We have known about a new Xbox One Elite Controller for a while now. It was originally leaked earlier this year, and then confirmed by several independent reports. However, what has been unclear is exactly what the feature set of this new controller might entail. The Elite Controller, when it first launched for a whopping $150 a few years ago, was already pretty full featured- how, exactly, do you build on that?

The answer is that you literally build on it. Unlike the Elite Controller, which pioneered several evolutions upon its launch, it looks like the Elite Controller v2, codenamed Spider according to a report on Windows Central, will mostly be content to iterate on the original controller- this includes a USB-C charging port, as well as a charging dock with an Apple MagSafe like locking mechanism. The controller will also apparently add tension control for the joysticks, which should let you configure the resistance you meet when you push the analog stick. There will also now be a three stage trigger lock, as opposed to just the two the original controller had. It is also safe to assume, though this, at least, the report itself does not confirm, that it will support Bluetooth connectivity on PC (which the original Elite controller does not).

All in all, it seems like a worthy evolution of the original- now, we just hope it is built a bit better than that one was. While it was a premium controller, and more or less worth its rather shocking asking price, it was also prone to, well, breaking pretty soon. We can only hope this new one won’t be as brittle.

Rumors broke out recently, leaking details about an alleged planned follow up by Microsoft to the Xbox One Elite controller, the high end premium controller option for the Xbox One that they launched to surprising success a few years ago. While we liked most of what we read, it seems that Xbox fans in particular took issue with one of the details.

Specifically, the rumors noted that the controller would have a standard rechargeable battery- but one that would not be removable by the user. While this is common on PlayStation and Nintendo, who have both utilized non removable batteries for a while now, Xbox has always given the option to swap out batteries to the user- so this would be a change from the usual for Xbox players.

Now, responding to these concerns, Xbox’s Mark Ybarra said on Twitter that these rumors should be treated as just that, rumors, and that people shouldn’t necessarily believe them. Obviously, it’s not an explicit confirmation, but that makes sense, since the controller itself isn’t officially announced yet.

https://twitter.com/XboxQwik/status/953494799121723392

Microsoft’s Xbox One Elite Controller is arguably the greatest controller ever made, with a great ergonomic shape, premium quality finish, and multiple, modular input control options for the player; and now, they may be gearing up to introduce a successor for it to the market.

A leak on the popular Chinese website Baidu (via the forum Resetera) has revealed details about the new controller; apparently, it will have a MagSafe style magnetic port, will use USB-C, have rechargeable batteries, 3-level hair locks, 3-Profile switch, Bluetooth for Windows 10, and longer key travel for paddles. We also got some images of this alleged new controller, which you can see for yourself below.

It sounds like the kind of upgrade the Elite Controller deserves, and if this is real, I imagine Microsoft will announce this some time by E3- although I also wonder how much this will end up costing. The original Elite Controller was not cheap.

But I am sure that even as you repeated the statement to yourself in incredulity, or probably as you read the preceding paragraph, it might have begun to occur to you- the Xbox One Elite Controller may actually be the greatest barometer we have for the long term success of the Xbox One X.

The Xbox One Elite Controller, when it was first revealed, was pitched as a truly impressive, high end piece of kit for the true gaming enthusiast. It looked fantastic, and it looked like Microsoft had managed to make yet another great controller- until the price was announced to be a ridiculous $150.

"The Xbox One Elite Controller sold beyond expectations, and continues to to this day, in spite of its price."

$150 for a game controller: who would spend that kind of money? For a bit above $150, you could get yourself three new games, more used ones, three regular controllers, three years of online play, a brand new Nintendo 3DS, a brand new PS Vita, or even a used Wii U- and this is just sticking to games. Why in the world would anyone spend that kind of money on a controller? The Xbox One Elite Controller looked great, yes- but $150 great?

Apparently, it was $150 great, because it went on to be a great success, exceeding even Microsoft’s expectations. Microsoft, perhaps sensibly, had not produced many units of the thing, presumably expecting it to not sell all that much owing to its price- but it ended up selling out, with there being so much demand for it that it was backordered for months. The Xbox One Elite Controller sold beyond expectations, and continues to to this day, in spite of its price.

