Microsoft has confirmed the Xbox One Media Remote will be launched globally in March.
Larry Hryb, aka Major Nelson or Microsoft’s Director of Programming for Xbox Live, officially announced the Xbox One Media Remote on his Major Nelson blog.
The Xbox One Media Remote was originally leaked through an Amazon Canada listing, but Microsoft has now made the little multimedia peripheral official.
“Releasing across Xbox One markets worldwide in early March, the Xbox One Media Remote lets you control video playback for Blu-ray movies and streaming video on Xbox One”, wrote Hryb.
Similar to the dedicated Xbox 360 Media Remote, the Xbox One version will allow users to control multimedia playback on their next-generation console without having to pick up the Wireless Controller.
It features dedicated back and OneGuide buttons - well mainly for the US users who actually have access to the Xbox One’s OneGuide TV program guide.
“This remote is designed to help you listen, watch and switch among experiences instantly - allowing you to rule your entertainment”.
Additionally, the Xbox One Media Remote lets you control the volume and power of your TV and other receivers using infrared.
The Media Remote will retail for $24.99 in the US, but will be available across the world. We expect it’ll retail for around the £25 mark in the UK too, rather than the £15 conversion price.
Microsoft confirmed that the Xbox 360 media remotes would not be compatible with the Xbox One when unveiling the new console back in May 2013.
The company maintained its view that the Xbox One Kinect and its voice commands would negate the need for such a multimedia controller, but it seems Microsoft is giving us a multimedia alternative nonetheless.
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