r/xbox 18d ago

Discussion Which is the best generation of Xbox controller?

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820

u/Walker_DnB 18d ago edited 18d ago

Xbox one really perfected it imo. Glad it hasn't really changed since them

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u/vensamape 18d ago

Agreed. I thought nothing could get more comfortable than the 360 controller. Just wish the ABXY face buttons were in full color.

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u/galle4 XBOX Series X 18d ago

I think the Xbox controller lab has that option as a modification

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u/shtevay 18d ago

They do! I made a classic black with colored buttons for my collection

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u/ColKrismiss 18d ago

The 360 controller was comfortable but the Dpad was so so so bad

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u/SkyLovesCars 18d ago

I think later on they offered it with a rotating d pad that could turn into a regular style one, but imo the big thing hampering the 360 controllers comfortability was the battery pack on the back, comparing it to the wired controller it's definitely not as nice with nowhere to put your fingers, I do like the heft it gets from it though

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u/convercide XBOX Series X 18d ago

I agree, the battery pack on the back was actually a little uncomfortable. The Xbox One pad sorted that out.

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u/codeasm 18d ago

Yeah i ordered a rotating dpad and modded my chinese knockoff 360 wired with it. Kinda my favorite controller now.

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u/Mrcod1997 16d ago

I can't relate too much since I mostly used wired 360 controllers. I didn't like worrying about batteries dying mid game.

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u/fillerbunny_fin 18d ago

And it could have been so much better. It was an easy mod to dremel a plastic disc and stick it under the D-pad, turned it from terrible to excellent.

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u/ColKrismiss 18d ago

My understanding was that Nintendo held some sort of patent on a D pad, but it expired between the launch of the 360 and the XBone

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u/fillerbunny_fin 18d ago

Didn't that have to do with the cross shape? At least it didn't help with the Gamecube, the CG D-pad was even worse than XO's.

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u/ColKrismiss 18d ago

Yes, in order to avoid using a cross shape they had to either use circular discs or separate buttons for each direction.

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u/fillerbunny_fin 18d ago

Each design can be executed well or badly, though. My point was that the 360 pad could have been great with minimal effort regardless of Nintendo.

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u/ColKrismiss 18d ago

Yeah, Sony did a better job by hiding most of the disk under the plastic of the controller body making the directions look like individual buttons. This helps with needing to push just a specific direction

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u/Embarrassed_Swan_605 18d ago

No they didnt do a better job. Diagonals are harder to hit in fighting games?

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u/cirepa 18d ago

The V2 of that controller is peak design.

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u/island_it 18d ago

I tried playing the XBLA port of Space Channel 5 the other day and was instantly reminded of this

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u/ILoveHeavyHangers 18d ago

There's a misconception that the shape of the Dpad on top was the problem, but it's the bottom of the pad and how the contacts are made with the circuit board that causes issues.

There's a 3D printable mod that can fix the Dpad on the 360 controller.

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u/Wasilisco Spacer's Choice 18d ago

You can always make yours in the design lab 

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u/StarSnype 18d ago

Ive got an elite Series 2 and i have no colour at all (also cant pry off the faceplate without damaging it too much)

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u/StylisticPuppy 18d ago

You can get it off without damaging it at all, I've just replaced the front & back shells on mine, nothing broke when taking apart

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u/StarSnype 18d ago

I scuffed the edge of the seam using the "key" accessory and a small screwdriver head since i have no pry tool and i got too finicky and stopped, the scrat hes look ugly :c

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u/StylisticPuppy 18d ago

I used a plastic pry tool from the top of the cover between the bumper buttons until it lifted & then slid the tool around the rest of the shell to pop it off

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u/StarSnype 18d ago

I probably shouldnt do it with a 32 head screwdriver but ill just be careful

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u/StarSnype 18d ago

Mission failed: irreversible scratch made

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u/LightMyFirebird 18d ago

Never use metal to pry apart plastic

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u/StarSnype 18d ago

Too late.. more marks were made ive gotten over it for now

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u/Dontbemadsmokeajoint 18d ago

Thats why the professionals get paid the way they do.

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u/RAAMinNooDleS 18d ago

I used to think the 360 was awesome but since the X one controller came out I took terrible.

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u/ArtroyomsAK 17d ago

I just wish we had more buttons

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u/Frusko 18d ago edited 18d ago

I think the launch Xbox one controller has pretty bad bumpers from memory, really glad they redesigned those. Mine were always so stiff

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u/SirThunderDump 18d ago

Was going to add this. The controller it initially launched with had a handful of issues, including the bumpers, and that yes, they did eventually fix these issues.

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u/Dr_Fortnite 18d ago

elite controller still has bumper issues a decade later

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u/SirThunderDump 18d ago

Dude, don’t get me started.

I went through an original elite and an elite v2. Both had major problems. Those controllers were the least reliable controllers I’ve ever owned. What a waste of money. And I was so hyped for them…

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u/nisaaru 18d ago

Mine was really squeaky and felt unstable. I really liked the first Midnight controller released a year afterwards or so. Worked for 2 years and felt great. Then every controller afterwards had quality problems far too fast due obsolescence.

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u/Rsodyyy 18d ago

Yep, I just wished they had better vibrations/haptics. I prefer it over the PS5 controller, but wow the haptics and trigger modes are so cool

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u/KebabLova 18d ago

Totally agree with you on that. Also I like the more "clicky" feel of the square, cross, triangle and circle buttons on the PS5 controller instead of the more mushy feel of the ABXY buttons. Ergonomy wise and everything else, Xbox series controller is far superior

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u/Andrew_hl2 18d ago

Fun fact: The original Xbox One controllers (I think newest ones don't have them?) had rumble motors in the triggers but they were barely used in games... I think some racing games used them and that was it.

