant support.
