Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
flag of UK
UK
flag of US
US
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of Australia
Australia
  • Games
  • TV
  • Movies
  • Hardware
  • Video
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Guides
  • Deals
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • SFX
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Total Film
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
Subscribe now
Trending
  • Grounded 2
  • The Fantastic Four: First Steps
  • Donkey Kong Bananza
  • Switch 2 Starter Pack
Recommended reading
Photo of the new Xbox handheld, the ROG Xbox Ally X
Xbox Microsoft insists its Xbox handheld is a "breakthrough moment," but it kind of sounds like an ROG Ally with an Xbox sticker and Game Pass to me: "It looks like an Xbox, it feels like an Xbox, it plays like an Xbox"
The best Xbox One controllers
Gaming Controllers The best Xbox One controllers 2025
Xbox Elite Series 2 controller
Gaming Controllers The best Xbox Series X controller in 2025
Hand holding Pac-Man PowerA wireless controller with TV in backdrop and Dishonored gameplay on screen.
Gaming Controllers I thought I was done with traditional Xbox controllers, but this Pac-Man gamepad reeled me back in
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro for Xbox gaming headset
Headsets & Headphones The best Xbox One headsets for 2025
PowerA Advantage Controller's face close-up
Gaming Controllers This Xbox controller might be the sturdiest I've ever tested and did I mention it comes with a free reel of RGB lighting?
A reviewer holding the Nacon Revolution X Unlimited
Gaming Controllers Nacon Revolution X Unlimited review: “As OP as pro controllers get these days”
  1. Platforms
  2. Xbox

Xbox One controller blends the old with the new

News
By Lucas Sullivan published 21 May 2013

This is the basis of your interaction with Microsoft's new console

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Back in black

Back in black

Xbox One

This clutter-free controller sports the same basic form as the 360 gamepad, but little adjustments have been made to almost every facet. We've pored over every piece of available info to get the nitty-gritty on the new and improved Xbox One controllers. Here's what we've found so far

Page 1 of 13
Page 1 of 13
At last, a new and improved D-pad

At last, a new and improved D-pad

Microsoft listened to our prayers for a traditional D-pad on their console's controller, taking the superior, more defined D-pad of the most recent 360 controller model and making it the default for the Xbox One gamepad. It doesn't appear to be adjustable, as on the UNSC/Star Wars-branded 360 controllers. But we can all but guarantee that this new D-pad will be far more comfortable than the 360's gummy-feeling directional blob.

Page 2 of 13
Page 2 of 13
Same analog stick placement, slightly altered stick design

Same analog stick placement, slightly altered stick design

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. The offset analog stick placement of the Xbox 360 controller is back for the Xbox One controller, ensuring that your thumbs will never hit together if you're swerving out of control during gameplay. They look to have the same textured surface, providing extra grip without wearing away at your delicate thumbs. One unfamiliar addition is a tire-like texture added to the rim of each control stick, perhaps to prevent your fingers from slipping off the edges.

Page 3 of 13
Page 3 of 13
These are pretty much the same XYAB buttons

These are pretty much the same XYAB buttons

Again, why change a good thing? The 360 buttons we know and love are back for the Xbox One controller, with the same flipped-SNES-style layout and color coding. Only, this time around, it's much easier to tell which button is which, due to the fact that the buttons now have a black base instead of a brightly colored one.

Page 4 of 13
Page 4 of 13
The Back, Start, and raised Xbox guide buttons are no more

The Back, Start, and raised Xbox guide buttons are no more

At first glance, the two buttons in the middle of the controller resemble the familiar Back and Start inputs. But a closer look shows that they're no longer emblazoned with such labels. Now, the one on the left has a box-in-box logo that suggests window-switching similar to the Kinect's Snap Mode technology. The button on the right now simply has three straight lines on it, indicative of the typical pause menu. The Xbox guide button is now flush with the controller, with a white glow in place of the 360's green. It's still unclear if this new guide input is still a button, or is now part of the newly defined panel on the top of the controller.

Page 5 of 13
Page 5 of 13
It's packing "dynamic impulse triggers"

It's packing "dynamic impulse triggers"

From what we can gather from the info currently available, the Xbox One controller will reportedly include haptic feedback in the traditional bumpers and triggers. Hypothetically, that would mean that you could feel the kickback from pulling the trigger of a virtual pistol, or feel the revving of your engine as you put the pedal to the metal with a trigger. Sounds intriguing, to say the least.

