Hardware enthusiasts should get ready, as it seems Xbox might be about to announce the Elite Series 3 controller, with new images leaking online ahead of June’s showcase. Fan speculation about an Xbox Elite Series 3 controller has been ongoing since last year when various reports claimed the company was prototyping a variety of new controllers.
The first iteration of the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller was released in 2015, marketed as an elite controller for elite gamers. Featuring various improvements on the already highly esteemed Xbox One Core Controller, the Elite Series added rear paddle buttons, a swappable D-pad, and interchangeable analog sticks, essentially creating an official version of controller mods that hardcore gamers had been doing since the Xbox 360. Just a few years after the Series 1 launched, Microsoft launched the Xbox Elite Series 2, refining the original Elite controller with adjustable hair triggers, tension locks for the thumbsticks, and Bluetooth connectivity. Since then, the Elite 2 has been the flagship controller for Xbox; however, rumors began to stir in 2025 that Microsoft was working on new controllers and hardware for the Xbox Series X and beyond.
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Xbox Elite Series 3 Controller Leaks Online with New Buttons
With Xbox’s big games showcase only weeks away, new images and documentation have surfaced from Brazil’s Anatel regulator, giving fans a 360-degree look at the new Elite Series 3 controller and details on what some of its new buttons do. The images obtained by Tecnoblog show a more refined version of the Elite series line, featuring rounder edges and a more “bubble-like” aesthetic compared to the harsher, sharper design of previous models. This leaked model of the Xbox Elite 3 also has two scroll wheel buttons at the bottom and appears to feature a removable battery, with documentation reported by Tecnoblog listing it as a 1,528 mAh battery, down from the Elite 2’s 2,050 mAh capacity. Additionally, fans will notice a supplementary button on the controller’s underside, which the documentation shows is used to switch connections from a local console to the Cloud.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)
As soon as these images hit the internet, fans on Reddit and X began to speculate about quality control for the Xbox Elite Series 3 Controller, since the Elite Series line hasn’t had the best track record for longevity. Various complaints about the rubber grips peeling off on the Series 2, stick drift, shoulder button issues, and instances where the controller practically explodes if it hits the floor have been the foremost things that fans want to see fixed in an Xbox Elite Series 3 Controller. What’s more, fans have said they would like to see gyro aiming and DualSense-like haptic feedback in a controller of this caliber in 2026. It’s worth noting that this could very well be a prototype model or fake, and nothing is confirmed until Xbox reveals a new controller, potentially at the Xbox Games Showcase in June, if at all.
The Xbox Elite Series of controllers used to occupy a pretty niche space for hardcore gamers when it launched in 2015, and it still comes with a hefty $199.99 USD price tag if fans want an Elite 2 with all the accessories. Since then, however, companies like Sony and Valve have released their own versions of a “Pro” controller, namely Sony’s DualSense Edge for the PlayStation 5 and Valve’s newly refreshed Steam Controller. With prices rising and the controller market only getting more competitive, it will be interesting to see what features Xbox has in store for the Elite Series 3 Controller that haven’t been detailed in these leaks.
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It appears that Xbox could have a pretty packed showcase coming up in June, featuring some new accessories if these leaks are anything to go by. The Xbox Games Showcase 2026 is confirmed to feature a whole 30 minutes of Gears of War: E-Day, but fans should also expect updates on Playground Games’ Fable reboot and Halo Studios’ Halo: Campaign Evolved, which are slated to release this year. With these leaks now also out in the open, fans could reasonably expect to see the Xbox Elite Series 3 Controller in June, and hopefully get a look at the upcoming Project Helix, if Xbox is on the topic of new hardware this year.
