Amazon Adds 'Frequently Returned Item' Warning To Xbox Elite Series 2 Controller

Is there something about modern controllers that tend to fail more often?

I’ve had one Dbox controller fail and it was the fancy gold shadow version, but my controllers that came in box are perfect. I got lucky and only had one pair of Nintendo joycons fail.

But my random GCN and Wii controllers I’ve had since launch or bought from people online are nothing short of ROBUST.

It’s the only blemish on this controllers resume. Otherwise it is by far the best of the best in my opinion. I am hoping on Elite 3 they crank the quality control up to 11. If so they will have a monster controller on hand and i will get one. At the moment while i wait i am just using the Series X basic controller and love it. I had 2 stick drifts on those in almost 5 years but i play on them every day. Now i have had one stick drift and a broken D-Pad on my PS5 Dual Sense and i barely use it. I only play a few games on that box.

Not holding my breath. Xbox controller have been absolutely abysmal this gen.

You can really tell they cheapest out, even in just how it feels in your hand. The launch Series controllers felt like flimsy Mad Katz you'd buy back in the day.

At this point. I'm just about to to buy a wireless PC controller with hall effects and gyro.

I am not a fan at all of Xbox controllers build quality. They are incredibly noisy and fell really cheap and creaky. Both special edition Forza controllers have 'sticky' trigger buttons which is maddening. I thought about buying an elite, but read they were just as bad.
At least they haven't had stick drift, but I've experienced that on two PS5 controllers, so you can't win. To be fair, the ps controllers are used far more and are much better built in all other metrics, but that doesn't excuse the drift, 2 out of the seven controllers I've had is too many. I may get the edge with replaceable sticks. Battery life is poo, but I have tons of charge cables available right next to where I sit (usb power hub with 8 ports), so it's no big deal to charge while I play.

Frustrating to have such controller issues.

Today I saw a listing for a refurb Elite Series 2 for $50 at a local electronics store, case accessories and all! Almost jumped out the door, but then did some research and saw many mentioning analogue drift after less than 2 months of usage. I didn't expect them to use hall effect or anything, but I also didn't expect to see so many negative reviews mentioning analogue issues. Too bad.

Only controller in 50+ going back to SNES pads that I had any real issues with.

Bumpers stopped being reliable, ABXY too, and of course the worst issue was stick drift on the right stick

Also the little rubberized nubs on the paddle switches comes off for basically everyone

Lastly it stinks in a way no other controller ever did, cuz of all the little grooves in rubber material - bacteria loves it and it smells like a hockey back if you don't clean it regularly

Edit: when it was brand new without any of these issues, best controller I'd ever owned

I own one and it's embarrassing. Had to return it twice for 2 different problems. Stick drift is only one issue that I didn't even run into. Buttons not registering is incredibly common with this pad. If you Google it you'll find tons of reddit threads and people explaining the design flaw that causes it. For $150. Inexcusable

So far I'm on my third set of joy cons, two dual senses replaced and as of yesterday, three x box pads down, all with stick drift.

My dual senses probably get most ware and tare but still, at the price of pads these days you'd think they'd last longer.

Yeah, the Elite 2 isn't great, I sold mine as well.

I personally think that the normal wireless controller which goes for $70-$80 is overpriced lets alone the pro controller which goes for $250! If my wireless controller stop charging they I just add a usb cable to make it into a wired controller.

Controllers are one of the downsides to Xbox series for me. Pack-in controller hurts my hand, Xbox one controller got stick drift and is outdated and no longer available, 3rd party controllers typically aren’t wireless, and elite controllers are an expensive risk.

So I’ve got a wired 8bitdo. Great other than the wire.

This is a recurring theme with Xbox controllers. The classic model that I got with my Series S literally got stick drift less than 9 months of use. Now I'm using my GameSir G7 SE and it's incredible.

What do people do with their controllers 🤷🏻‍♂️ in my over 25 years of gaming never had any issues at all 🤔.

@Residentsteven Yeah I always wondered this myself, and it seems like there is a real trend with people who complain about issues having numerous instances across various platforms and manufacturers. This tells me how there is probably something to the way some people are handling their controllers to where they are far more prone than most when it comes to experiencing problems.

I mean I can't think of any time I had serious issues beyond a few PlayStation controllers no longer being able to work or charge. I mean I will use some controllers so much I will wear the rubber on the analog sticks out before anything actually breaks or malfunctions.

@JayJ exactly 👍🏻, had my last controller for over 6 years for my ps4 never one issue until the battery died after probably 1000’s of charges 😂.

I've had a couple of elite controllers and it's the rubber grip padding on the sides that peel off but I super glued one of them and it's still intact so far lol

I bought two Elite controllers and they are a waste of money when one considers their price in comparison to the normal version.

They fall apart, the little rubber parts on the sliding switches on the back gets loose and slack over time. The rubber feeling means I don't like the idea of anyone sharing them they feel like petridishes.

This ELITE is clearly not worth the asking price. I still much prefer my Razer Wolverine Ultimate, which I've owned for six years, has thousands of hours on the clock, and has never let me down. Well, yes, there was a manufacturing defect when I bought it, but the customer service exchanged it within 48 hours.

