New Xbox Adaptive Controller @Microsoft @Xbox @AbleGamers @AT_makers #Gaming

UPDATE: The Xbox Adaptive Controller is available today (September 4, 2018) from Microsoft Stores, Gamestop Online, and other outlets for $99 USD.

Exciting news from Microsoft today! After 3 years of work, Microsoft announced today (on Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD)) their Xbox Adaptive Controller. They state:

For gamers with limited mobility, finding controller solutions to fit their individual needs has been challenging. The solutions that exist today are often expensive, hard to find, or require significant technical skill to create. A number of individuals and organizations are creating custom solutions, but it has been often difficult for them to scale when most rigs need to be so personalized.

The controller features nineteen 3.5mm input jacks and two USB ports, enabling industry-standard switches and specialty joysticks. Existing gumball or light touch switches will work right out of the package, and it’s possible to plug-in a custom-made controller like the QuadStick. There are two large programmable buttons with very light resistance for those who have strength difficulties or can use their feet to push buttons. The controller also comes with three custom profiles to enable switching between your favorite games quickly and easily. It can work alongside a standard controller in “wingman” mode.

xbox adaptive controller

It’s exciting to see the collaboration. It was developed in partnership with organizations around the world, including the AbleGamers Charity, the Cerebral Palsy Foundation, Craig Hospital, SpecialEffect, and Warfighter Engaged. Microsoft also worked directly with gamers who have limited mobility to assist in the development.

With a price point of only US $99, the Microsoft Xbox Adaptive Controller is very affordable compared to existing commercial assistive technology.

Here at Adafruit, we are very supportive of Assistive Technology, both commercial or specialty built. See other posts on Assistive Technology on the Adafruit Blog.

Are you excited about this controller? Do you see multiple uses for it? Let us know: post in the comments below!


Adafruit publishes a wide range of writing and video content, including interviews and reporting on the maker market and the wider technology world. Our standards page is intended as a guide to best practices that Adafruit uses, as well as an outline of the ethical standards Adafruit aspires to. While Adafruit is not an independent journalistic institution, Adafruit strives to be a fair, informative, and positive voice within the community – check it out here: adafruit.com/editorialstandards

Join Adafruit on Mastodon

Adafruit is on Mastodon, join in! adafruit.com/mastodon

Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.

Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell is every Wednesday at 7pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the show’s live chat – we’ll post the link there.

Join us every Wednesday night at 8pm ET for Ask an Engineer!

Join over 36,000+ makers on Adafruit’s Discord channels and be part of the community! http://adafru.it/discord

CircuitPython – The easiest way to program microcontrollers – CircuitPython.org


Maker Business — “Packaging” chips in the US

Wearables — Enclosures help fight body humidity in costumes

Electronics — Transformers: More than meets the eye!

Python for Microcontrollers — Python on Microcontrollers Newsletter: Silicon Labs introduces CircuitPython support, and more! #CircuitPython #Python #micropython @ThePSF @Raspberry_Pi

Adafruit IoT Monthly — Guardian Robot, Weather-wise Umbrella Stand, and more!

Microsoft MakeCode — MakeCode Thank You!

EYE on NPI — Maxim’s Himalaya uSLIC Step-Down Power Module #EyeOnNPI @maximintegrated @digikey

New Products – Adafruit Industries – Makers, hackers, artists, designers and engineers! — #NewProds 7/19/23 Feat. Adafruit Matrix Portal S3 CircuitPython Powered Internet Display!

Get the only spam-free daily newsletter about wearables, running a "maker business", electronic tips and more! Subscribe at AdafruitDaily.com !



No Comments

No comments yet.

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.