Many homes already have a voice assistant to control smart home devices. Alexa, Google Assistant or Siri have been around for a long time, and over the years they have improved considerably, in addition to having increased compatibility with more devices. In this article we will show you how to use these wizards on our favorite consoles.
Video game consoles are no longer just for playing games. For a long time it has been possible to play streaming content, or download applications, just like any TV box or Smart TV. Another option that we have in our hands is that of link an intelligent voice assistant to our console so we can control it as we please. The mode differs on each console, although we have already warned you that for the moment, it is on Xbox where the most complete compatibility is offered.
Set up Alexa and the Google Assistant on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
For some time it has been possible to control our Xbox consoles through external devices. In this way, if we have a speaker or mobile phone with Alexa or the Google Assistant, it will be possible to perform different functions through voice commands. We also have the option to turn the console off or on just by saying it.
Gone are the days of Kinect, a device ahead of its time that did not fully materialize on Xbox consoles. However, the voice commands that this device had are also accessible through a smart speaker or phone with these built-in assistants.
To activate the use of voice assistants on Xbox consoles we have to go to the section on ‘Setting’ and in ‘General’, select the ‘Power mode and power’ tab. Here we opt for the ‘Instant On’ in the option of ‘power mode’. This will help us to obtain a faster startup of the console and to be able to control it also from the mobile phone or smart speaker.
Once this step is done, in the same configuration panel we are going to ‘Devices and connections’ and select the section ‘Digital assistants’. Here we select the option ‘Enable digital assistants’and once this is done, we must follow the steps indicated on the screen to link the console with a device with Alexa or the Google Assistant.
In Alexa’s case, Amazon has a specific skill for the assistant with the name of ‘Xbox’. This Skill will allow us to control the console through voice commands, either to turn it on, or even to run a specific game, among other options. As for the link through the Google Assistant, you just have to go to the link that appears on the screen and follow the steps.
Set up a voice assistant on PlayStation 4 and 5 consoles
In the case of PlayStation consoles it is somewhat more complicated, since do not have direct compatibility with voice assistants. However, if we want to at least turn the device on and off with the voice, we will have to activate the options of HDMI-CEC from the console. However, we must have a television compatible with the control of connected sources through an intelligent voice assistant.
Another option that we have in our hands is that of purchase a smart plug or external hub to control any device that is connected to the home power line. If we make use of one of these hubs, through a mobile device and the application of the Hub brand in question, we can edit the voice commands to perform various functions.
Finally, it is worth mentioning that Sony recently launched an independent voice assistant for PlayStation 5 consoles. If we have the latest update for this console, we will be able to perform certain tasks with its internal assistant using the “Hey, PlayStation” command.
Control a Nintendo Switch through a voice assistant
For the Nintendo console it happens exactly the same as for PlayStation. Without direct compatibility with intelligent voice assistants, we will have to opt for external measures to, at least, turn on the console through our voice. In this way, it will be necessary to have a smart plug or Hub to control this console through Alexa or another assistant.
As a warning, if our TV is compatible with HDMI CEC, just by pressing the power button on our Nintendo Switch, we will also turn on the TV automatically, with the console source selected. This obviously falls short of the possibilities we would have if support for wizards were complete, but at the moment it is not possible to do more.