Microsoft gives more insight into designing the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S controller
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
What you need to know
TheXbox Series XandXbox Series Sare just around the corner, and with it is coming the newly refreshed Xbox controller. Rather than redesign the controller that’s already widely considered to be the best game controller around, Microsoft chose to refine the existing formula, a strategy thatimpressed in our recent early hands-on. In a new blog post onMedium, we get to learn more about the design process for the new Xbox controller, which reconfirms things we already knew, but includes some cool insights from the Microsoft Design team.
Source: Microsoft Design
From the outside, there doesn’t appear to be a ton of changes made to the new Xbox controller, but initial impressions can be deceiving. The new Xbox controller has a ton of tiny refinements that rapidly add up, including added texture for grips, triggers, and bumpers, an improved hybrid D-pad design, a slightly more rounded bumpers that make the controller more comofortable and accessible for players with smaller hands. There’s also the newShare buttonthat aims to help players quickly and easily capture and share their gameplay.
Apparently, Microsoft went through literally hundreds of iterations for the new hybrid D-pad, testing out different designs, angles, depths, and more, which looks quite cool in the above images.
On the inside, the weight is thesameas the previous generation, but it’s beenshiftedto help the controller sit more firmly in your hands, which is immediately noticeable. Buttons and particularly triggers have been adjusted to be more tactile and satisfying. Overall, the changes made by Microsoft seem to be intelligent and purposeful, and make a nearly-perfect game controller even better for the next-gen, without resorting to possibly gimicky features that may or may not pan out.
If you’re interested in picking up an extra controller for your new console, or even if you want to use it on your existing Xbox One (yes, it is backwards compatible),find out where to buy the new controllers and accessories.
Refining the best
The Xbox One controller is arguably the best of all time, which is why Microsoft opted to evolve, rather than revolutionize its proven gamepad.
Xbox Series X/S
Main
Get the Windows Central Newsletter
All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.
Zachary Boddy (They / Them) is a Staff Writer for Windows Central, primarily focused on covering the latest news in tech and gaming, the best Xbox and PC games, and the most interesting Windows and Xbox hardware. They have been gaming and writing for most of their life starting with the original Xbox, and started out as a freelancer for Windows Central and its sister sites in 2019. Now a full-fledged Staff Writer, Zachary has expanded from only writing about all things Minecraft to covering practically everything on which Windows Central is an expert, especially when it comes to Microsoft. You can find Zachary on Twitter@BoddyZachary.
