Xbox One Remote Gives You Single-handed Media Control

By Jane McEntegart
published

The Xbox One finally has a dedicated media remote.

Microsoft last week announced a brand new official Xbox One stereo headset and adapter; it looks like the company is following it up with another accessory for Xbox users.

The company today revealed a media remote, which is due out in early March. For users of the Xbox 360's media remote, this is going to look somewhat familiar. Though you can control media on your Xbox One with the regular Xbox controller, those who prefer an actual remote have an option in the Media Remote, which has dedicated Back and OneGuide buttons.

The Xbox One Media Remote differs from its predecessor in that it has significantly fewer buttons. As a result, the whole thing is smaller, presenting itself in a shorter, stumpier package with glossy black finish to match the look of your brand new Xbox One.

While the addition of this remote isn't a huge deal for gamers, Microsoft is pitching the Xbox One as an all-in-one media center as well as a gaming machine, so it's important that the company caters to those using the Xbox in their house for things other than gaming. Up until now, those people have been forced to make do with the controller (ridiculous as it may seem, the old Media Remote doesn't work with the Xbox One). 

The remote will retail for $24.99 when it does go on sale. No word on international pricing just yet.

Read more: Xbox One Review: Unifying Your Living Room Experience

Follow Jane McEntegart @JaneMcEntegart. Follow us @tomshardware, on Facebook and on Google+.

Jane McEntegart
17 Comments Comment from the forums
  • DarkSable
    Right, that was... totally worth their time and energy.I'm still waiting for a driver that was supposed to come out early this year so that I can use the two xbone controllers that I bought for my PC.
    Reply
  • firefoxx04
    does it not support hdmi cec? pass
    Reply
  • rad666
    They should have bundled this with the XBone, left out the Kenect, and chaged $400 for the unit.
    Reply
  • hitman40
    Kind of ironic how the Xbox One is advertised as the all in one Media Center console when they haven't even released the media remote yet like Sony.
    Reply
  • computerguy72
    @rad666 and few or no software would support the Kinect. I get it the PS4 is for you but there are those of us who think the XB features are nice.
    Reply
  • canadianvice
    Right, that was... totally worth their time and energy.I'm still waiting for a driver that was supposed to come out early this year so that I can use the two xbone controllers that I bought for my PC.
    They've said not to expect anything for a while and there's a disclaimer right on the MS website - nobody to blame but yourself.
    Reply
  • p05esto
    $500 and they can't throw in a little remote control? They should immediately send this remote to every xbox one owner. What BS. Seriously.
    Reply
  • JOSHSKORN
    Yay, more features, adapters and controllers which SHOULD HAVE been available at launch date. Next thing you know, the second iteration of the XBOX One will feature better GPU, like it should've in the first place. I still love my XBOX One, though, even though I relate it to "The Little Engine That Could".
    Reply
  • rad666
    12731809 said:
    @rad666 and few or no software would support the Kinect. I get it the PS4 is for you but there are those of us who think the XB features are nice.

    I don't have, or want, a PoS4 (or XBone for that matter). I have a nice gaming PC that does and plays everything I want it to and then some.
    Reply
  • alextheblue
    Right, that was... totally worth their time and energy.I'm still waiting for a driver that was supposed to come out early this year so that I can use the two xbone controllers that I bought for my PC.
    Where'd they say it was going to be released first thing this year? It'll happen eventually but I don't remember them promising "by Feb" or anything. In the meantime, 360 wired controller works great on PC.
    Reply