This brings us to the greatest advantage Xbox has- not its strong showing on the services front, not the hardware, not the marketing, and certainly not the exclusives. No, Xbox’s biggest advantage is its highly engaged fanbase.

User engagement matters- ultimately, a customer can end up purchasing expensive hardware, but there is no further revenue (or any revenue if that hardware was sold at a loss, like so much hardware often is) if the user does not keep spending money on it. That money comes from games, accessories, and services like online play. Engaged userbases usually lead to typically high subscription numbers, and huge attach ratios, while disengaged userbases often lead to disappointing attach rates and software sales even when the hardware has sold a lot.

"An engaged userbase means that userbase will buy games; subscribe to services; invest in the platform, no matter how expensive things might get. That’s how Microsoft sold a $150 controller- and that is how they might sell a $500 console as well."

Userbase engagement is something Microsoft has thrived at for years- they started with the original Xbox, with Halo 2 and the original Xbox Live paving the way, and creating a community, something that carried over to the Xbox 360, where Microsoft built an even bigger community of gamers. And even on the Xbox One, amidst all of their total lack of direction and coherence when it comes to their lineup of exclusives, they have managed to keep their community consistently engaged. People like to make fun of Major Nelson and Phil Spencer, and their constant interactions with their community, but it is just one way of keeping their userbase engaged- and that user engagement goes a long way, as the consistently high subscription numbers for Xbox services, and high sales for games and accessories, demonstrate.

An engaged userbase means that userbase will buy games; subscribe to services; invest in the platform, no matter how expensive things might get. That’s how Microsoft sold a $150 controller- and that is how they might sell a $500 console as well. Because even if their install base is small– and it is smaller than the PlayStation install base- it is an engaged install base.

This is an advantageous track to take for Microsoft as well- even as their hardware sales go down, they have managed to find a way to remain profitable and generate revenues, simply by monetizing their existing userbase more. Microsoft wins, because it manages to do well even when by traditional metrics, it is not. Xbox fans win, because they are getting more from the platform they love. And if they want to spend $150 on a controller, or $500 on a console, who are we to tell them otherwise? I have already discussed how, as great as the Xbox One X is, I don’t think it is worth $500- but value is an inherently personal and subjective thing. It may not be worth it to you, me, or anyone on the outside- but if an Xbox fan decides that the Xbox One X is worth $500 to them, who are we to tell them otherwise?

So here we are- the Xbox One X is already known to be doing well in terms of pre-orders, but questions about its long term viability exist and remain. I don’t know how much the Xbox One X might do going forward- but I do know that there is precedence for even a pricey, niche piece of high end Xbox hardware to end up doing unexpectedly well.

The Xbox One X may end up doing that, too.

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to GamingBolt as an organization.

Microsoft and Nintendo both believe in controller options for players- Microsoft offer the standard Xbox One controller, as well as the Xbox One Elite controller, a high end, modular controller unlike any on the market. Nintendo, meanwhile, sell multiple variants of their controllers, to cover for all needs players may have.

Sony, however, usually ship one controller with their systems, and that’s that. And that’s not about to change any time soon, either, in spite of the success that Microsoft and Nintendo’s approach has seen. Speaking to The Verge, Sony’s Mark Cerny noted that Sony wish to keep a unified audience- and splintering that with multiple controller options doesn’t make much sense.

“We want to keep PlayStation 4 as a single unified audience,” he said. “We need to be quite careful to the enhancements we add to the controller. But it’s not the sort of thing that’s going to create have’s and have nots.”

I can sort of see where he is coming from- but I don’t see why having an optional higher end controller would be an issue of any kind. Then again, this is the same Sony who won’t let their users have the option to play EA Access on their consoles, or the option to play against other systems online- so maybe it’s par for the course for them.

