- Microsoft has released the first official accessories for the Xbox Series X and S.
- There’s a blue Xbox Wireless Controller, a rechargeable external battery, and a WiFi adapter for Windows 10.
- All will ship on November 10th with pre-orders starting September 22nd.
Microsoft is in the process of pre-ordering the Xbox Series X and Series S and is introducing the first official accessories to go with it – it’s all about wireless controllers.
As you might have guessed, the updated Xbox Wireless Controller will be available as a standalone item. You can get it in the same Carbon Black or Robot White as the new consoles, but you can also use a tri-color Carbon Blue version (see above) if you want a more colorful gamepad. They all use the same hybrid D-pad, textured back, and built-in button to share media from your Xbox, PC, or the new Xbox app. They cost the same $ 60 as the previous controllers that still work with the new systems.
Other Xbox Series X and S accessories focus on expanding the usefulness of the wireless controller. A $ 25 rechargeable battery + USB-C cable can fully charge the controller in under four hours and even charge the gamepad while you play. If you’re also playing on a PC, you can also expect Xbox controller bundles that include a Windows 10 WiFi adapter or USB-C cable, although Microsoft hasn’t announced prices at the time of this writing.
Pre-orders for the Xbox Series X and S accessories will begin next to the consoles at 8:00 a.m. Pacific time (11:00 a.m. East) on September 22nd. They should ship on November 10th.
Continue reading: PlayStation 5 versus Xbox Series X.
However, this isn’t the best news if you’re a fan of Microsoft’s custom controllers. The company is closing the Xbox Design Lab between October 14th and sometime in 2021 to “bring you some updates.” Microsoft hasn’t said what these changes will bring, but it’s safe to assume that attention will shift to X and S Series peripherals. For now, if you insist on the latest Xbox wireless controller, you have to settle for three colors.