Microsoft gives more insight into designing the next-gen controller
The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S are 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 that impressed in our recent early hands-on. In a new blog post on Medium, 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.
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 the same as the previous generation, but it’s been shifted to 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.