Original Xbox Controller S Is Getting Some Major Upgrades For Its Hyperkin Re-Release

Original Xbox Controller S Is Getting Some Major Upgrades For Its Hyperkin Re-Release

Time Stamp: January 9, 2024 12:56 PM
Source Node: 3052337

The original Xbox’s Controller S is being remade thanks to gaming accessory maker Hyperkin, and this modern take on the classic controller comes with some substantial upgrades.

Hyperkin already remade the original Xbox’s first oversized controller, affectionately referred to as the “Duke,” in 2018 and is now giving a similar treatment to the Controller S. While the Duke may be the more famous of the original Xbox’s controllers, it would be the Controller S that would eventually become standard for the console.

In keeping with the naming convention of the Duke, Hyperkin’s upgraded Controller S will be called the “DuchesS,” and will come with features those playing on modern Xbox consoles would expect. The DuchesS works on Xbox Series X|S consoles, Xbox One, and Windows 10 and 11 PCs. It also sports a built-in share button, a USB-C port, and 3.5mm headset jack.

It’s all pretty standard stuff, but outside the norm is the inclusion of Hall effect joysticks and triggers. If you’ve never heard of Hall effect components, it basically means that they use magnets and electrical conductors to measure their position. These components never actually come in physical contact with the other moving parts of the controller, meaning they usually hold up longer than standard components used in most controllers and don’t develop things like joystick drift, something that has been an issue in modern controllers like the Nintendo Switch’s Joy-Cons. The number of Hall effect controllers available are still relatively few, especially for Xbox, giving the DuchesS a major selling point that not many other controllers can offer.

The question now is how much those fancy Hall effect joysticks and triggers will bump up the price of the DuchesS. Hyperkin has not yet announced a release date or pricing for the DuchesS controller, but for comparison, Hyperkin’s Duke controller retails for $70. If the DuchesS doesn’t sound up your alley and the Xbox 360’s original controller is more your speed, Hyperkin released an upgraded version of it, called the Xenon, in 2023.

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