The huge Xbox leak on September 19 revealed a lot of cool hardware we weren’t supposed to know about. While it’s exciting to get a look at Microsoft’s ideas for mid-gen console updates and even its own next-gen console, the leaked piece of hardware that interests me the most is the new Xbox controller, codenamed Sable.
Leaks also refer to it as the “new Xbox console”. Roadmap bis 2030 Document dated May 2022. This Sable controller has several great features that can help the Xbox console stand out from the competition. While all of Microsoft’s consoles have been great to use since the days of the Xbox 360, Microsoft’s original console hasn’t innovated as much as its most recent generation of competitors.
With features like cloud compatibility, haptic feedback, and modular control buttons, Microsoft may finally have a controller that feels unique to Xbox. This applies unless the plan changes.
A more ambitious console
I was hoping Microsoft would add paddles on the back of the Elite controllers to the base model, but they didn’t. Instead, Only improvement There was a share button, which the PlayStation controller already had, and a reworking of the D-pad to better suit the Elite controllers.
That doesn’t mean the Xbox series. Ergonomically speaking, this is one of the best things you can buy. Thanks to the Xbox Design Lab, it’s durable and customizable. I use it all the time while playing games on my computer. However, it lacks the premium feel I’ve come to expect from the latest first-party flagship hardware, which inadvertently makes me feel like the Xbox lacks the ambition or creativity to develop a gaming experience with a controller.
The Sable controller brings some of the creativity seen in products like the Xbox Adaptive Controller back to the base series.
If the final product goes as planned, Microsoft will integrate the console more closely with its cloud gaming plans. Based on consoles from Google and Amazon, the leak suggests that the new Xbox console will have “direct-to-cloud” support, allowing players to connect their consoles to Microsoft’s servers for minimal latency during document-based gaming. . in the clouds Games support more games that use Xbox’s cloud technology, a useful addition and something not found on other home consoles.
Meanwhile, the Sable controller will apparently feature haptic feedback similar to the PS5’s DualSense. The overview also notes that tactile VCAs double as speakers, so they should give Xbox developers a new way to output audio for their games. Buttons and joysticks are set to be quieter than current devices, which aren’t actually too loud; Better: The new joysticks have a modular design, which will offer even more customization options
Finally, there are smaller improvements like rechargeable and removable batteries, accelerometer support, and a rise-to-wake feature that suggests players don’t have to press the Xbox button to launch the controller to reveal even more bonuses. . It looks like this console will also be relatively affordable in the world of gaming consoles, as Microsoft is aiming for the same $70 price tag as existing Xbox wireless controllers instead of the $130 to $180 price tag for the Elite Series 2. .
Of course, this is all subject to change. Some of the features shown in this leak may be missing when released on Seville, or it may be more expensive than expected. However, if the Sable controller eventually develops into a solid product and Microsoft introduces it as a new Xbox console, it may finally seem like Microsoft is back in the console innovation game.
According to the leak, the Sable console could appear as early as May 2024.
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