Xbox Elite Series 3 Controller Leak Reveals New Features and Improvements

Microsoft’s upcoming Xbox Elite Series 3 Controller has surfaced again in a new leak, this time from Microsoft’s Xbox Design Lab website. Earlier leaks from Brazil’s National Telecommunications Agency and a Reddit post revealed a prototype with a small built-in screen and two new scroll wheels.

The latest details from Reddit suggest the controller will feature Hall Effect and TMR sticks, technologies that use magnets to reduce wear and stick drift. The leak also mentions “Impulse Triggers (ERMs) & Advanced Haptics (VCAs) Motors,” hinting at potential haptic feedback similar to Sony’s DualSense controllers for the PS5. An audio scroll wheel is also mentioned, which aligns with previous leaks showing new wheels near the headphone jack.

Additional specifications include customizable D-pads, faceplates, and paddle styles. The controller will come in two “Base” configurations (with or without motors) and two “Elite Complete” models (also with or without motors). The current Elite Series 2 controller is available in a $139.99 “Core” version and a $199.99 complete version with extra accessories.

The Elite Series 2 has been criticized for durability issues, but Windows Central’s Jez Corden notes that “quality control and repairability has been a priority for the Xbox Elite Controller Series 3.” The new controller is expected to be announced before the end of the year, with a possible release near the 25th anniversary of Xbox in November.