- Microsoft documents leaked last year revealed a new Xbox controller codenamed Sebile.
- The controller doesn’t appear to have been cancelled, and should be included with next-gen Xbox hardware.
- A new patent details other aspects of the controller, including enhanced haptics.
Remember last year, there were a lot of sensitive people Microsoft files leaked As part of the Activision Blizzard acquisition hearing mishap? Considering everything that’s happened between now and then, you’d be forgiven for forgetting, but one of the leaks is particularly relevant today.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays depending on what you’re celebrating, but the Xbox news on Windows Central never stops spinning. To this end, I found myself browsing through the latest Microsoft patent filings, as I’m wont to do when I’m bored, and I stumbled across something that lends further credence to what I’ve been investigating lately.
As part of the canceled mid-generation Xbox console brooklyn and EllewoodMicrosoft also plans to launch a new controller called Sebile. Details of the controller are below, showing off a “direct-to-the-cloud” connection similar to Stadia, as well as various other improvements.
While Ellewood and Brooklin appear to have been cancelled, I’m reliably informed that Sebile is still around and is planned to launch alongside the next generation of Xbox console hardware.
one patent The application filed in the US this month is clearly Sebile due to the configuration of its plastic case (also made by technology player.) One aspect of the controller that always seemed a little weird in the Sebile leak above is the grip, which looks a bit like the controller is wearing pants. In the patent below, it appears to be designed for several reasons. Microsoft wants to retain the ergonomic feel of its existing line of Xbox controllers, but the handles also appear to be equipped with new haptic motors that can direct “HD” pulses. The patent describes how the new motors are distributed throughout the device and should fire consistently regardless of how the player moves the controller’s housing.
The patent describes how pulses and vibrations can be adjusted to imitate a variety of sounds and movements, even moving independently of the controller’s housing. Crucially, it also suggests that the haptic motors will be able to mimic previous styles of vibration for backwards compatibility purposes, eliminating the need for developer intervention to make their games run on the new controller.
Another interesting aspect of Sebile is that it will borrow a feature from Stadia, which is direct connection to cloud gaming via Wi-Fi. Players will be able to point their controllers directly to different devices through various active device lists, similar to pointing Spotify to different devices you have connected accounts to. By bypassing Bluetooth, it should help eliminate a few extra milliseconds of latency when playing games in the cloud. It may not seem like much, but it makes a surprising difference and is why Stadia often feels “faster” An important factor was “comparison to competing solutions at the time.
However, we’ve heard that the controller won’t launch before the next generation of Xbox hardware. Microsoft is expected to work on developing Xbox handheld device and a more traditional Xbox console to replace the Xbox Series X. Microsoft also plans to let OEM manufacturers such as Dell, Lenovo and Asus produce Xbox game consoles Likewise, it’s targeting retail markets and price points where Microsoft doesn’t really have a foothold yet.
If the previous profile is still correct, the controller should also have replaceable and rechargeable batteries, Bluetooth 5.2, and a new “boosted wake” detection boot function to improve structural reliability and improve repairability. Microsoft aims to use more recycled materials and reduce the new controller’s reliance on resin and glue to help players repair their own stuff. What remains to be seen, though, is the price. All of these new features likely won’t come cheap, although Microsoft will continue to sell current-gen Xbox controllers in addition to this new controller. After all, not everyone wants or needs cloud compatibility. We’re still missing the Xbox Elite Controller Series 3.
What would you like to see in the new Xbox controller? Hit the comments and let us know.