Xbox Elite Series 3 Controller Leaks in Photos from Brazilian Regulator
▼ Summary
– A leaked filing reveals Microsoft’s Xbox Elite Series 3 controller, seven years after the Series 2.
– New front buttons below the d-pad and right stick resemble mouse-style scroll wheels for inputs or settings.
– The controller features a removable, rechargeable battery pack (1528mAh) for quick swaps, replacing internal batteries.
– A dedicated cloud button allows direct Wi-Fi connection to reduce latency for Xbox Cloud Gaming.
– The Series 3 is expected to adopt TMR sticks and triggers for improved durability and precision over the Series 2.
Seven years after the launch of the last Xbox Elite controller, the wait for a successor may finally be over. Brazilian outlet Tecnoblog has published images of what appears to be Microsoft’s next premium gamepad, just one day after leaking another Xbox controller designed for cloud gaming. The source of the leak is once again Anatel, Brazil’s telecommunications regulatory body.
The presumed Xbox Elite Series 3 introduces several new controls and features while retaining design elements familiar to Series 2 owners. These include a swappable d-pad, lockable triggers, removable rear paddles, rubberized grips, and a matte black finish.
Two new front-facing buttons sit beneath the d-pad and right stick, resembling mouse-style scroll wheels. These could serve as additional inputs or as controls for adjusting controller settings. They are similar to the twin scroll wheels found on Corsair’s Scuf Valor Pro, an Xbox controller released earlier this year, where they were used to manage volume and game/chat audio balance.
Microsoft is also shifting to a removable and rechargeable battery pack for the Series 3, enabling quick battery swaps without relying on AA batteries. The included battery has a lower capacity than its predecessor: 1528mAh compared to 2050mAh. However, improvements in wireless efficiency from a more modern chipset are expected to offset the smaller size, likely delivering comparable or better battery life.
The Elite Series 3 also features a cloud button, allowing the controller to connect directly to Wi-Fi. This reduces latency when using Xbox Cloud Gaming. Pressing the button toggles between local and cloud modes.
It would be surprising if the Series 3 did not adopt TMR sticks and triggers, which are becoming standard in third-party controllers. These modern alternatives to potentiometer-based sticks offer greater resistance to wear and improved precision. That would make the Series 3 significantly more durable over long periods, addressing one of the biggest complaints about the Series 2 (though my own unit has held up well over seven years).
As Tom Warren notes in The Verge’s coverage of the leak, it seems reasonable to expect an announcement at the upcoming Xbox showcase on June 7. Nothing has been confirmed yet, but the timing aligns neatly with the leaked images.
(Source: Digitalfoundry.net)
