New Xbox Elite 3 controller spotted. Here’s the one thing it needs

There are, allegedly, two new official Xbox controllers headed down the pipeline from Microsoft. Regulator filings have revealed a smaller mobile controller that works over Wi-Fi as well as a revamped version of the much-loved Xbox Elite premium design. They’re interesting in and of themselves, but I don’t think I’m alone in saying they both need just one thing to make me consider buying.

Both controller models were spotted in the database of Anatel, the Brazilian equivalent of the US Federal Communications Commission, apparently getting wireless certification. This generally happens before a retail product release, though certification isn’t always a guarantee that a product will appear on shelves. Tecnoblog broke both stories.

The Xbox Elite Controller 3 is the more compelling option for most PC gamers. It looks mighty familiar, with a slightly revamped layout including a dish-style D-pad (the Elite’s D-pad is swappable) and two new scroll wheels on the bottom. I’m guessing those are for game and headset volume, though Tecnoblog speculates that they could be for flight simulator controls. The biggest change, aside from an apparent deletion of the LED profile indicator on the front, is that it’s using a swappable rechargeable battery instead of a semi-permanent one. That could be a big plus for gamers who like marathon sessions.

Controllers made for cloud streaming

The second controller is breaking new ground for Microsoft: a compact design that’s similar to a lot of third-party “mobile” controllers. (It looks like it’s about the same size as 8BitDo’s SNES-inspired SN30 designs.) Though it has the same button setup as a standard Xbox pad, it definitely seems like it would fit better in a bag or a (large) pocket. According to the documentation, it includes both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections via a Realtek wireless chip.

Combined with what looks like “local” and “cloud” icons on the top of the controller, the speculation is that this controller is designed to connect directly to Wi-Fi for low-latency play when streaming games on Xbox Game Pass. This would make it very similar in function to Google’s Wi-Fi controller for the defunct Stadia streaming service. (Incidentally, a phone holder for this design would be a natural addition!)

The Elite 3 likely also includes some kind of similar functionality since it’s being tested for Wi-Fi connection as well. Similar icons are shown in the Elite 3’s manual, with its “Cloud mode” feature spelled out. Players can switch between connection modes with the pairing button, similar to current Xbox controller designs that can switch between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz direct connections.

Stick it to stick drift

All of this is interesting from a procedural point of view. But as a long-time fan of the Elite design, I have only one real item on my wish list: thumbsticks that won’t break.

Stick drift, in which analog sticks become “stuck” in a non-neutral position and thus send movement inputs even when the player isn’t moving, has been a problem for decades. Every controller from the 2010s and earlier is susceptible to it to some degree, but the problem became infamous on the original Nintendo Switch—which is why the decision to leave out drift-resistant tech in the Switch 2 was a huge sour point on the otherwise well-received design.

Stick drift has been more or less “solved” for years. If a controller uses sticks with a no-contact magnetic sensor—either Hall effect or the newer, fancier TMR—they avoid the component wear that eventually causes stick drift. Hall effect sticks have become so popular that they’re a frequent mod for Steam Deck users, among others. The very expensive Xbox Elite 2 design doesn’t use it, which is one of its only downsides (although in Microsoft’s defense, the Elite 2 controller was released in 2019 before these features became commonplace).

Now that you can find Hall effect or TMR sticks on most new third-party controllers—even ones as cheap as $30—there’s absolutely no reason to leave them out of any new controller design. That goes double for the Elite 3. We don’t know if either of these designs has Hall effect or TMR sticks… because that’s not something a government wireless regulator cares about. Fair enough!

There’s no indication of when these designs will hit the market, or for how much. The Elite 2 Wireless costs $150 to $200 depending on how many extras you get, while the standard Xbox wireless controller with Bluetooth costs about $60 at most retailers. For context, the new Steam Controller, with its double touchpads and Hall effect sticks and triggers, is considered a little on the pricey side at $100.