It seems that Microsoft is changing up its Xbox controllers by removing the expansion port. Xbox controllers are generally considered some of the best controllers on the market. They’re often the controller of choice for PC gamers that don’t want to use a mouse and keyboard, and there’s a reason why their design hasn’t changed much these last two generations.
That doesn’t mean that Xbox hasn’t made some changes to the controller from one generation to the next. The Xbox Series X/S controllers are slightly smaller and more comfortable to hold than their Xbox One counterparts, and they also feature a revamped d-pad and handy Share button. Most Xbox fans likely assumed that the next controller revision would come with the next-generation console, codenamed Project Helix, but it seems Microsoft is already making a change ahead of time.
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Xbox Controllers Get Surprise Revision
With no prior announcement, it appears as though Microsoft may be phasing out the expansion port for Xbox controllers. This unexpected change was first spotted by Reddit user SpeedKomodo, who purchased the limited-edition Forza Horizon 6 Xbox controller. They noticed that the controller didn’t have the expansion port, and showed it next to their Starfield-themed Xbox controller for comparison.
BUY YOUR FORZA HORIZON 6 XBOX CONTROLLER RIGHT HERE!
Put the consoles in the correct order.
Put the consoles in the correct order.
Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)
Since it requires additional accessories, like a chat pad, it’s unlikely that the Xbox controller’s expansion port is ever used all that much anyway, but there will still be some that are sad to see it go, if that is indeed the case. It’s entirely possible that the Forza Horizon 6 Xbox controller is a special case and other newly-commissioned Xbox controllers will retain the expansion port. Microsoft hasn’t made any official announcements about removing the Xbox controller expansion port, so it will be interesting to see how future Xbox controllers look.
An Xbox controller overhaul will potentially be coming with the Project Helix console. Microsoft has confirmed that Project Helix is in development and will have access to PC storefronts like Steam, but otherwise details on the device are few and far between. Project Helix is expected to launch at some point in 2027, but again, nothing concrete has been announced just yet.
Thanks to ongoing global economic conditions and issues like the RAM crisis, it’s speculated that Project Helix will cost up to or more than $1,000. This would be an extremely controversial price point, to say the least, so it will be interesting to see what Microsoft ultimately lands on. Xbox fans should keep an eye out for more information in the months ahead.
As far as other Xbox controllers go, the Xbox Elite Series 3 has leaked, and the Sebile Xbox controller redesign has also leaked, with it believed to be adding features popularized by the PS5’s DualSense, like haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. Until Microsoft itself decides to reveal more about future Xbox controllers, though, fans should take any information about them with a grain of salt.
