With this console generation slowly winding down to a close, it seems that developers and console manufacturers are looking ahead to the features and all the potential that this new hardware has.
That being said, one of the most underrated aspects of a console is its controller, and late last year Microsoft released The Xbox Elite Controller - which had many people saying that it is one of the best gaming controllers ever made. Is this true or is it just the voice of fanboys defending their side? This set of pros and cons will help you find out.
10 Why It Is: Familiarity
It's clear that the people who design the controllers for the Xbox believe in the old saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" and they really take it to heart. Since the original console, the Xbox has gone with what is basically the same design for its controllers.
The biggest time that they changed things up was from the first Xbox to the Xbox 360 in terms of controller difference. The Elite controller will be familiar to anyone who uses it and the changes they added can be switched out to the old style.
9 Why It Isn't: Stagnation
While familiarity is good, it can be used as an excuse to not try and do anything new. This can be considered the case with the Elite controller, as while it does add a lot of new features (and is the first Xbox controller in recent years to really add anything new), it is still very much just the old controller with some extra functionality.
This is compared to the Playstation 4 controller, which added the motion and touch screen feature and the Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons that was a vastly new idea.
8 Why It Is: Sleek Design
While the design might be the same as the last controller and doesn't deviate far from the standard look of past Xbox controllers, you can't say that it is a bad design.
There are some people that say the Xbox controllers are bulky (and compared to the PS4 and Switch controllers, they are) but the overall design of the Xbox Elite Controller is very sleek despite all of the additions that can be made.
7 Why It Isn't: Trouble Connecting To Multiple Devices
Xbox Controllers are usually the go-to for most PC players if they feel like using a controller for whatever reason. You would think that The Elite Controller would be a perfect option for high tier players or players that are in the competitive scene.
The problem is if you have both an Xbox One and a PC that you game on, it can be difficult, for multiple reasons, to switch between each platform.
6 Why It Is: Button Customization
The amount of options that you have with the Xbox Elite controller is insane and it might actually be the most customizable and versatile controller ever made. When you buy the Elite controller, it comes with a bunch of add one that you can attach to the controller, such as the extra paddles on the back that can be used to map different commands to.
These additions save you time and help to stop one button from being too crowded. You can also switch out the new D-Pad and thumbstick fro the traditional versions.
5 Why It Isn't: Needs A Connection To Play On PC
Getting back to the connection problem that this and basically all other Xbox controllers have, they always require you to either have a physical connection to your PC or have an adapter plugged into it so that you can play with it wirelessly.
This is because the Elite and other Xbox controllers can connect easily to the Xbox One through Bluetooth. However, this is not the case for the PC and therefore requires an intermediary connection in order to be used.
4 Why It Is: Adjustable Tension
This is a big one for pros and people who want to be at the top of their lobbies. You can adjust the tension in the triggers so that instead of going down all the way when pressed, they will stop at the halfway point but still do the action they are bonded to.
This can be annoying to some players who are used to it going down all the way and it can be made to be the default but for pro gamers that need to be able to move as efficiently as possible, the extra time saved by not pressing down all the way is appreciated.
3 Why It Isn't: Built-In Battery
The problem that some people might find annoying about this controller is that it has one built-in battery pack that you can't change. That can be annoying to many people. The first thing is if you start to have problems with the battery, there is no simple way to change it, and with the price of this controller that is a big problem.
The second thing is that you now have to charge the controller when it is low as you can't switch out the battery for a fresh one.
2 Why It Is: Wireless Charging
The reason why you can't change out the battery is that the Elite controller offers wireless charging. When you buy the Elite controller, it comes with a charging dock that you can simply place the controller on top of in order to start charging it.
There is also a USB-C port that you can plug into the Xbox One or any outlet so you can charge your controller. This is helpful as you don't need as many wires as other controllers and also goes against the joke about Xbox controllers and batteries.
1 Why It Isn't: Expensive Price Tag
The biggest thing that is going to stop people from buying the Xbox Elite controller isn't any of the cons listed previously as those are fairly small when compared to its pros. The big thing about the Xbox Elite controller is that it is very expensive.
This controller costs $180 US dollars, which is ridiculously high, especially when compared to the standard wireless Xbox controller that is around $70 USD. There are going to be a lot of people that see these new features as not worth the hefty price tag.