Today, the long awaited Xbox adaptive controller finally goes on sale. Designed specifically for gamers with limited mobility, the adaptive controller is a huge step towards all inclusive gaming. As Phil Spencer, Head of Xbox, explains “We have been on a journey of inclusive design, which celebrates and draws inspiration from people who are often overlooked in the typical design process”.
This landmark moment was made possible through Xbox’s collaboration with the disability community. Some of the organizations involved were The AbleGamers Charity, The Cerebral Palsy Foundation, SpecialEffect, and Warfighter Engaged. The input from these groups helped with the design, functionality and packaging of the remote.
The Xbox Adaptive Controller was first introduced to the world in May, but was originally inspired by a photo of a custom gaming controller back in 2014. The original controller was developed by Warfighter Engaged, a nonprofit organization that provides gaming devices for wounded vets.
The device is designed to sit comfortably on the players lap and comes equipped with two large buttons. Additionally, users will notice that Microsoft moved the D pad off to the side of the controller next to A and B buttons that are pushed closely together. This was implemented in order to allow players to move back and forth between them easily with one hand.
The Xbox Adaptive Controller is also a unified hub for various accessories and devices. It includes 19 jacks and 2 USB ports, which players can connect different switches, buttons, mounts and joysticks to. This allows them to truly customize it to fit their own special needs. They can further customize their remote through button remapping via the Xbox Accessories app.
Starting today the controller will be available online for $99.99
