New Xbox Hardware Leaks With Rumored Major Upgrades

Published Oct 6, 2026, 11:25 AM EDT Patricia is the former editor-in-chief of Kotaku, where she spent a decade writing and editing. Prior to that, she served as the Culture Editor at Polygon, and as a reporter at The Verge. Hernandez specializes in Pokémon TCG, Nintendo, and offbeat internet culture stories. One of Xbox's best hardware options may soon be replaced by something bigger and better Image: Microsoft Sign in to your Polygon.com account Once you've tried an Xbox Elite controller and all of its bells and whistles, it's hard to go back to a normal peripheral. Xbox is about to further that divide with a totally new Xbox Elite controller that takes everything you love about the last model and cranks it up a notch. There's no official announcement of a new controller, but a new leak from Xbox's backend server has spilled all the juicy details. The ostensible Elite Series 3 controller will have advanced haptics, such as Impulse Triggers that convert electrical signals into physical feedback, and trigger-specific vibration. The swappable joysticks will have an additional "silent stick" option to play around with. Even the older sticks are getting an upgrade, though. The leaked documents describe Hall-effect joystick modules with standard, loose, and tight resistance that minimize stick drift. Another joystick possibility is the "TMR" option, that translates your movement at a higher resolution but with lower power consumption. ​​​​​​​Xbox's rumored Elite Series 3 controller is all about fine-tuning Based on the additional specs, fine-tuning your preferences seems to be the new controller's north star. The controller will offer more paddle designs beyond the standard inclusions, such as double-wide paddles and a paddle configuration without the top part of the backside buttons. The D-pad is also getting renewed with grippy alternatives as well as add-ons that are divided between cosmetic and performance builds. Players will be able to change the controller's faceplate, which includes options for colors, metal finishes, and engravings. For the audiophiles, the new controller is said to include a setting called "audio scroll wheel color." For some, a new Elite controller may be overdue. Xbox fans generally say that they love the functionality that the Elite Series Controller 2 provides, but the fancy peripheral can be hit-or-miss when it comes to quality control. Some fans report that their peripherals broke sooner than they anticipated. A new controller could give Xbox an opportunity to improve the accessory's features and its quality control. Without an official announcement, we also don't know how much this new controller will cost — but they likely won't be cheap. The older Elite Series 2 model currently has a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $199.99; a new controller may well ring up even higher than its predecessor.