Xbox’s Elite 3 controller has leaked ahead of its summer showcase event. Earlier today, Xbox’s Cloud Gaming controller leaked online, showing a compact version of a typical Xbox controller designed for those who want to stream their games to a TV, computer, or mobile device. It’s a cool bit of gear that will likely be sold at a cheaper price than a regular controller, making gaming more accessible and affordable to those without a console. However, Xbox is still catering to its hardcore, premium fans as well.
A new leak from Technoblog reveals the look of the brand new Xbox Elite 3 controller. The Xbox Elite 3 has a sleek, all-black appearance with a few bits of silver on the D-pad and analog sticks. The most notable change from the previous version are the two scroll wheels at the bottom of the controller, right next to the mic jack. Some have speculated that these scroll wheels may add extra inputs to your controller, possibly for games that benefit from mouse controls. However, they may be volume knobs. Maybe they’ll allow you to freely and easily balance game and chat audio, or something along those lines. If they were for gameplay, they’re in a bit of an awkward position that wouldn’t make them terribly convenient for frequent use.
Xbox Elite 3 controller leaked pic.twitter.com/4sMEpQm9Sd
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Beyond that, the Elite 3 will also reportedly sport a removable chargable battery and a new pair button that allows you to switch between local play and cloud mode. The latter allows for lower-latency, making for a more seamless and smooth experience when playing cloud games.
The Elite series of controllers are for hardcore gamers who like to fine tune and customize their controllers with adjustable buttons and triggers, allowing for more control and precision over how you play your games. They’ve been well received by fans, but it has been a while since we’ve seen a new one, as the Elite Series 2 was released in 2019. It’s unclear if there are any other big, notable features in the Elite 3, but it wouldn’t be surprising if we hear more details about this in the near future.
Xbox’s summer showcase is being held in June and will feature new looks at games like Gears of War: E-Day. It’ll also be a chance for Xbox’s new CEO, Asha Sharma, to define what the future of the brand looks like under her leadership. Introducing new hardware, even if it was greenlit under previous leadership, would be a major step in the right direction. Sharma is making careful and calculated decisions to help shape the future of Xbox, and support for enthusiast hardware would likely give her brownie points with fans.
Cade Onder is a freelancer for IGN’s news team. He covers all things entertainment, including gaming, film, and more. You can find him on Twitter @Cade_Onder.
