Microsoft hikes Xbox controller price as new model drops Chatpad

New Xbox controller strips away Chatpad port and climbs to $64.99

Microsoft’s latest Xbox wireless controller arrives without the accessory port that once held the optional Chatpad. Engadget reports the redesign eliminates the underused slot, forcing users who still rely on the miniature keyboard to look for work‑arounds. At the same time, Microsoft lifts the controller’s suggested retail price in the United States to $64.99, up from the previous $59.95.

The price change appears in the same update that bumps the Xbox Series X to $599.99 and the Series S 512 GB model to $379.99. The Series S 1 TB version now retails for $429.99, while the digital‑only Series X drops to $549.99. In Europe and the UK, the Series X climbs to €599.99/£499.99 and the Series S to €349.99/£299.99. Microsoft also nudges the Xbox wireless headset to $119.99. All adjustments take effect immediately, according to the company’s revised retailer pricing guidelines.

Pricing overhaul spreads across consoles, accessories, and games

The controller price hike is part of a broader shift that sees new first‑party Xbox titles moving from $69.99 to $79.99 later this year. Microsoft says Game Pass subscriptions will stay unchanged, but the higher price points bring Xbox’s flagship titles in line with Nintendo’s premium Switch releases.

Microsoft last raised console prices in June 2023, a move that also touched Game Pass at the time. This round arrives amid lingering uncertainty over U.S. trade tariffs and follows Satya Nadella’s claim that Microsoft ended the quarter as the top publisher by pre‑orders and pre‑installs on both Xbox and PlayStation stores. The company also reported a 45 % year‑over‑year rise in PC Game Pass revenue, suggesting a strategy that leans on subscription growth while extracting more from hardware.

Adaptive Controller pushes accessibility forward

While mainstream gamers confront higher costs, Microsoft continues to expand its accessibility portfolio. The Xbox Adaptive Controller, priced at $99.99 and slated for release later this year, offers two large programmable buttons and 19 jacks for external switches, joysticks, and pedals. Solomon Romney, a Microsoft Store learning specialist born without fingers on his left hand, demonstrated how the device lets him play entirely with his feet, swapping inputs in seconds.

The Adaptive Controller is not a one‑size‑fits‑all solution, but it builds on lessons from the 2015 Xbox Elite controller, which unintentionally attracted gamers with limited mobility because of its modular grips and remappable buttons. Navin Kumar, Xbox’s director of product marketing, told Polygon that early accessibility insights from the Elite controller were “secondary considerations” at the time. The Adaptive Controller, by contrast, is a purpose‑built platform that avoids the “feeling of otherness” that many assistive devices can create.

Apple adds Xbox controller to its store, widening the ecosystem

Apple’s recent software updates for iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and macOS now support the Xbox Wireless Controller. The company has begun selling the controller for $59.95 on its online store, offering next‑day shipping. Apple’s move could boost Xbox’s visibility among iOS and macOS users, especially as Apple also introduced PlayStation 4 controller support in iOS 13 and later.

The Apple listing does not yet appear in physical retail locations, but the partnership signals a broader acceptance of Microsoft’s hardware on competing platforms. Notably, Sony’s DualShock 4 remains absent from Apple’s catalog, highlighting Microsoft’s strategic advantage in cross‑platform controller availability.

What to watch: pricing pressure, accessibility adoption, and market response

The next quarter will reveal whether gamers accept the higher price tags or shift to cheaper alternatives. Analysts will watch sales data for the new controller, especially given its $64.99 price point and the loss of the Chatpad port. Adoption rates for the $99.99 Adaptive Controller will also be a barometer for Microsoft’s accessibility ambitions. Finally, Apple’s foray into Xbox hardware sales could prompt other ecosystem players to broaden support, potentially reshaping the peripheral market ahead of the holiday season.

Updates

• 2026-05-22 — PSA: The Steam Controller’s magnetic charger can be a fire hazard (source)