For players invested in cloud gaming, Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming service has its advantages and its drawbacks; while popular games such as Fortnite are playable from the cloud, their current reliance on controllers is sure to frustrate mouse and keyboard traditionalists. While players wait for Microsoft to take this next step and patch in mouse and keyboard support for Xbox Cloud Gaming, those looking to play Fortnite using mouse and keyboard via cloud streaming have to rely on third-party browser add-ons. For those unwilling to wait and see if the start of a new Fortnite season will also mark the debut of mouse and keyboard on xCloud, third-party browser add-ons appear to be the only way forward.

Cloud gaming has grown in popularity and has quickly proven a boon for players who have high-speed internet connections but might not own the latest top-end console and PC hardware. The Xbox Cloud Gaming service can be used to play certain games via the cloud using Xbox consoles, PCs and a whole range of Apple and Android mobile devices, including some newer iPhones and iPads. Xbox Game Pass has proven extremely popular and with the cloud gaming service, Microsoft is looking to broaden access to Game Pass to people outside the traditional PC and console gaming spaces.

Related: PlayStation Allegedly Paying To Block Games From Xbox Game Pass

Fortnite has also crossed outside the video gaming space, with musicians and celebrities making Fortnite appearances and holding concerts, while movie and TV studios and streaming giants have all lined up to collaborate with Epic on crossover content. Capitalizing on its popularity, Epic seems intent on bringing Fortnite to every platform out there, including Xbox Cloud Gaming, where it’s available for free on iOS, Android, and Windows PC. Typically, using Xbox Cloud Gaming requires a subscription to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, but Fortnite appears to be an exception. However, getting keyboard and mouse support is a little tricky.

How To Play Fortnite With Keyboard And Mouse On Xbox Cloud Gaming

At the moment, Fortnite is available on Xbox Cloud Gaming only via supported web browsers; dedicated Xbox Cloud Gaming apps on mobile platforms and the Xbox app on Windows won’t work. According to Microsoft, supported web browsers include Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome on Windows, and Safari on iOS devices, so there’s no completing Fortnite x Dragon Ball quests on Firefox or Opera.

Using a supported web browser, players can proceed to Fortnite’s Xbox page and start the game there. For mouse and keyboard support, players need to use the Keyboard & Mouse for Xbox xCloud third-party browser extension. Once this extension is installed, players will be prompted to activate keyboard and mouse support when their browser is streaming Fortnite.

As seen in Microsoft's video above, however, Xbox Cloud Gaming will eventually receive mouse and keyboard support, so players might soon be completing Fortnite’s many quests via cloud streaming with official support for mouse and keyboard setups.

However, diehard cloud gaming fans who love a mouse and keyboard setup and don’t mind making several tweaks to key bindings can still use this extension in the meantime.

Source: Microsoft, Keyboard & Mouse for Xbox xCloud