Microsoft has announced that support for third-party webcams is on its way to Xbox One. While up until now, camera support has been limited to the in-house Kinect sensor, this latest announcement hugely expands the range of cameras supported by the console. Furthermore, the initial stages of this rollout begin today, with functionality now available for those enrolled in the Alpha Ring of the Xbox Insider Program.
Third-party webcam support allows a wide range of plug-and-play cameras to be used on the console, even if not initially designed with Xbox One in mind. However, while in its early stages, functionality is restricted to its Mixer live-streaming service and Skype video calls. When closer to a public release, other applications will assumedly be able to take advantage of these devices.
Third-party webcam support is also limited exclusively to video input on Xbox One, meaning an external microphone/headset will be required for voice recording. Microsoft claims this is to prevent devices without echo cancellation being used, assumedly in a move to maintain a level of quality across its services.
To get started with the feature as a member of the Alpha ring, simply restart your console and connect USB camera. After being detected, the camera should be ready for use through the Skype and Mixer apps.
For those outside of the Alpha ring, support is currently slated to roll out to a wider pool of Insiders in the "coming weeks."
