While it has been seven years since the Xbox Elite Controller got its second iteration with Series 2, it looks like Microsoft isn’t quite done with the peripheral just yet. Pictures of a third generation of the Xbox Elite Controller have been spotted, courtesy of Technoblog. Pictures of the rumored controller indicate that it will keep the matte black color scheme, highlighted with silver around the D-pad and analogue sticks.
One of the biggest changes that seems to be coming with the Xbox Elite Controller Series 3 is the existence of scroll wheels along its bottom edge. While details about this addition are currently unknown, some have begun speculating that it might be a way for the controller to be usable for games that instead focus on mouse input, like strategy games. The battery in the new controller also seems to be removable and chargeable, and there also seems to be a switch that might let players change controller modes.
Aside from this, the Series 3 Elite Controller will seemingly see little change when it comes to its core layout, with Xbox’s iconic asymmetrical analogue stick placement still being visible. The Xbox Guide button has three buttons, which will likely be analogous to the existing Xbox controller in terms of functionality.
It is worth noting that the Xbox Elite Controller series is targeted towards “hardcore” gamers who tend to prefer the modularity and customizability that the controllers have typically offered. The Series 2, for instance, allowed users to switch out the analogue sticks and even the D-pad to different styles.
Interestingly, the alleged Xbox Elite Controller Series 3 isn’t the only Xbox peripheral to have been leaked. Technoblog has also posted pictures and details about a new Xbox controller dedicated to cloud gaming. The controller, sporting a more rectangular shape than its contemporaries, will include a rechargeable 500 mAh battery and can connect to Wi-Fi over 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. It will also be capable of Bluetooth connectivity, and players who would prefer a wired controller can make use of its USB-C port.
Along with this, it will also include all of the buttons that you might want on a controller, including bumpers, triggers, a D-pad, and a dedicated pairing button. This button will allow users to switch between a “Local” mode and a “Cloud” mode. Users will also need to make use of the Xbox mobile app to pair the controller when using Cloud mode.
Rumors of these new controllers had popped up last year, with references in xCloud files to hardware dubbed “sebile” and “actium” being discovered. The former seemingly referenced the cloud gaming controller, while the latter was believed to be a new Xbox Elite controller. At the time, the report also noted that these controllers would be compatible with Xbox’s next-generation console hardware and would also include enhanced haptics, similar to what we see in the PS5’s DualSense controller.
No details about how much these new controllers will cost, or even when they might be officially unveiled, have been revealed so far.
