Microsoft, Byowave, and 8BitDo team up to create new ‘Designed for Xbox’ accessibility controllers
Some are available now
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Microsofthas announced a new range of ‘Designed for Xbox’ accessibility controllers at Gamescom 2024. One has been created in-house, while others come from manufacturers Byowave and 8BitDo.
First up is the Xbox Adaptive Joystick. Launching in ‘early 2025’ and being sold exclusively through the Microsoft Store for $29.99 (around £24.99), this will be an entry-level wired joystick “designed to meet the needs of players with limited mobility as a companion for theXbox Adaptive Controllerand other Xbox controllers, including theXbox Wireless ControllerorXbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2,” according to a Microsoft press release.
Next up is Byowave’s ‘Designed for Xbox’Proteus Controller. Available to buy now from Byowave’s website, this is a highly modular controller that allows players to snap together individual, sphere-like pieces to tailor a gaming experience to their needs and preferences. Some examples include stacked vertically to resemble a flight stick or as a 2x2 layout with sticks and modules facing outwards. At $299 / £249 it certainly doesn’t come cheap, though.
Lastly is 8BitDo’s contribution: the 8BitDo Lite SE 2.4G Wireless Controller for Xbox. 8BitDo regularly features in our guides to thebest Xbox controllersandbest PC controllers, and it’s no surprise here that the brand’s new accessibility pad has low-resistance face buttons, Hall effect thumbsticks, and a symmetrical layout for greater ease of use. It’s also compatible with the Xbox Adaptive Controller and is purchasable now for $59.99 / £54.99 from8BitDo’s website.
Microsoft is also expanding its Xbox Design Lab service with3D printable files for adaptive thumbsticks toppers. Microsoft is providing this service at no extra cost, and six thumbstick designs are available to suit a variety of playstyles and preferences.
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Rhys is TRG’s Hardware Editor, and has been part of the TechRadar team for more than two years. Particularly passionate about high-quality third-party controllers and headsets, as well as the latest and greatest in fight sticks and VR, Rhys strives to provide easy-to-read, informative coverage on gaming hardware of all kinds. As for the games themselves, Rhys is especially keen on fighting and racing games, as well as soulslikes and RPGs.
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