Xbox Adaptive Controller Babble
1. General Information
Q: What is the Xbox Adaptive Controller?
A: A video game controller designed by Microsoft for players with disabilities.
Q: When was it released?
A: September 4, 2018.
Q: What was its launch price?
A: $99.99 USD.
Q: Which platforms support it?
A: Windows PCs, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
Q: Who manufactures the controller?
A: Microsoft.
2. Origins & History
Q: What inspired Microsoft to pursue accessible gaming?
A: Positive feedback from parents of disabled children using Kinect.
Q: Who first noticed custom accessibility controllers?
A: Microsoft engineer Matt Hite, who saw a Warfighter Engaged design in 2014.
Q: What nonprofit influenced development?
A: Warfighter Engaged, founded in 2012 to help injured veterans.
Q: What feature released in 2016 built momentum for accessibility?
A: The Copilot feature, letting two controllers work together as one.
Q: Which nonprofits partnered with Microsoft on development?
A: SpecialEffect, Warfighter Engaged, and The AbleGamers Foundation.
Q: What disabled gamer collaborated with Microsoft on testing?
A: Randy “N0M4D” Fitzgerald.
3. Release & Promotion
Q: When was the Xbox Adaptive Controller announced?
A: May 2018.
Q: What commercial first promoted it?
A: “Reindeer Games,” a holiday ad in November 2018.
Q: Which Super Bowl featured an Adaptive Controller ad?
A: Super Bowl LIII (2019) with “We All Win.”
Q: Who was featured in the commercials?
A: Owen Sirmons, a 9-year-old with Escobar syndrome.
4. Design
Q: What are the dimensions of the controller?
A: 292 × 130 × 23 mm (11.5 × 5.1 × 0.9 in).
Q: How much does it weigh?
A: 552 g (19.5 oz).
Q: What unique buttons does it have?
A: Two large, domed buttons (100 mm each), mapped to A and B by default.
Q: How do the large buttons differ?
A: They produce different sounds when pressed, helping distinguish them.
Q: What other standard controls are included?
A: A D-pad, menu button, view button, and Xbox home button.
Q: How many profiles can be stored on the device?
A: Three, selectable via a profile button.
5. Connectivity & Accessories
Q: What ports does the controller have?
A: Two USB-A 2.0 ports and 19 3.5mm jacks.
Q: What are the 3.5mm jacks used for?
A: Connecting external switches, buttons, pedals, and joysticks.
Q: What app allows remapping of buttons?
A: The Xbox Accessories app.
Q: Can third-party devices be used?
A: Yes, it supports a wide range of assistive tech accessories.
6. Other Uses
Q: What voting system includes the Xbox Adaptive Controller?
A: Microsoft’s ElectionGuard electronic voting system.
7. Reception & Impact
Q: How was the Xbox Adaptive Controller received?
A: Widely praised for promoting gaming accessibility.
Q: What awards or recognition has it influenced?
A: Helped push accessibility forward in the gaming industry.
Q: Why was its price point significant?
A: Microsoft deliberately kept it under $100, unlike many expensive assistive devices.
Q: What influence did it have beyond gaming?
A: It became a model for inclusive design in technology.
