Back in September of 2023, the biggest leak in Xbox history uncovered a bunch of things that were supposedly planned at one point in time, including a controller codenamed "Sebile" that was seemingly set for a 2024 release.
That obviously didn't happen, but Windows Central is reporting "on good authority" this month that Sebile is still being worked on - but now for the "next generation of Xbox console hardware". Better yet, we've got a new patent from Microsoft that hints at the kind of haptic feedback that will seemingly be incorporated in the new controller.
You can see an image from the patent below, along with a description of what it's showing off.
"A device configured to generate haptic feedback is disclosed. The device includes a housing, a connector, and a haptic motor. The connector includes a mount end coupled to the housing and a distal end spaced away from the mount end. The haptic motor is coupled to the distal end of the connector. Activation of the haptic motor causes the haptic motor to move relative to the housing to generate the haptic feedback."
There's a lot more to discover in the full patent, which goes into detail about how the controller appears to be targeting "high definition" haptic feedback for newer games alongside the ability to retune itself for "legacy" haptic feedback - presumably referring to backwards compatible titles that were originally built for older controllers.
"In one example, the device can be tuned such that one resonance peak simulates haptic feedback of a legacy haptic motor of a legacy device (e.g., an Eccentric Rotary Mass (ERM) motor that vibrates at 20 Hz in a legacy game controller). For example, such a configuration may be used for backwards compatibility with legacy video games."
"Further, the device can be tuned such that the other resonance peak is aligned with a higher frequency that provides high definition (HD) haptic feedback (e.g., at 80 Hz). For example, such haptic feedback could be used for new video games. In some examples, both forms of haptic feedback could be used under different conditions in the same video game (or another interactive experience)."
When Sebile was first leaked in September of last year, the document did mention how the controller would feature "precision haptic feedback" along with an accelerometer and VCA haptics that double as speakers, alongside loads of other new features including new modular thumbsticks and a couple of improved forms of wireless connection.
Of course, patents never tell the full story, and we're assuming there's still a long way to go until Microsoft properly reveals what it's planning for the next generation of Xbox controllers. Until then, let the speculation commence!