New technology solutions to help you get the most out of your Xbox One

I have always been a big fan of the Xbox in all of its iterations. From the Original Xbox which brought me and my friends endless hours of Halo: Combat Evolved multiplayer action, to the Xbox One where I have been dropping titans with unmatched glee, now in Titanfall for over a year. The consoles might be great but there are also some great accessories out there which can certainly improve the experience and I got the info to help you do just that!

All of the accessories in this article are not needed to enjoy your Xbox One gaming experience but they are highly recommended. Keep in mind everything you need comes with the Xbox One to play the vast majority of the games available, however that being said it’s always good to be aware of what the game you are going to play requires, be it an internet connection or a certain amount of hard drive space for installation. Thankfully, all that info is always on the back of the game box.

Xbox One Headset Adaptor

One of the first accessories I highly recommend to anyone playing Xbox One is the official Xbox One Headset Adaptor. This simple adaptor is needed if you plan to use almost any headset aside from the few first party or other licensed headset available.. If you are like me however and have one of the amazing Astro Headsets, you absolutely need this device. It’s super straight forward and simply connects to the bottom of the controller. After a small controller firmware update, you will be ready to go. This device also offers volume, mute and balance between game volume versus chat volume controls, since some people like to shout or are constantly breathing on the mic ( I have been guilty of both of these at times). It’s super easy to adjust these settings mid-game without taking your hands off the controller. It’s also rather inexpensive, which is a great way to help you keep your last generation’s headset viable with your Xbox One for years to come!

Xbox One Media Remote 

Even though many of the menus throughout the Xbox One OS and other apps(such as Netflix, Youtube and the BluRay/DVD player) are easily navigated via the controller or gestures with the Kinect, these controls don’t always come naturally or the actual Xbox One Controller can be frustrating to those who are unfamiliar with them. The Xbox One Media Remote is a great accessory and offers very easy controls for anyone regardless of their familiarity with the Xbox One as a gaming console. The Xbox One Media Remote has a sleek and streamlined design, making it very familiar and comfortable to use. It also offers backlit buttons which make it great to see in the dark and it will also double as a remote for your TV as well.

Xbox One Play and Charge Kit

The Xbox One controller is hands down my favourite gaming controller as it is comfortable and easy to use. Being wireless though it does require AA batteries which can be drained pretty quick after some marathon gaming sessions. The last thing anyone wants is the controller disconnecting in the middle of an epic match of their favourite online shooter. Regular rechargeable batteries are great but you still have to switch out the battery pack when they die which can take precious seconds away from the action. That’s where the Xbox One Play and Charge Kit comes in. It comes with a specially built rechargeable battery back and a recharge cable which has a built in LED so you can see when your controller is re-charging and fully charged. The best part about the Xbox One Play and Charge Kit is that you can recharge the controller battery pack while you are playing games or while the console is in standby mode, which is great as the battery should be back to full charge in just under 4 hours.

Energizer Xbox One Controller Charging Station

If you are not the type to play endless hours in sleepless nights fighting back hordes of monsters and you still want to have a better option than replacing batteries every now and then, the Energizer Xbox One Controller Charging Station is great accessory to ensure your controller is always ready when you want to play. The Energizer Xbox One Controller Charging Station is especially great if you want to charge 2 controllers simultaneously as it comes with 2 battery packs and a charging stand. The charging stand itself is designed to complement the Xbox One’s look with a glossy black finish, chrome details and LEDs which indicate charging status.

Collective Minds Xbox One Media USB HUB & Hard Drive Enclosure

Now this last accessory is for those looking to not only get the most out of their Xbox One but are looking to go above and beyond. Collective Minds Xbox One Media USB HUB & Hard Drive Enclosure offers a great and easy way to not only beef up your Xbox Ones hard drive, it also offers three easy to access USB ports. The accessory itself does not come with a hard drive but offers a really simple way to to expand your Xbox Ones existing hard drive space by being able to add almost any 2.5-inch internal hard drive, such as an SSD drive, hybrid or standard drive. Not only is it easy to use it also offers a great look as its designed to seamlessly blend in with the existing Xbox One design.

Regardless of your stature as a gamer the Xbox One is a great console and offers a great gaming experience and with a few simple accessories you can make it one of the best gaming experiences to date. The list here is a great place to start as it offers some simple and very effective accessory upgrades, but be sure to keep your eyes on Best Buy’s E3 2015 page for any new accessories coming out!