New Xbox Elite controller leaks, shows a few improvements

This week several images of Microsoft’s second-gen Xbox Elite Wireless controller leaked online and based on what was shown we could be seeing some impressive upgrades.

The first Xbox Elite Wireless controller, introduced by Microsoft at E3 in 2015, featured four interchangeable paddles at the rear, hair trigger locks, remappable buttons, and completely swappable components. This has been the first choice for Xbox One and PC gamers (with money) around the world since then.

Now we (and the whole internet) have had a look at the new controller that was posted on Chinese site Baidu. The post consisted of an image of the controller in a carry-bag and detail shots of the thumbsticks (below). The anonymous poster claimed that the new version will include a USB-C port for charging, Bluetooth support for Windows 10, three-level hair trigger locks, longer key travel for the paddles, and a three-profile switch.

A Reddit thread was created not long after, and this got the community talking. Another anonymous user posted an image of the whole controller, and it has since been verified by a source at The Verge that this is a genuine image. It shows new grip sections which could sort out the Elite controllers’ grips wearing down over time, a problem that existed in the first-gen peripheral.

In December 2017, Microsoft filed a patent for an adjustable lock design for the thumbsticks. The leaked images match the patent’s exact design which also includes three LED’s that indicate battery life.

No one is quite sure when the new controller is due to drop, but as we know Microsoft loves making huge announcements at their E3 conferences. We’ll likely see this controller later this year at the conference. Holding thumb(sticks).

Source: The Verge