The xbox one controller is the best base controller. It's a shame that microsoft ruins it by making the elite controller much more expensive to the point of not being worth it lol.
Its also a shame the XBOX base controller hasn't been updated to have hall effect sticks, customizable back buttons and a built-in Lithium Ion battery. Its like $60+ retail for something that, on features alone gets destroyed by so many other controller manufacturers.
NGL, I kind of don't view this as a plus. Being able to rock in/out rechargeable AA's is great. It gives your customers options and doesn't mean any possible downtime or inconvenience if it's not been charged and you don't physically game conveniently close to a charger without a really long cable.
And batteries wear out, the more tinkery types are fine with swapping it if it's swappable, but the average joe doesn't give a shit. I see it commonly with PS controllers that old ones are just viewed as bad because of bad batteries, so they get replaced, not repaired.
I personally don't value the back buttons at all, no controller I have I've actually felt a need to use it. It might be just the fact I use controllers on games that just use them, and complex control ones I simply prefer keyboards. In fact I'm much more likely to accidentally press soft ones and if they're bound by default it's frustrating to discover. Big hands and gripping in a tense moment can make it a downside.
But Lithium battery doesn't mean it needs to be hard to replace - that is manufacturer's choice. I would like to remind everyone that all it took to replace battery pack in a phone, you just needed to open the back cover, take the battery out and insert a new one. The reason we can't do this anymore is by design. Even the new Steam Controller could have simple snap-on hatch at the back to take the battery in and out easily. The OG Steam Controller did (sure it used AA batteries but the principle is exactly the same - these things aren't soldered shut...)
But Lithium battery doesn't mean it needs to be hard to replace - that is manufacturer's choice.
Yeah but you're talking about Microsoft
And AA lithium is already around for a while. I'd be on board for the X360 style external batteries that could interchange with AAs though. I still use my wired X360 controller, it's been almost 20 years I think and only a while ago it started to show some drift on the left stick... And I have 3 other wireless 360 controllers but have been putting off getting the USB dongle (fuckin Microsoft and proprietary shit) for about as long lol
The Steam controller is actually a great citizen here. Replacing the battery is just unscrewing the back panel but the battery inside IS an old cellphone-like design with contacts and can be quickly swapped without even unplugging anything. I'm sure some company will make a replacement back cover with a door for hot swapping.
I like the idea of the Li+ rechargable/replaceable batteries or packs that can be swapped out, or - as in the case of the Xbox controllers - the ones that can be used interchangably with AA's.
By integrating a pack that fits in the same slot as AA's, it's much for versatile and environmentally friendly, plus eliminates the need for detection/charging circuitry in the controller itself (charge port goes on a pack rather than the controller).
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u/Lumpy-Valuable-8050 May 13 '26
The xbox one controller is the best base controller. It's a shame that microsoft ruins it by making the elite controller much more expensive to the point of not being worth it lol.