And in the future, it will be a SCUF. But certainly not a €200 Microsoft controller.

@Residentsteven it’s this mad concept where sometimes mass produced items aren’t of the same quality.

I’m on my 3rd Xbox controller - 2 went in the first year with stick drift. So 3rd one is vs lasting much better granted.

Yet my ps5 is older - original controller. My original ps4 controller has had a trigger break in almost 10yrs.

My switch - original controller.

Ps5 is most played. It can just happen as they are cheaply made.

This is why I stick to the stock controllers that come with the console. Very rarely ever had an issue with them. Aside the Dreamcast controller, they're my fave of all the types I've held.

Ok been there,doné that
I owned 5 Xbox elite 1 and 2 elite 2 controllers... I sold everything and now I play with 3 gameSir G7 HE. There is a wire but the controller is light, works great and I have hall effect joysticks + mechanical buttons for d pad and the 4 buttons + 2 extra buttons in the back (configurable too) It costs 45 / 50 euros. I'm really happy !
Sadly you can't find the same offer on PS5 (haptic returns are copyrighted by Sony...).

Controllers are the worst thing this gen😥 got stuck drift on a couple n my elite series 2 got drift after 2 3 month 😭 stopped using it got it back out to give it a go few months later n triggers were dodgy too 😂😭

@BowDownToZod u just got lucky then my series 2 got drift after 2 3 month n had 2 or 3 standards have it after a while too. Never got drift on 360 don't think I even bought another controller for that just had the same one all way through

I got fed up after my third Elite controller developed drift. Sourced and installed my own hall effect modules in my third one and what do you know, no problems ever since. They're not expensive either, so there's really no excuse for MS/Sony/Nintendo not to use them.

@BowDownToZod No need for insinuations. I take great care of my electronics. I'm a professional in IT and electronics repair as well. The fact is that these controllers use potentiometers with a very limited lifespan. They are a wear item, so claiming they don't fail is like claiming to have brake pads on your car that never need replacing. Another hole in that argument is that replacing my potentiometers with hall effect modules completely eliminated the problem.

@BowDownToZod

I’m 44, 45 in December, and I baby my controllers. I’ve still gone through two Elite 1’s, two elite 2’s, and my elite 2 core is getting worse… but works. But I’ve had to tighten the sticks a notch, and the RB is getting some double taps, but it’s still relatively rare. But I know it’s gonna give up on me sooner rather than later.

And I’ve gamed almost as much on PC and PS5 (more on the Series X though), but still they break down.

I play all kinds of games. Single player games and multiplayer games. A lot of Overwatch 2 etc etc. I never throw or bash my controllers. The QC is simply crap. Maybe you’ve been extremely lucky, I don’t know. Maybe you don’t play much at all, I don’t know. But ive been gaming since the 80’s, and the quality of controllers are DOWN, clearly down. No question about it. I love the Elite Series 2, such a shame that MS somehow manage to create two very expensive controllers (three with the Elite 2 Core), and they all have such poor quality. They are GREAT when they’re new, but they don’t last nearly as long as they should considering their price. For many of us at least.

@Tyrant_T103

You’re 100% correct.

Just a shame that it’s not just the sticks that are the issue. LB and RB are extremely poor as well. My second Elite 2’s RB went down completely. My second Elite 1 got double taps on both LB and RB. And RB are giving me occasional double taps on my latest Series 2 Core…

I’ve opened up and cleaned a couple of them. But it didn’t hold for long, if at all. And I shouldn’t have to either after 7-8 months when I’ve paid so much money. Sigh.. I hope the rumored next controller has much better QC.

@themightyant Thanks mate, my two ps5 controllers went in the bin in a pique of annoyance, so it's a bit after the event now, but I'll remember for the future, as it's expensive to bin them... I have 5 currently including my treasured 30th anniversary one, first one of them to go, will go for repair 😄
If I can find any downtime for the series X, the Forza controllers will be sent off for trigger 'de stickying'.

Weird...I've had mine for over 2 years with some serious hardcore daily usage,and i've not had any problems with mine whatsoever. I even bought one those Venom accessory packs to go with it. Still unopened too.
Maybe it's country dependent but yeah...mine works as good as the day i bought it.

@themightyant it's absolutely embarrassing for Microsoft. You think they'd learn after the 360 disaster. Now Amazon are exposing more Xbox tech failure

Why don't they just release an updated Elite Series 2 with hall effect sticks and make everyone happy? It seems like a trivial change that would benefit them as well.

@Titntin battery life is amazing compared to the dreadful ps5 controllers

@cornholio005
So? Your comment adds nothing to the conversation except a poor attempt to rile.
You are absolutely welcome to love your creaky bits of plastic. If they were at least reliable I wouldn't care much.... and they don't even reliably remain wirelessly connected. I thought that might be my series X, but ends up there are loads of us who can't get reliable wireless connection no matter what and have to use controllers wired as a result. Batteries and leads, it's like regressing 20 years when I'm playing Xbox, Lol.
Edit: shouldn't have bothered replying, your comment history shows you are not here to discuss anything and are often completely unreasonable....sigh