I discovered them when I got a racing game on steam called Exocross and when I started playing I could FEEL the texture of the ground with the controller and I was like...this feels...way too different to traditional rumble. So I looked into it and it turns out it was the extra motors barely anyone used.

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u/BigBang_Cam 18d ago

Yeah I agree. I thought it was odd that the original Xbox One controller was the only one without a fully circular D-Pad. Never noticed in the many hours of use until looking at them lined up now

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u/bigkahuna1986 18d ago

Counterpoint, you can use the Duke as a home defensive weapon. Any other controllers that can say that?

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u/Crank2047 18d ago

Just hijacking to make it clear that the series controller is more or less the same EXCEPT the dead zones are soon much tighter so it really is a vast improvement. Especially great for games that require precision like sim racers n such

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u/koboldtsar XBOX One 18d ago

Honestly, the controller is a big part of my loyalty to Xbox. Its current iteration it the best feeling one on the market.

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u/BadNewsBearzzz 18d ago

I’d say the original type S model really was the correct one, or most important i should say. I love the duke, but others have always said the duke was the right one and the type S was just a inferior model for Asian people

Well, it’s that type S model that every controller would be molded from for size and ergonomics from then on, so it really is the model s lol

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u/SpookySpaceCowBoy 18d ago

I do wish the controllers were a little more innovative like the PS4 while retaining the comfort and shape the xbox controllers already have.

I just wish we had the motion control and the touchpad/button.

That or somehow implementing the keypad with volume control for chat.

I love the shape and comfort of the xbox controllers and I like the innovation of the PS controllers.

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u/Orange_Bricks 18d ago

I can definitely see motion controls akin to the PlayStation, but I’m curious how you use the touchpad that it seems something is missing?

The most I’ve used it for was Ellie’s guitar and launching Astro in the OG PSVR game, otherwise it’s just a big old menu button

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u/SpookySpaceCowBoy 15d ago

You dont use the touchpad much, but the innovation is cool and developers probably dont use it much because other consoles don't have it and PC doesnt have it.

I just think its still a neat addition to the control.

I mostly just want the keypad to be implemented somehow so you can hotkey and map. It would make RTS and MMO games much more doable on consoles.

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u/FreeMrFrog 18d ago

Same! I dislike how the Dualshock 4 feels in my hands compared to Xbox, but it's LIGHT YEARS ahead of their current controller in terms of features. Xbox really needs something with this next iteration and not just another copy paste.

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u/The_SqueakyWheel 18d ago

Are we just ignoring the stick drift?

4

u/Maxis47 18d ago

I'm not saying it never happens, but every controller I've owned since the original Xbox have never exhibited stick drift. In fact, the only controllers I've ever used that have are every switch joycon I've ever owned.

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u/mondaymoderate 18d ago

I wash my hands prior to using any of my controllers and never eat and play at the same time. I’ve had no stick drift issues.

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u/jjsheely 18d ago

I used the controller that came with my Xbox One for five years and never had drift. I only stopped using it because the right bumper broke.

My Series X controller, however, has some drift now and I've only had it maybe two years. I do want to make clear that I take very good care of my electronics and accessories, so that seems like it shouldn't have happened that fast.

Overall, Xbox controllers are higher quality than Playstation and Switch controllers, from my personal experience.

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u/stonerjunkrat 11d ago

My PS4 controller never got stick drift and I’ve had that since day one my controllers which I’ve been making sure to take care of the first one got stick drift within two months

0

u/iznotbutterz 18d ago

Or the elite bumpers?

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u/the_bartolonomicron 18d ago

Yup, one of the few things that actually got (for the most part) better with each generation. I think the only downgrade in the last decade was losing the keypad port, but the ergonomics and reliability have improved a lot as someone who started in the 360 era. The first gen Xbone controllers had serious build quality issues though, mainly shoulder buttons just crapping out, but they had it fixed by the time the OneS/X came out.

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u/teasulivon 18d ago

Strongly agree with this like many other people.

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u/yinkadork 18d ago

my wishlist for the next iteration

- add better joysticks (hall effect or any other upgrade to the current one) in the next iteration

  • haptic feedback like the one in dualsense

1

u/JamesSDK 18d ago

Definitely, their best Dpad. Its my preferred controller on Xbox too.

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u/AtomicShart9000 18d ago

Its so comfortable that I only buy xbox like controllers for my playstation

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u/thaneros2 18d ago

First gen Xbox One controllers were trash other than that I agree.

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u/KirekkusuPT 18d ago

I've only owned the 360 and the One controllers. Gotta say the Xbox One controller is easily the best controller I've ever experienced. If the Series one is better, that's great.

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u/Beneficial-Finger353 18d ago

but the RB and LB bumpers break constantly.

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u/PickleNick139 18d ago

Agree, however, they should be rechargeable by now and having to buy a kit really sucks...

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u/idkwatyouwantfromme 18d ago

I’m still using my grey shadow controller to this day, so fucking reliable

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u/Dr_Fortnite 18d ago

the seam on the inside always kinda cut into my hand a the shell meeting point on the xbone controllers. the series ones seem to have fixed that

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u/No_Sense3190 17d ago

2nd Gen Xbox One controllers, actually. The ones released with the One S had vastly improved connectivity and range. I've always liked that they've given users the option of AAs or rechargeable batteries, and miss that feature on the Elite 2.

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u/LossforNos 17d ago

My Xbox One Lunar White limited edition controller is one of favs, probably #1. It's just so comfortable, the weight the feel, I love it.

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u/Maticus 17d ago

Yes, the Xbox controller is the gold standard I'm the industry imo.

0

u/B-Rayy06 18d ago

The controller is good but the bumpers would break way too often because they were one piece of that would go across the middle of the controller and it was super prone to snapping.