Microsoft is launching a new Xbox Wireless Headset next month that will work with Xbox One and Xbox Series X / S consoles, PCs and mobile devices via Bluetooth.
The gaming headset will use rotating ear cup dials which let you adjust volume and the game / chat balance on each side, similar to that of the Surface Headphones.
Microsoft announced the device in a blog post that promises it will boast "best-in-class audio and chat performance".
When the PlayStation 5 launched in 2020, Sony released a Pulse 3D headset to go with it, while third-party brands like Turtle Beach and Astro also have headsets that work with PlayStation and Xbox consoles.
But the Xbox Wireless Headset is Microsoft's first stab at their own gaming headset in some years and appears to be a more premium offering than the products they've released before.
"The headset supports industry-leading spatial sound technologies including Windows Sonic, Dolby Atmos, and DTS Headphone: X for realism and audio precision that fully surrounds you," says Xbox in the blog post.
Releasing in New Zealand on March 16 with a launch price of NZ$169.95 makes the device one of the more affordable headsets to offer such spatial technologies, however it doesn't feature active noise-cancellation (ANC) or head-tracking technology.
The Xbox Wireless Headset will feature dual beamforming microphones and voice isolation to help isolate background noise and deliver clearer chat audio.
It'll also feature multi-device pairing, so users can have it connected to their mobile at the same time as their Xbox, allowing them to listen to audio or calls from their phone while they game.
Microsoft says the battery will last for up to 15 hours per full charge and take about three hours to fully charge via its USB-C connection.
Pre-orders for the headset opened today.
