A patent recently filed by Microsoft shows a potential design change to Xbox controllers that would include an LCD screen for pairing purposes. The screen would be in the center of the controller, above the d-pad, similar to the design of PlayStation controllers. It would be used to notify players when they are connected to a console or mobile device, allowing gamers to easily switch between console & cloud services.
Cloud gaming is becoming increasingly viable thanks for the growing Xbox Game Pass library. A change to Xbox controllers could be helpful as Microsoft looks evolve the Xbox ecosystem to make playing games easier.
The patent filed by Microsoft shows the LCD screen only as a means to tell players if they have successfully paired their Xbox controllers with a device. Of course, the screen could also be used for other purposes, perhaps similar to how PlayStation controllers utilize the touchpad. The new design still incorporates the Xbox button, along with the traditional pause & menu buttons, all of which have been moved down between the control sticks. The screen will be small, incorporated into the controller without adding to the traditional frame.
This is hardly the first time that Microsoft has changed the Xbox controller. It’s received an upgrade with every console, & the Elite Controller Series 2 has given players more control over their gaming experience. The interesting thing about the screen is that it allows the Xbox Team to effectively display whatever they want, meaning that the controllers can be updated to work uniquely with different games. While Xbox doesn’t seem to have any immediate plans for the screen other than to give pairing notifications, players shouldn’t be surprised if future controllers include other features as well.
Of course, these new controllers likely won’t be coming to players for a while, if at all. The Xbox Team is currently focused on new releases for Xbox consoles, Xbox Game Pass development, & growing their cloud platform. But it is interesting to see that Microsoft is looking to bring some quality changes to the Xbox platform as play evolves. Until the new controllers are released, gamers will have to make do with their current Xbox accessories, but that shouldn’t be a problem. Xbox has worked to better its controllers over the years &, while it will be interesting to see future additions to the ecosystem, it cannot be denied that the current hardware is more than adequate.
