Topic: Xbox Elite Controller Series Thread

My Elite Series 2 died. Actually, it lasted a shorter time than the Elite Series 1. The first issue was that a paddle or the corresponding button didn't click. The second issue was that the B button didn't go all the way down easily and sometimes it got stuck. The third issue was the grip peeling. This didn't bother me that much, but I thought that they would have fixed this because in the first model it also happened! The fourth and definitive issue was the right bumper that stopped responding half of the time. This is why I can't use it anymore.

I love the Elite Series controller, especially the first model, but I don't think I'll buy a second Elite Series 2 in spite of having two cases and plenty of accessories. I wonder if they'll announce a third Elite model along with the Sebile controller. Actually, the paddles is the thing I like the most about the Elite controllers and the Sebile controller doesn't seem to have that. Otherwise, I'd be happy with the new leaked upcoming controller.

What do you think about the Elite controllers and how was your experience using them? I love them, but I'm also disappointed.

@Banjo- I pre-ordered the first Elite and that lasted me a Lot longer than Standard Controllers were. In fact, I probably bought 4 or more standard Xbox controllers in that same time period. I did buy Scuf grips to replace the grip peeling, but it was the Bumper 'bar' that broke so I had to buy a replacement. I still have that replacement as a 'back-up' to my Elite V2 which so far, still seems to be holding up - I pre-ordered that too so have used it for years.

Considering how many years I get before I start seeing/noticing issues, I think they are excellent. Whilst I know they are Expensive too, I've ended buying 2 or 3 Standard controllers in a year because of stick drift or some other annoying issue. All my Elites have lasted at least several years so effectively cheaper than buying multiple standards a year. I also prefer to have a taller Right (aiming) Thumbstick and of course the Paddles can really help in some games.

If/when my Elite V2 does decide to give me issues, I may consider the Cheaper 'Core' Elite as I have the Case and Accessories from my first Elite V2. I am 'hoping' though that MS will bring out a V3 before my V2 does break, but I couldn't go back to standard controllers by choice although I'd use one in an emergency LOL.

Everything 'breaks' eventually - whether its the Battery no longer charges, Thumbstick controller modules 'breaking' after thousands and thousands of clicks etc but I've had much worse experiences with Standard controllers and in my experience, the Elites do seem to last me more than 4x as long so actually works out more 'cost effective' to buy the more expensive Elites even if they don't last the 'lifetime' of the Console. Saying that, my V2 is older than my Day 1 Series X now...

@BAMozzy I used the Series 1 much more and lasted longer, so I guess I got one destined to fail. I would like to buy a Series 2 on Xbox Design Lab because I prefer the colour buttons so much more and you can design a Series controller or an Elite Series 2 controller and buy only the accessories you need. That's awesome, but I'm hoping that a Series 3 is revealed soon, because if the Sebile controller is real and it seems so because it was leaked during the ABK acquisition with what seem official slides, an Elite Series 3 should come right after, or at least that would be the logical thing to do.

I have an Elite series 1 and it is really falling apart now. The grips have long since gone and the right bumper button is only just staying attached, but, it is far superior to the standard controller and when there is a good enough deal, I'll probably upgrade to a 2. I got my 1 for £100 with a game (FH3 if I remember correctly).

@Banjo- I love the Elite 2, it's hands-down the most comfortable, "right" feeling controller I've ever used. And having had 2 Elite 1s (one had drift failure), I do like it more. I do have a spare I got from MS Store during a black friday sales a few years ago should mine break. But the build quality leaves a lot to be desired. The price is high. And I do not understand why these $150-200 controllers don't use Hall Effect sticks while $70 Chinese controllers do. I also have the PS Edge controller, and while it has nice attributes and build, while the replaceable sticks at $20 each, overpriced, are nicer than no replacement option at all on a $150-200 controller, the ergonomics are still not the best (better than stock but not the best), having only 2 paddles is just pathetic on a $200 controller, the battery is piteous, and the fact that not only could the not be bothered to put adjustable stick tension on it, they can't even be bothered to sell low tension stick modules for the modular sticks so you can't even pay them $40 more for the thing every other pro controller has built in. I "like" my Edge as a PS alternative, but, should I do something such as, say, run screaming from the burning wreck that is Xbox and go to PC, ( ), I would take my Elite 2 with me, and the Edge can stay in its case.

Better option? Probably buy something from Razer or the like built to last better with Hall sticks and leave both of these overpriced underperformers in their case. But I got to admit the charge case for Elite 2 is wonderful. Maybe Elite 3 will improve build, but if they still use $.40 Pots it says a lot about their priorities.

When will we see the Elite series 3? I'm hoping they announce the new standard controller soon with the dualsense features. Would love an Elite controller to have the same features of my dualsense edge. Especially with me switching to Xbox for COD this year.

@crippyd Good deal and nice to see you again.

