Professional gaming controllers have long existed outside the realm of first-party development, but Microsoft sought to change that at E3 this year. Revealing the Xbox One Elite controller on stage at the biggest gaming event of the year was a bit of a surprise, but it’s no doubt that they’re making easily one of the most friendly, feature-filled controllers on the market. So it’s about damn time we know when it’s finally coming out.
Not that most of us will need it, nevermind being able to actually afford the thing.
According to numerous retail listings, including one on Microsoft’s own store page, the Xbox One Elite Controller will launch on October 27th. That’s the same day as Halo 5: Guardians, making it a fairly logical date for the most professional controller the Xbox One has to drop (considering the massive eSports focus the Halo sequel has). The controller will retail alone for a staggering R2279.00 locally (at its cheapest), and comes standard with the next Xbox One Elite Bundle that Microsoft will presumably launch at the same time.
What does throwing down that amount of cheese on a controller net you though? Well the reason I feel in love with the Elite Controller was purely because of its comfort. The controller has an extremely well-designed rubberized finish to it, making it sit nicely in your hands without the worry of sweat forcing you to readjust your grip. The controller also comes with a bevy of removable buttons and switches (included four back paddles and a weird but intelligent D-Pad), as well as the easiest mechanism to change the length of your trigger pulls on the fly.
Simply put, it’s the most well designed, easy to use professional controller out there, but still isn’t something I’d say normal videogame enthusiasts need (just like owning something like a Scuf controller in the past). If you have the money to burn, go for it. Honestly. But for most people reading this, October 27th is just another day to wonder how everyone else can afford to drop more than two grand on a fancy controller.
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Last Updated: September 21, 2015
Ottokie "Yahtzee"
September 21, 2015 at 10:02
So for the price of 2 controllers I can buy a PS4.
Captain JJ Fantasticus
September 21, 2015 at 10:20
Or even better…NOT buy a PS4 or an Xbone!
Juust kidding.
I agree man. When it comes to stuff like this, it’s overkill. I remember those “chrome” xbox 360 controllers. You could pick them up on Kalahari for around R300-R400 each.
BurninZ
September 21, 2015 at 10:07
WOW that is crazy!! for the dedicated i guess (and people who have far too much money!!)!
Grand Admiral Chief
September 21, 2015 at 10:18
Can’t be elite, is not mouse and KB
Spathi
September 21, 2015 at 10:20
I came here for this comment and wasn’t disappointed.
Grand Admiral Chief
September 21, 2015 at 10:21
Glad to be of service
Captain JJ Fantasticus
September 21, 2015 at 10:21
XD
Captain JJ Fantasticus
September 21, 2015 at 10:20
For PC you could always just get a Thrustmaster for…well… Ten percent that price. And it still has the wonderfully comfortable xbox layout.
Grand Admiral Chief
September 21, 2015 at 10:21
I can say or read “Thrustmaster” without thinking like Stifler
Captain JJ Fantasticus
September 21, 2015 at 10:22
I know. You go to Incredible Corruption asking for a thrustmaster they’ll tell you, you’re at the wrong store.
Bagel
September 21, 2015 at 10:26
I got a keyboard for R50 😀 what now xbone fanbois?
Commander JJ of the Normandy
September 21, 2015 at 10:28
The ENTER button on my R50 keyboard eventually gave up. So I upgraded to a R300 keyboard. Now I feel elite.
Bagel
September 21, 2015 at 10:31
Next step sir is the R1000 mechanical keyboard of orgasm, every keystroke is like 1000 feathers alofting apon your epeen.
Viking Of Science
September 21, 2015 at 12:28
You guys are so far behind…. I’m on a R2700 mechanical KB…
Viking Of Science
September 21, 2015 at 12:31
pic:
Bagel
September 21, 2015 at 12:59
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
Brady miaau
September 21, 2015 at 10:31
So the controller is actually R2300 -, say, R899 (Elite bundle game), then.
So, is R1400 still very expensive for a controller? Um. Yes, I think so.
Commander JJ of the Normandy
September 21, 2015 at 10:32
LOL
Brady miaau
September 21, 2015 at 10:36
So, enjoying ME2, then? Commander JJ?
Commander JJ of the Normandy
September 21, 2015 at 10:37
I am. Quite a bit. Was just telling Admiral that the only thing that bothers me is how badly the controls were “ported” for pc. And there’s no controller support for it. That’s my only beef. Loving the game though.
Brady miaau
September 21, 2015 at 11:05
awesome!
I liked the controller support and mapping on the Xbox 360, was very easy to play, concentrated on the game play.
Commander JJ of the Normandy
September 21, 2015 at 11:07
The pc controls feel very sluggish and unergonomic (like it was never intended to be played with a KB and mouse). But as far as I know ME3 has controller support for pc, so I’ll settle into that one with the controller instead for sure.
Still getting the hang of everything, but I’m definitely starting to see why people love it so much.
Grand Admiral Chief
September 21, 2015 at 11:18
I played on PC with MS+KB, and never had any issues/complaints.
Maybe you are just bad at it
Commander JJ of the Normandy
September 21, 2015 at 11:27
Maybe your face is just bad! ;P
Grand Admiral Chief
September 21, 2015 at 11:51
Compared to my wife, this is true. She has the looks
Gareth L (That eXCheez Guy)
September 21, 2015 at 16:14
There goes the Xbox One’s 10% CPU gain.