Amazon Alexa just got better on Xbox Series X - here’s what you need to know
Where’s Cortana?
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Seemingly out of nowhere,Amazonhas launched anXboxapp for itsAlexaAI voice assistant. If you own either an Xbox One, Xbox One S,Xbox One XorXbox Series X|Sconsole and anAmazonAlexa device, then you can make use of the Amazon Alexa Xbox app right now.
At first, this might seem a little strange, considering Cortana was the face (or voice) ofMicrosoft’s AI efforts on the Xbox platform in the past, as well as the Windowsoperating system. Cortana has since faded into the background, though, along with the ill-fatedKinect: Microsoft’s motion-sensing camera that was previously bundled in with all Xbox One purchases.
Microsoft is now sharing the floor with other (and arguably better) AI assistants on Xbox, includingGoogle Assistantand now Amazon Alexa.
With the Amazon Alexa Xbox app, users can access both Xbox and Alexa functions. For example, Alexa can be used in conjunction with the app to launch games, or as a means of viewing other Alexa-compatible smart devices on your TV, like theRing Video Doorbell.
Xbox gets smarter
It’s actually been possible to use an Alexa device with Xbox consoles for a while, but the functionality didn’t go both ways. Users could enable the feature through activating the Digital Assistants option via the Settings menu, where Alexa could then be used to launch games and apps on your Xbox.
However, both devices didn’t work in tandem until now. With the new Amazon Alexa Xbox app, Alexa functionality can now be accessed through your Xbox, in addition to being able to launch your Xbox games and apps through an Alexa device.
You might think Xbox sharing its platform with Alexa, a rival to its own Cortana AI voice assistant, is a strange move, but it’s actually not all that out of character. In the past, Microsoft and Xbox have both shown willingness to work in collaboration with other companies for the benefit of consumers.
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Perhaps the most famous example of this is when Xbox teamed up with both Nintendo andSonyto offer cross-play on a variety of games, chief among them beingMinecraftand Rocket League.
While Xbox’s Kinect device was polarizing at best, its voice-activated functionality was a novel and convenient feature for the time. At least now, with the Amazon Alexa Xbox app, gamers can make use of this voice functionality again, without the need for the sizable Kinect camera device, so long as they have an Amazon Alexa device in their homes ready to go.
Rhys is TRG’s Hardware Editor, and has been part of the TechRadar team for more than two years. Particularly passionate about high-quality third-party controllers and headsets, as well as the latest and greatest in fight sticks and VR, Rhys strives to provide easy-to-read, informative coverage on gaming hardware of all kinds. As for the games themselves, Rhys is especially keen on fighting and racing games, as well as soulslikes and RPGs.
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