Microsoft may finally be ready to shrink the Xbox controller formula.
According to leaked images and details reported by Portuguese-language publication Technoblog, Microsoft is working on a compact Xbox controller aimed mainly at cloud gaming. Nothing is official yet, so take this as leak territory for now, but the hardware shown sounds like a very interesting move from Xbox.
For years, Microsoft has mostly stuck to its familiar controller shape. Apart from big exceptions like the original Duke and the accessibility-focused Xbox Adaptive Controller, the standard Xbox pad has not changed that drastically. This leaked model looks different: smaller, flatter, and closer in spirit to compact controllers like the 8BitDo SN30 Pro.
The important bit? It still keeps the Xbox DNA. The leaked design reportedly uses the usual Xbox-style button layout, with offset thumbsticks instead of the symmetrical stick placement seen on many retro-style pads. The d-pad also appears to be similar, or possibly identical, to the one used on the current Xbox Wireless Controller for Series consoles.
That is a smart call. Compact controllers can be nice for portability, but if the layout feels weird, competitive players will reject it fast. Keeping the Xbox stick placement means muscle memory should carry over better for anyone already playing on Xbox or PC.
The controller also seems to have small grip bumps at the bottom, which suggests Microsoft is trying to avoid the common “cute but cramped” problem that hits many mini controllers. If you have bigger hands, you already know the pain: some compact pads are fine for 20 minutes, then your fingers start asking for medical leave.
The leaked images reportedly show black and white versions. Under the hood, the controller is said to support Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, and USB-C. It may also use a Realtek RTL8730E SoC and a built-in 500 mAh battery, instead of the AA battery setup found on the regular Xbox Wireless Controller.
That battery change is quite a big deal. Xbox fans have argued about AA batteries for years. Some like the flexibility, others just want a built-in rechargeable pack like basically every modern handheld device. For a cloud-first controller, built-in battery makes sense because this thing is probably meant to live in a bag next to your phone, tablet, or handheld PC.
For Malaysia and SEA, the bigger question is availability and pricing. 8BitDo is already popular here because you can easily find its controllers on Shopee and Lazada, usually at prices that make sense for students and casual gamers. If Microsoft wants this compact Xbox controller to compete, it cannot come in at premium Elite Controller-level pricing. It needs to hit that sweet spot where mobile gamers, Game Pass users, and PC players feel like it is worth grabbing instead of another third-party pad.
Cloud gaming itself is also a mixed story in our region. Some SEA players rely more on PC, console, handhelds, or local streaming setups, especially where official cloud services and latency are not consistent. That makes the controller’s wider compatibility important. The leak suggests it should still work normally with Xbox and PC, not just cloud gaming, which gives it more practical value here.
If the leak is accurate, Microsoft is not just making a smaller Xbox controller for fun. It looks like the company wants a proper first-party answer to compact, portable pads that already dominate the mobile and handheld gaming crowd.
No release date, final name, or pricing has been confirmed yet. But if Microsoft gets the ergonomics, battery life, and price right, this could be a very tempting controller for players who want something lighter than the standard Xbox pad without going fully third-party.
Source: TechPowerUp