Microsoft Unveils Xbox One Media Remote, An Even Easier Way to Control Your Content

Further encouraging the idea that the Xbox One is as much a media consumption device as it is a game-playing one, Microsoft has unveiled the first of potentially many accessories to come for the system: a remote.

The Xbox One Media Remote was unveiled this morning on the blog of Xbox Live coordinator Larry Hyrb (and on the company’s press site here), who showcased the device in its retail box through a Vine video. The remote will run you $24.99 and will launch in early March in both online and brick-and-mortar stores in “worldwide” markets.

It does what you probably expect it to do: control the playback of your disc-based or digital content like TV shows, movies, and more. If you hate controlling it with your voice via Kinect, then this is certainly the product for you.

The remote features dedicated “back” and “OneGuide” buttons, and can also control the power and volume of your television and receiver through coordination with Kinect. Additionally, all buttons conveniently glow in the dark.

For the target audience Microsoft is catering to with this device, that being TV and movie watchers, this comes as encouraging news that Microsoft still has plans to support the entertainment side of its device – not that it ever had plans to stop.

Additionally, the release of a remote for controlling media playback has been a major component of the Xbox brand since the release of the original Xbox back in 2001. The Xbox got one, the Xbox 360 got one (albeit with exponentially more buttons), and now the Xbox One has one.

But for some who come to the Xbox One for gaming, this announcement couldn’t be any less exciting. On the bright side, at least Titanfall is right around the corner. And on an even brighter side, it’s really, really good.