Microsoft to Integrate Copilot AI into Xbox App and Games

Microsoft is pushing the boundaries of AI integration with the introduction of its AI Copilot into the Xbox gaming experience. This innovative feature, designed to enhance your gaming sessions, is set to be tested by Xbox Insiders through the Xbox mobile app in the near future. Copilot, which replaced Cortana in 2023 and is already embedded in Windows, will bring a range of functionalities to Xbox users.

Upon launch, Copilot for gaming will enable you to install games on your Xbox with simple voice commands, a task that can currently be done with a single button press on the app. Additionally, it will offer insights into your play history, achievements, and game library, and even suggest what to play next based on your preferences. During gameplay, you'll have the convenience of asking Copilot questions directly through the Xbox app, receiving answers in a manner similar to how it responds on Windows.

Microsoft proof of concept image of Copilot for gaming in action.

One of the key features Microsoft is emphasizing at launch is Copilot's role as a gaming assistant. You'll be able to ask it for help on beating bosses, solving puzzles, and more, with Copilot sourcing accurate information from Bing, drawing from various online guides, websites, wikis, and forums. Microsoft is collaborating with game studios to ensure the information provided aligns with their vision and directs players to the original sources.

Microsoft's vision for Copilot doesn't stop there. In future updates, the company is considering expanding its capabilities. Ideas being explored include using Copilot as a walkthrough assistant to explain game mechanics, help locate items within games, or offer real-time strategy suggestions in competitive play. These are preliminary concepts, but they reflect Microsoft's commitment to deeply integrating Copilot into the Xbox gaming ecosystem. The company also plans to extend Copilot's integration to games from both first-party and third-party studios.

Microsoft proof of concept image of Copilot gaming in action.

Regarding user privacy and control, Xbox Insiders can opt out of the Copilot preview on mobile, deciding how and when they interact with the AI, whether it accesses their conversation history, and what actions it performs on their behalf. Microsoft has emphasized transparency about data collection, usage, and user choices regarding personal data. However, the possibility of making Copilot mandatory in the future has not been ruled out.

Beyond player-focused applications, Microsoft will discuss plans for developer use of Copilot at the Game Developers Conference, indicating a broader scope for this AI tool in the gaming industry.