Microsoft

Microsoft has a new adapter that lets Xbox One owners use their wireless controllers to play games on Windows 10 PCs and tablets.

Available starting October 20, the adapter will sell for $25. The USB-based adapter plugs into a Windows 10 computer or tablet and connects with the Xbox One wireless controller. From there, you can use the wireless controller to play PC games and Xbox games that are streamed to a Windows 10 device.

Sorry, Xbox 360 owners, the adapter supports only the Xbox One.

The adapter is a small but crucial piece of Microsoft's goal to unite PCs, tablets and the Xbox One video game console under the banner of Windows 10. Officially released on July 29, Windows 10 is Microsoft's attempt to draw as many users as possible to its operating system. One way of doing that is to bridge the PC and gaming worlds. The Xbox app for Windows 10 lets you stream games from the console to other devices, which may convince some Xbox One gamers to run the new OS on their PCs and tablets.

The Xbox One is also part of Microsoft's "universal apps" strategy, which lets developers create games and apps for one platform and then tweak them to run on another platform. For example, a developer could create a game once using core programming code and then easily modify it to run on a Windows 10 PC, a Windows 10 mobile device and on the Xbox One. The new adapter and the Xbox One controller will support games designed for Windows 10.

To generate interest among gamers, Microsoft has released several games optimized just for Windows 10, including Minecraft, Gigantic, Killer Instinct and Gears of War.

(Via SlashGear)