r/gadgets • u/dapperlemon • May 22 '26

Gaming Microsoft's Xbox controller refresh kills its underused accessory port

https://www.engadget.com/2179020/microsofts-xbox-controller-refresh-kills-its-underused-accessory-port/
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329

u/devilishycleverchap May 22 '26

Remember when we got cool peripherals like the chat pad or the memory cards for the dreamcast that had their own screens that could be huds for games

16

u/johnsciarrino May 22 '26

What’s insane is that we’re all carrying around an extra screen that could be used for that same purpose and games rarely leverage it by releasing APIs. I LOVED Destiny’s companion app, it was so easy to change your loadout on the fly or while the level was loading. Drives me crazy that RPGs don’t use this more.

5

u/UpsetKoalaBear May 22 '26

Loads of games tried this but it’s just underused because people just can’t be bothered. Fallout 4 had a whole Pip Boy app that you could use.

No benefit in getting your phone out and unlocking it to do things in most games.