Xbox Elite Controller 3 leaked with removable battery and extra buttons

The Xbox Elite Controller 2 has long been one of the best controllers for gaming on both Xbox consoles and PC. Now, an upgrade appears to be on the way in the form of the Xbox Elite Controller 3. Images of this new controller have surfaced online thanks to a Brazilian regulatory agency, sparking speculation about the new features it may offer.

New features of the Xbox Elite Controller 3

The most notable new features of the Xbox Elite 3 Controller include the addition of two scroll wheels on either side of the headset connector. The exact purpose of these wheels is not yet known, but they could certainly help improve the gameplay experience.

Another major change is the introduction of a pair of buttons that let players easily switch between local gameplay and cloud gaming. This means you can choose whether the controller is connected directly to your system or to your Wi-Fi network. That could be especially useful as cloud gaming continues to grow in popularity.

Removable battery and durability

One of the most significant improvements appears to be the introduction of a removable battery pack. Unlike previous Elite Controller versions, which used a non-removable battery, the Elite 3 would let players swap in a new battery once the original starts to wear out over time. Microsoft has previously offered the option to use AA batteries in most of its wireless controllers, giving players the choice to buy separate rechargeable packs.

This innovation could give users a longer-lasting controller, which is an important part of the gaming experience. The removable battery could allow players to keep using their controller even after the original battery has lost capacity.

What can we expect?

With the leak of the Xbox Elite Controller 3, questions remain about how it ties into Microsoft's upcoming Project Helix console. This new system, which has so far been positioned as a hybrid between PC and console, could be in developers' hands as early as 2027. However, a public launch may not happen until 2028.

The developments around the Xbox Elite Controller 3 and Project Helix point to an exciting future for gamers, with new technologies being introduced across the Xbox lineup.