Have you ever found yourself gaming on your Xbox and wished you could just say, "Alexa, start Destiny 2?" Well, you're in luck.

A few years back, Microsoft and Amazon partnered up so that users would be able to access Cortana on Alexa devices and Alexa on Cortana devices. Now, while that agreement is a little out of date, it still means that Microsoft's consoles have Alexa support.

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Microsoft

How to use Alexa to control your Xbox

The Xbox Skill for Alexa is now available in the US, as well as a few other territories, allowing you to use your voice to navigate and interact with Xbox. For example, if you have the Xbox skill enabled on your Echo, simply say, “Alexa, launch Forza Horizon 5,” and then it will automatically turn on your console, sign you in, and launch the game. Here’s how to get started...

To open Alexa, say, “Alexa, open Xbox”.

You can also do the following:

  1. Sign into the Xbox you want to control.
  2. Tap here, sign in with your Amazon Account.
  3. Tap Enable.
  4. Sign in with your Microsoft account to link the skill (here).
  5. Let Alexa discover your console.
  6. Follow the instructions to pair your console with Alexa.
  7. Now, try a command.

Which Alexa devices work with Xbox consoles?

The Xbox Skill works with Alexa devices, as well as Windows 10 PCs, Amazon Echos, Harman Kardon Invokes, or Sonos Ones. Microsoft said the Alexa app on iOS and Android will also support voice commands to control your Xbox console.

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Microsoft

Voice commands that work with Xbox consoles

With the new Xbox Skill, you can use voice commands to adjust volume, launch games and apps, start and stop broadcasts on Mixer, capture screenshots, and more. So, just say the name of your assistant, followed by one such command. Some examples:

  • Alexa, tell Xbox to open .
  • Alexa, tell Xbox to turn on.
  • Alexa, tell Xbox to start Sea of Thieves.
  • Alexa, tell Xbox to pause.
  • Alexa, tell Xbox to turn it up.
  • Alexa, tell Xbox to record that.
  • Alexa, tell Xbox to start a party.
  • Alexa, start [game name].
  • Alexa, pause.
  • Alexa, play.
  • Alexa, watch .
  • Alexa, turn on [device name].
  • Alexa, turn off [device name].
  • Alexa, volume up on [device name].
  • Alexa, volume down on [device name].
  • Alexa, mute [device name].

Visit the Xbox Insider Subreddit for more commands. You can also just say “Ask Xbox what can I say?” to learn about more commands.

Want to know more?

See Microsoft's blog post for more details, or check out its help page on the subject.