Xbox Elite Series 3 controller pics leak, but it may lack TMR to combat stick drift

Shortly after an accessory aimed at cloud gaming surfaced, pics of the rumored Xbox Elite Series 3 controller have appeared. The pro-grade peripheral boasts new inputs but may not address some shortcomings of its predecessor. Tom Warren of The Verge reported on images leaked by the Brazilian tech site, Tecnoblog.

Unlike the squashed cloud controller, the Elite Series 3 has a more familiar shape. The d-pad has undergone a transformation, but the two buttons at the bottom of the device are more surprising. Resembling scroll wheels, Warren suspects that they are geared toward Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Even before the Project Helix hybrid became public, Microsoft had introduced more PC-oriented titles to consoles. Like the dual trackpads on the Valve Steam Controller, the scroll wheels on the new Xbox controller may reduce clutter in living rooms.

Another significant change from the Elite Series 2 is a removable rechargeable battery. While sporting a lower capacity of 1,528 mAh, players could swap battery packs during gameplay.

One feature the two new leaked Xbox controllers would share is cloud gaming connectivity. The images reveal a switch that would toggle between local and remote modes. As Xbox Cloud Gaming expands, it could produce lower latency through direct communication with servers.

Gamers are already grumbling about some anticipated tweaks Tecnoblog hasn’t confirmed. One of the most common critiques is with the durability of the Elite Series 2. Over time, the mechanical parts of the analog sticks wear down, leading to unreliable inputs. TMR or Hall effect technology significantly mitigates this issue, but it may be absent in the new accessory.

It’s sensible not to make assumptions, since the images likely don’t highlight all of the revisions. The Elite Series 3 may see other concepts from the rumored Project Sebile. Advanced haptic feedback inspired by the PS5 DualSense is among the ideas discussed in previous reports.