You can now control your Xbox One with Google Assistant

Today, Microsoft announced that you can now control your Xbox One console with Google Assistant. The feature is in beta, and you can sign up now.

The news comes after Microsoft announced in July that it's removing its own Cortana digital assistant from the console. Being that Amazon Alexa support had been added last year, the three digital assistants are more or less on equal ground. You need an external device to control your Xbox with a voice assistant, no matter which one you're using.

If you want to get started with Google Assistant, it's pretty easy. Here are the instructions:

1. Join our Google Group with the Google Account you intend to use
2. Sign into your Xbox
3. In the Google Home app for iOS or Android:
   1. Tap “+ Add”
   2. Tap “Set up device”
   3. Tap “Have something already set up?”
   4. Search for and select “[beta] Xbox”
4. Sign in with the Microsoft account you use on Xbox
5. Follow the instructions to link your Xbox and give it a device name

Microsoft has published the full list of commands that you can give the Google Assistant on Reddit. You can have it power on or off your console, launch a game, adjust volume, mute or un-mute, pause, play, take a screenshot, record a game clip, watch a TV channel, and more.

As always, Microsoft wants you to provide feedback on your experience.