HardwareControllersMicrosoft has partnered with one of my favourite controller manufacturers to make an accessible controllerWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
HardwareControllersMicrosoft has partnered with one of my favourite controller manufacturers to make an accessible controllerWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: 8BitDo)
8BitDo originally caught my eye a few years ago thanks to its retro aesthetic and great battery life. However, its undeniable quality has kept me coming back to test out new products as they launch. TheC64-themed mechanical keyboardlooks excellent and theretro mechanical num padsare a cute oddity, whereas theUltimate Bluetooth controlleris a powerhouse with an excellent feel and great connectivity.
It seems I’m not the only one who is a fan of 8BitDo, as Microsoft has recently announced a unique partnership with the company, employing its talents in the new Lite SE Xbox controller. Entirely flat, with an included dongle for 2.4G wireless connectivity, it has two jacks at the top of the controller to plug in Super Buttons. These are big instantly programmable buttons which can be used to quickly access any controls you might otherwise struggle with.
TheXbox Adaptive Joystickis a new controller component launching in 2025. It’s essentially a small remote with a USB-C adapter at the bottom and six buttons, which can be plugged into an Xbox or PC directly. This Adaptive Joystick is quite similar to the PDP One-Handed Joystick (and, more obviously, a Nintendo Wii Nunchuk), that Microsoft dropped official support for back in 2022. To even find mention of PDP’s effort on the Microsoft website, you have toaccess an archive of it.
In anadvert announcing the Xbox Adaptive Joystick, the specific use of this controller is shown off, with a handful of users as an example. If you struggle to hold an Xbox Core controller, you can remap buttons and even pair the Adaptive Joystick with the Xbox Adaptive Controller from 2018. Alternatively, theXbox siteshows someone using the controller with their neck—custom 3D-printed thumb grips attached. All adaptive thumbstick toppers can be found in theXbox Design labright now.
Best chair for gaming: the top gaming chairs aroundBest gaming desk: the ultimate PC podiumsBest PC controller: sit back, relax, and get your game on
Best chair for gaming: the top gaming chairs aroundBest gaming desk: the ultimate PC podiumsBest PC controller: sit back, relax, and get your game on
Best chair for gaming: the top gaming chairs aroundBest gaming desk: the ultimate PC podiumsBest PC controller: sit back, relax, and get your game on
Best chair for gaming: the top gaming chairs aroundBest gaming desk: the ultimate PC podiumsBest PC controller: sit back, relax, and get your game on
Best chair for gaming: the top gaming chairs aroundBest gaming desk: the ultimate PC podiumsBest PC controller: sit back, relax, and get your game on
Best chair for gaming: the top gaming chairs aroundBest gaming desk: the ultimate PC podiumsBest PC controller: sit back, relax, and get your game on
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