The Xbox One Elite controller was never meant to be a sound value proposition. It was like the S-class of controllers, offering a highly refined, premium experience at a price-point that completely underlined the premium bit. I mean, at $149, you could get yourself an entire handheld console like the 3DS, or several regular Xbox One controllers.

But that isn’t the point: Whether it’s the premium metal-infused finish, the wonderfully responsive analog sticks, or the absurdly awesome looking D-Pad, it’s all about delivering the very best controller experience, price no bar.

And this seems to have captured a lot of attention. Xbox boss Phil Spencer tweeted a picture of the one millionth Xbox One Elite Controller out of the production line. It’s even got 1,000,000 engraved towards the bottom. Considering that Xbox One sales are in the range of 20-30 million units, that’s an adoption rate of roughly 4-5 percent, which is not bad at all, considering how the Xbox One Elite controller is positioned as premium product. We’d totally get our hands on one of these if we weren’t angling for a Steam Controller.

Great milestone, our one millionth Xbox Elite controller. Thanks to all who have supported. pic.twitter.com/semvYxD5Yg

— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) June 28, 2016

Note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, and should not be attributed to, GamingBolt as an organization.

SSD Over HDD for Faster Load Times

Finding load times for some games to be a little unbearable? Try installing a solid state drive inside your PS4 or Xbox One over the default hard disk drive. You can also opt for a hybrid SSD to have the space of an HDD with the speed of an SSD for the games that matter. It should be noted that this won’t exactly guarantee amazing load times for every single game so go for this only if you have money to splurge.

The Xbox One Elite Controller has been far more successful than Microsoft ever anticipated it to be- the controller, which retails for $150, has been sold out for months, and players have taken to it like bees to honey. Microsoft has promised that it is making its best effort to ensure that the controller stock stays replenished- but the company has warned that its stock situation may not be resolved until March 2016.

“While the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller is sold out in many retailers around the world, we are working quickly to get more units in the hands of fans. We expect more units to arrive at retailers each week but supply may be limited through March 2016.”

Honestly, in this case, I can’t blame Microsoft- I would have expected a $150 controller to be a niche product myself. I wouldn’t have expected demand for it to skyrocket like this.

Hopefully the situation is resolved soon.

The Xbox One Elite Controller which launched on October 27th along with Halo 5: Guardians has been in pretty serious demand lately. According to Xbox division boss Phil Spencer, the company is working on getting more devices into stock.

Speaking on Twitter, Spencer said, “We are working to get more in stock. Sorry they’ve been so hard to find.”

The problem is that the demand for the $149.99 controller has surpassed Microsoft’s initial plans. Will you be able to pick up an Elite Controller before Christmas? Spencer said, “It’s tough, as I don’t want to over-promise. Demand has just exceeded our planning. If you find one and you want it, pick it up, sorry.”

The Xbox One Elite Controller has been out for roughly a month and promises a high degree of customization, including changeable analog pads and thumbsticks, button remapping (which is available for all Xbox One controllers with a recent update) and much more. What are your thoughts on it thus far? Let us know in the comments.

When Microsoft launched the highly modular and customizable Xbox One Elite Controller earlier this year, they probably didn’t expect it to take off- after all, the controller costs a whopping $150 (you can get a new 3DS and a game for that price, for context)- who would want to spend that kind of money on one?

Apparently, a lot of people, because it sold out almost instantly, and has remained hard to find ever since. Much like the Gamecube controller situation for the Wii U last year, around the launch of Super Smash Bros., the Xbox One Elite Controller has remained hard to find. But Microsoft is working on fixing that soon, says Phil Spencer on Twitter.

“We are working to get more in stock, sorry they’ve been so hard to find,” he said in response to a question, before adding, “I don’t want to overpromise. Demand has just exceeded our planning. If you find one and you want it, pick it up, sorry.”

I suppose I appreciate the honesty, if nothing else. I can hardly blame Microsoft too, but now that the demand for the new controller is clear, I really hope they step their game up. The last thing we want is another Amiibo situation.