•Microsoft has unveiled the Xbox Nano Controller, a smaller and less expensive gamepad that represents the company’s first entry into mini console controllers. The announcement was made on Microsoft’s blog.
The Nano controller is essentially a scaled-down version of the Xbox Series X controller. While Microsoft did not share exact measurements on its blog, it says the device measures “about 5 inches” long and weighs 3.5 ounces—considerably smaller and lighter than an existing Xbox controller. It also carries a lower price tag: $49.99, compared with the $69.99 Microsoft typically charges for a standard controller.
The Nano Controller is available to preorder now, with availability starting in November.
Although the new gamepad will work with Xbox consoles, its primary focus appears to be other devices—smart TVs, laptops, and anything else that, until recently, Microsoft would have considered an Xbox. To reach those users, Microsoft is partnering with Samsung to bundle the Xbox Nano Controller along with two months of Game Pass with “select Samsung TVs” over the holiday season.
According to Microsoft’s blog, the company is also working on a deal with Meta that would include the Nano Controller alongside a Game Pass subscription for new Meta Quest owners. That arrangement does not sound finalized yet, though Microsoft says it is targeting a holiday release as well.
The controller’s compatibility should extend beyond Samsung TVs and Meta Quest. Because it features both the standard Xbox wireless connection and Bluetooth, the Nano Controller should work with virtually any device that supports Bluetooth—allowing users to play games such as Fortnite on an iPad.
While this is Microsoft’s first foray into mini controllers, the concept itself is not new. Companies including CRKD and 8BitDo have been selling mini controllers for years, with portability serving as their main appeal. A controller this small can easily be slipped into a bag without taking up much space or adding significant weight.
The Nano Controller is far from the only thing Microsoft’s controller team has been working on. For months, leaks have suggested that the Xbox Elite Series 3 controller is imminent and might even address some of its predecessor’s compatibility problems.
Xbox Elite Series 3 controller is right around the corner
The Xbox Nano Controller can be preordered now ahead of its November launch. Details on the Samsung and Meta partnerships will likely emerge as those companies announce more information when the holiday season approaches.
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