Closer shot of Mortal Kombat X gamepad

When it comes to fighting games, players have their command input preferences. Those usually just come down to standard controller vs. custom fight stick or analog stick vs. D-pad, but if you've ever played a fighting game in the last couple of years, you may have noticed that, yes, some methods feel way better than others.

2011's Mortal Kombat (or Mortal Kombat 9) was one such fighting game that eventually offered a choice between controller or fight stick, and its successor, Mortal Kombat X, appears to be doing the same thing, though with a slightly odd looking controller. Initially spotted at the GameStop EXPO in Anaheim, California last week, Alex Jebailey, community manager for Iron Galaxy Studios snapped a couple photos of the MKX branded controller, which sports six face buttons and one larger-than-usual analog stick.

The controllers will work with the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 versions of Mortal Kombat X, but publisher Warner Bros. has yet to make an official announcement. And despite the game also releasing for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC, it's currently unknown if the new gamepads will support them. According to Jebailey, the pair of controllers are still "pending approval," thereby explaining the lack of any solid details.

Interestingly enough, the new controllers resemble the classic Sega Genesis six-button controller, save for the analog stick instead of a D-pad and the left side being slightly longer than the right. Details pertaining to why the controllers were designed in such a way will probably come if/when they're announced, but for now, it's an odd design choice. It's possible that the longer side is where the batteries are place, but the controller appear to be wired, which forgoes the need for an internal power source.

Should these controller be approved and announced for release, would they be something you'd consider buying or would you hold out for a full-on fight stick? How much would you be willing to pay for an MKX branded controller?

Mortal Kombat X, developed by NetherRealm, is the next iteration in the brutal, long-running fighting game series. The game will give players the option to pick from three fighting variations for each character, allowing for new strategies and ways to play. New and old faces are set to appear, including Raiden, Kano and Cassie Cage.

Mortal Kombat X releases on April 14, 2015, with Goro currently being offered as a pre-order bonus.

Sources: GameSpotAlex Jebailey's Instagram