Microsoft appears to have had its new compact controller, focused on Xbox Cloud Gaming, leaked. The significant innovation lies not just in its size but also in its connectivity. According to a leak published by Tecnoblog, the device retains the classic Xbox button layout but adopts a smaller body, similar to portable controllers from 8BitDo or HyperX. This design is intended for gaming on mobile phones, tablets, TVs, or devices where cloud gaming is most practical.
The key difference compared to the current Xbox controller would be the inclusion of Wi-Fi 6 connectivity. In addition to Bluetooth for connecting to mobile devices, laptops, or desktop computers, the official documentation mentions Bluetooth and Wi-Fi 6 connectivity limited to 20 MHz channels. This controller houses a Realtek RTL8730E chip with two ARM Cortex-A7 cores running at 1.20 GHz. An internal rechargeable battery of 500 mAh is also mentioned, which is notable as the standard Xbox Wireless Controller still uses AA batteries or external rechargeable packs.
Microsoft May Be Close to Announcing an Official Xbox Cloud Gaming Controller
The inclusion of Wi-Fi in the Xbox Cloud Gaming controller serves a simple purpose: to minimize latency when playing in the cloud. With a conventional Bluetooth controller, the signal is first sent to the mobile device, TV, PC (any receiving device), and then travels to the cloud server. In contrast, this controller, with its Wi-Fi capability, connects directly to Xbox Cloud Gaming servers. This is essentially the same strategy used by the controller for Stadia, Google’s former cloud gaming platform. While this doesn’t eliminate internet connection latency, it does reduce some local delay and makes the response more consistent.
Visually, the controller appears significantly smaller than the traditional Xbox Wireless Controller. The leaked images show white and black versions. It features a USB-C port on the top, triggers, bumpers, a D-pad, analog sticks, and an additional top button that might be related to pairing or switching between Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cloud modes. For now, this is a leak. Furthermore, these images were captured by Anatel, Brazil’s National Telecommunications Agency. This is the agency that certifies wireless products before they can be legally sold or used in the country, making these images entirely legitimate.
This move makes a lot of sense within Xbox’s current strategy. Microsoft has been actively promoting Game Pass and Xbox Cloud Gaming beyond the traditional console. A new controller optimized for the cloud would help better manage the experience on mobile phones, TVs, laptops, and third-party devices. It would also allow Microsoft to compete directly with compact controllers already associated with cloud gaming, such as the 8BitDo SN30 Pro for Xbox Cloud Gaming or the HyperX Clutch Tanto, both aimed at gamers seeking something more compact and portable than a traditional console controller.
