Microsoft to Integrate Copilot AI into Xbox App and Games

As part of Microsoft's ongoing efforts to weave artificial intelligence into virtually every aspect of its services, the company is set to introduce its AI Copilot into the Xbox gaming ecosystem. This new feature, known as Copilot for Gaming, aims to enhance your gaming experience by offering advice, helping you track your progress, and performing various tasks to streamline your gameplay.

The rollout of Copilot for Gaming will begin with Xbox Insiders through the Xbox mobile app in the near future. For those unfamiliar, Copilot is Microsoft's AI chatbot, which replaced Cortana in 2023 and is already integrated into Windows. The gaming-specific version of Copilot will launch with several features. You'll be able to command it to install games on your Xbox (a task currently achievable with a single button press), and inquire about your play history, achievements, game library, or even get recommendations for your next gaming session. Additionally, you can interact with Copilot directly on the Xbox app during gameplay, receiving responses in a manner similar to how it functions on Windows.

One of the most highlighted use-cases at launch is Copilot's role as a gaming assistant. Currently, you can ask Copilot on PC for tips on beating bosses or solving puzzles, and it will pull answers from Bing, referencing various online guides, websites, wikis, and forums. Soon, this functionality will extend to the Xbox app, allowing you to seek assistance during gameplay.

Microsoft emphasizes its goal for Copilot for Gaming to provide the most accurate game knowledge. They are collaborating with game studios to ensure the information provided reflects the studios' vision, and Copilot will direct players back to the original source of the information.

Microsoft's ambitions for Copilot don't stop at the initial features. In a press briefing, spokespeople discussed potential future enhancements, including serving as a walkthrough assistant to explain game mechanics, remembering item locations within games, and suggesting new items to find. They also considered its use in competitive games, where it could offer real-time strategy suggestions and tips to counter opponents or explain gameplay outcomes. While these were presented as concepts, Microsoft is clearly committed to integrating Copilot deeply into the Xbox gaming experience. They have confirmed plans to collaborate not only with first-party studios but also with third-party developers to integrate Copilot into their games.

Regarding user privacy, Microsoft has stated that Xbox Insiders can opt out of using Copilot during the preview phase. However, the possibility of it becoming mandatory in the future was left open. A spokesperson clarified that during the mobile preview, players will have control over how and when they interact with Copilot for Gaming, including access to conversation history and the actions it performs on their behalf. Microsoft promises transparency about data collection, its usage, and the choices players have regarding their personal data.

Furthermore, IGN has learned that Copilot's utility extends beyond player-focused applications. Microsoft will discuss plans for its use by developers at the Game Developers Conference next week, indicating a broader scope for this AI tool in the gaming industry.