The new controller Microsoft announced can hold up to 255 completely different button mapping profiles. It also adds a couple of quick triggers on the back of the controller for quick access. This is going to change things for consoles. You are no longer stuck using sometimes frustrating control schemes on some games. It also adds a “hair trigger” function that will certainly come in handy for first-person shooter games like Halo and Call of Duty.
This new controller doesn’t stop customization with just remapping the buttons. You can also physically customize the controller as well. The paddles on the back of the controller can be removed and swapped around as you see fit. The thumb-sticks and D-pad can also be swapped out to give you a better fit.
For fans of shooters, the paddles on the back side of the controller will allow you to never take your thumbs off of the thumb-sticks to do things like jump, crouch, or dive, giving you the complete control necessary to overcome any obstacle. The paddles also add to the immersion of driving games like Forza and Need for Speed by allowing you to shift using the paddles like some high-end sports cars use on the steering wheels.
The only downside to this amazing new piece of hardware is that it will cost $150 in the U.S. This will of course limit the number of people using it in online multiplayer games which could potentially unbalance the playing field. Which will of course drive the hardcore gamers to the store to buy it for themselves.
Something as small as a new controller may get overlooked in a week filled with game-play demos and cinematic trailers, but make no mistake, this changes things in console gaming.