Page 6 of 13
Page 6 of 13
and better rumble in general

and better rumble in general

Besides the rumble motors installed in the Xbox One controller's triggers, you'll also feel feedback in the grips. This should make rumble much more impactful--both for bombastic explosions and rocket launcher blasts, as well as the more nuanced feedback like flying a helicopter. The Xbox One rumble functionality should now better simulate the experience of touch, instead of oscillating between stillness, humming, and full-on jackhammer like the 360 controller.

Page 7 of 13
Page 7 of 13
It's got a better backside

It's got a better backside

In their hands-on test of the Xbox One controller, Game Informer revealed that the blemishes on the back of the 360 controller--glaring holes with screws--have been done away with entirely. You also don't have to worry about an unsightly battery pack bulge--the new battery design appears to take up far less space. What it all boils down to is that the back of the Xbox One controller is as smooth as a baby's bottom. Uh, not that we'd know what that feels like.

Page 8 of 13
Page 8 of 13
Where's the wire?

Where's the wire?

From all the assets we've seen, the Xbox One controller won't be wired. That seems like the standard for next-gen controllers, but it does raise a question: Will this controller be as PC-gaming friendly as the Xbox 360 gamepad? As it stands, the 360 controller is one of the best ways to use a gamepad with your PC, given its plug-and-play functionality. There is a port on the top, though, and it looks like it would gladly accept a Micro USB (as used by some models of Windows Phones, as well as the Kindle and other devices).

Page 9 of 13
Page 9 of 13
Kinect is included with every Xbox One

Kinect is included with every Xbox One

No need to make two hardware purchases on release day: The Kinect will now come packed in with every Xbox One. The Kinect is now programmed to recognize you and your voice in a much more personal way, according to spokesperson Yusuf Mehdi. Kinect 2.0 is now able to detect and record your movements in 1080p, letting it pick up on subtle changes like your body orientation, muscle flexing, wrist and arm rotation--it even has the ability to read your heartbeat. What that all means is that, in essence, the Kinect can now sense your fear.

Page 10 of 13
Page 10 of 13
The Kinect 2.0 sensor goes cyclopic

The Kinect 2.0 sensor goes cyclopic

It seems Microsoft is keen on putting the closest thing to a HAL 9000 in our living rooms. The upgraded version of the Kinect has a giant eye embedded in it, so you can feel like you're being stared at by a machine at all times. It also appears to have a microphone built in, which almost looks like it's attached to the base of the Kinect.

Page 11 of 13
Page 11 of 13
Grab and motion-control your apps with Snap Mode

Grab and motion-control your apps with Snap Mode

Yusuf Mehdi demonstrated one of the new Kinect-recognized motions to control your out-of-game experience. By placing both hands apart with palms open, then grabbing the air and moving your imaginary box inward or outward, you can minimize or maximize movies or TV shows while they're in motion. This multi-tasking functionality is dubbed Snap Mode, and Microsoft is making a pretty big push on talking up how you'll be able to switch between stimuli on your screen with easy. Nifty!

Page 12 of 13
Page 12 of 13
Look and feel

Look and feel

So, what's your take on the Xbox One controller? Let us know in the comments below if you're looking forward to using it, or would prefer to stick with the 360 gamepad. Check back for more info as it comes in!

And if you're looking for the latest Xbox One info, check out Xbox One info blowout! Find out all the details here.

Page 13 of 13
Page 13 of 13
Lucas Sullivan
Lucas Sullivan
Social Links Navigation

Lucas Sullivan is the former US Managing Editor of GamesRadar+. Lucas spent seven years working for GR, starting as an Associate Editor in 2012 before climbing the ranks. He left us in 2019 to pursue a career path on the other side of the fence, joining 2K Games as a Global Content Manager. Lucas doesn't get to write about games like Borderlands and Mafia anymore, but he does get to help make and market them. 