@NEStalgia You are "considering" (the 2024 word) the hypothetical end of Xbox and getting prepared for anything in the gaming landscape, but are you playing games? 😜

@Nexozi Yeah, I thought that we would see the Sebile controller today and hopefully the Elite Series 3 short after but nothing yet. My Elite Series 2 broke, what do I do? 🤣 I only have the Series X controller now and I need the paddles for some genres, e.g. shooter.

@Banjo- Yeah, mostly on my Legion ATM, as I mostly go handheld in the summer anyway, but occasionally xsx when I'm playing normally for more. Though I left FFXIV half finished on PS5 and do intend to finish it there as even if I go PC, my half finished save won't carry and I am not enduring that again 😂

Mostly FFXIV right now with the native windows version on legion and xb version on the big screen, and too many games on the power handheld, p3r still, finally get ffxiii hand-held. Octopath2 (giving it a shot Even though I don't love 1) triangle strategy (never found a sale on switch) now smtv coming at greater than 20fps.... Metaphor in the fall ....

Honestly I don't even need an Xbox, I have like 5 years of gaming backlog on the little PC even without all the blockbuster games coming next year

@NEStalgia Very well, then. I thought that you were too busy hoarding hardware 🤣. I only play a game at a time, I mean, with a story. I play tons of racing, fighting and sports games. Have you realised? Xbox has become a Surface lineup as I predicted, six models already 😁, but I need a new controller. The Series X Special Edition reminds me of Xbox One X/Scorpio.

@Banjo- hoarding hardware begins in earnest with a PC build out. I still have a whole hardware graveyard from last time. Want top class Xeon rig from 2010 that was barely used? Shipping to UK would cost more than it's worth

Lol there's an absurd number of Series consoles now unless they discontinue the original. Did I see right that the adorably all digital has 1tb and the normal physical now has 2tb? I don't think they showed pricing yet but that's the opposite I expected. I like the SE controller colors though.

Yeah I know you were waiting for that controller. I have a spare elite 2 so I'm not too anxious for it but they're still my favorites! I guess if I go PC there's razer and the like, they make nice controllers. But Xbox controllers have the dongle for lower latency

@NEStalgia Yes, but the standard Series X will also be available. Also look at the photos closely, the Series X Galaxy Black looks cool.

The lower latency of Xbox controllers is also important to me. I will wait some months and if nothing is announced I'll design an Elite 2 on Xbox Design Lab.

Can't you ship the Elite Series 2 instead? 🤣

@Banjo- I was thinking, with the rumours of the new next gen console releasing in 2026 they might be holding the controllers back.

@Banjo- LOL, nope, the Elite 2 is mine....it will come with me to PC or Xbox...it's not going anywhere I already have the PC dongle from my cloud streaming on Surface, so I'm already set on no-latency controllers

(Unless a game has Gyro support in which case I will try to avoid gagging wile plugging in my DS Edge.... )

@NEStagia Fair enough! 😁

@Nexozi That's a possibility, but according to the leaks during the ABK acquisition, Microsoft expects the next generation consoles to launch in 2028. That means that I need a new controller before the next generation. It's either waiting a bit and play with the Series X controller without paddles to see if they announce something or getting an Elite Series 2 with colour buttons on Xbox Design Lab. I hate the grey buttons on a controller.

@Banjo- Yea, I think 2026 is too soon for a new generation. But def seen something somewhere mentioning it. Its still way too long to wait for a new controller. Especially with Blops 6 for free. Can always trade it into cex when the new one comes out.

Just don't scold me too much, but personally, it always seemed to me that the PS5's gamepad is much better... But I'm still an Xbox fan.

I must be unlucky in controllers. I received my second Elite Series 2 and I gave it back to the shop the following day, because it had an issue in the left stick. I thought that because the Series 2 has been on the market for years, quality would be flawless by now. I also learned that the issue with the first Elite Series 2 besides the bumper is the paddle buttons and not the paddles themselves, so I kept the paddles, the battery charger and the case of my first Series 2 that broke. Since I have all this, I can either push my luck and buy an Elite Series 2 Core or give up.

@Banjo- man what a cursed set of circumstances, because just the day, the L bumper on my switch stopped working for good.

@Yousef- I have barely used the joy-cons or the Switch buttons because I use a Brook adapter and the Xbox Series X controller when playing Switch games, but I know that the joy-cons are unreliable and that the D-pad of the Switch pro controller sucks. I also had an issue with a bumper on the Nintendo 3DS XL. I don't use much force pressing buttons, so I know it's not me.

The only console of mine that basically fell apart was the PS4. The Wii had the green pixels symptom, but it was replaced by Nintendo quickly. Same for the first 3DS, that also had a GPU issue. My favourite handheld is New Nintendo 3DS (smaller model) and, thankfully, is as good as new.

@Banjo- good suggestion, I need an adapter too.