See more Xbox News
Read more
Photo of the new Xbox handheld, the ROG Xbox Ally X
Microsoft insists its Xbox handheld is a "breakthrough moment," but it kind of sounds like an ROG Ally with an Xbox sticker and Game Pass to me: "It looks like an Xbox, it feels like an Xbox, it plays like an Xbox"
The best Xbox One controllers
The best Xbox One controllers 2025
Xbox Elite Series 2 controller
The best Xbox Series X controller in 2025
Hand holding Pac-Man PowerA wireless controller with TV in backdrop and Dishonored gameplay on screen.
I thought I was done with traditional Xbox controllers, but this Pac-Man gamepad reeled me back in
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro for Xbox gaming headset
The best Xbox One headsets for 2025
PowerA Advantage Controller's face close-up
This Xbox controller might be the sturdiest I've ever tested and did I mention it comes with a free reel of RGB lighting?
Latest in Xbox
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake
5 years after it was announced, Ubisoft says the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake is coming "very soon"
Helldivers 2
Helldivers 2 devs say DLSS and FSR are "on the wishlist," but there are "other more fundamental problems that impact performance" to fix first
An orange car in The Crew.
Ubisoft CEO addresses Stop Killing Games after overseeing the deaths of The Crew and XDefiant: "Support for all games cannot last forever"
Destiny 2 The Edge of Fate
Bungie says "we never intend to ship 'stealth nerfs' in Destiny 2" as Edge of Fate players find unmentioned changes: "We would be completely out of our minds if we thought we could slip something under the rug without players noticing"
Helldivers 2 soldier with an explosion reflecting in their visor
Helldivers 3 is "hopefully many years away," because Arrowhead is "focusing on the here and now" and Helldivers 2 "can run for a long time if people keep playing it"
the bird-headed guardian blocking behind a greatshield as fire swirls all around
Elden Ring Nightreign masters somehow beat every single boss and encounter in the entire map in one run: "To do this, I assembled my team of nerds"
Latest in News
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake
5 years after it was announced, Ubisoft says the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake is coming "very soon"
Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse
Spider-Man: Beyond the Spider-Verse delayed 3 weeks to late June 2027
Uncle Scrooge: Earth's Mightiest Duck #1
Uncle Scrooge becomes Earth's Mightiest Duck as he goes to war with alien invaders who have come for all of the planet's treasure
Helldivers 2
Helldivers 2 devs say DLSS and FSR are "on the wishlist," but there are "other more fundamental problems that impact performance" to fix first
Callum Vinson looking sad as Elijah Turner in Poker Face
Friday the 13th reboot series casts its 10-year-old Jason Voorhees who's just a little too cute to be a slasher killer
An orange car in The Crew.
Ubisoft CEO addresses Stop Killing Games after overseeing the deaths of The Crew and XDefiant: "Support for all games cannot last forever"
  1. DK and Pauline look surprised in Donkey Kong Bananza
    1
    Donkey Kong Bananza Review: "Destruction isn't just a flashy gimmick for the Minecraft generation, it's one of the best inventions Nintendo has had in years"
  2. 2
    Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 review: "A nostalgic, must-play hit for fans"
  3. 3
    College Football 26 review: “Thanks to rivalries and dynasty, this is the greatest show on turf”
  4. 4
    Mecha Break review: "This mech battler makes up for lacking customization with a varied roster that lets me live out my Evangelion fantasy"
  5. 5
    Death Stranding 2: On the Beach review: "This tarpunk delivery epic is more Metal Gear Solid than ever, for better and worse"
  1. David Corenswet as Superman inside the Fortress of Solitude in James Gunn's Superman.
    1
    Superman review: "A triumphant reinvention and a promising start for the DCU"
  2. 2
    Jurassic World Rebirth Review: "An unscary sequel that needed a little more time in amber"
  3. 3
    M3GAN 2.0 review: "A bold sequel with a slightly underwhelming conclusion"
  4. 4
    28 Years Later Review: "Enough terror, splatter and suspense to satisfy”
  5. 5
    Predator: Killer of Killers review: "Great characters, thrilling action, and gorgeous Arcane-esque animation"
  1. Lee Jung-jae as Gi-hun in Squid Game season 3
    1
    Squid Game season 3 review: "A staggeringly excellent final season wraps up one of the greatest Netflix shows ever"
  2. 2
    Ironheart review: "A relic of Marvel's content-at-all-costs era"
  3. 3
    Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 review: "The show's most assured run of episodes to date"
  4. 4
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 8 spoiler review: 'The Reality War' is "a mix of the good, the bad, and the truly baffling"
  5. 5
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 7 spoiler review: 'Wish World' is "an exciting and ambitious" start to the season finale, with hints of WandaVision

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...