As one of the three giants in the console market, Microsoft produces the world's best controllers and is also the manufacturer that invests the most in controller design, although it has not released accurate data, but in Venturebeat's interview with the Xbox one controller design team, it was mentioned that its controller research and development cost exceeded $100 million.
 
According to Steam's data in September 2018, 64% of the controllers registered on the Steam platform in 2015 are from the Xbox series, with a total of nearly 40 million Xbox controllers registered. At the same time, among these gamers who registered controllers, the utilization rate of Xbox One was more than 50% higher than that of other controllers.
 
Thanks to Microsoft's promotion of the basic controller protocol "Xinput" in the past decade, the Xbox controller has become the default controller for most PC games. It can be said that all the current controllers that can be "plug and play" on PC are thanks to the efforts of Xbox.
 
Microsoft has long been known for its "ergonomics", and mainstream peripherals such as mice and keyboards are all selling points, and in the field of controllers, Microsoft is no different. Xbox series controllers have always adhered to an asymmetrical layout, that is, the left stick is above the D-pad, and when operating the left stick, this layout will make the thumb more stretched and significantly reduce thumb fatigue. In the context of the increasing use of the left stick, this layout has been imitated by most manufacturers. In addition to this, the curved grip of the Microsoft handle is obviously also ergonomic in mind, and it fits very well in the palm and feels excellent in the grip.
 
From the previous generation of Xbox 360 controllers, to the current Xbox One and Xbox Elite controllers, Microsoft has become the best controller manufacturer by virtue of its advantages in compatibility and feel.
 
Released in 2006, the Xbox 360 controller had the best linear trigger at the time, and it was one of the very few previous controllers that could still maintain considerable popularity. In racing games, linear triggers are used to simulate different forces of throttle and brake, and in RPG or FPS games, they are used for "skill or shooting", and high-quality linear triggers can significantly improve the sense of immersion in the game. In an environment where more and more "car, gun, ball" games are entering the market, the demand for Xbox360 to be the "best controller of the previous generation" is high. It is recommended that players who pursue feel and cost performance buy this product, and the price of 200~300 yuan matches its excellent feel very well.
 
However, it should be noted that the Xbox360 has some flaws on the D-pad keys: the keys are stiff and occasionally the orientation is not accurate. It is not recommended to use this controller to play games that use the D-pad frequently, such as fighting and music. Since the Xbox 360 controller has been discontinued, the current market is full of imitations, and you need to be cautious when buying.
 
In 2013, Microsoft and the Xbox One console jointly released the Xbox wireless controller, which is generally called the Xbox One controller in China. Since its inception, the Xbox One controller has been one of the benchmarks in the controller world, and IGN named it the best PC controller of 2018. The Xbox One controller inherits the trigger button with moderate force and clear feedback from the Xbox 360 controller, and the problem of the D-pad has also been optimized to solve the problem of accidental touch of the previous controller. In addition, this handle creatively adds a vibration motor to the trigger button, and the vibration feeling is very three-dimensional. However, on PC, only a small number of Windows Store games currently support this feature. At present, among the controllers in the same price range, the Xbox One controller is the most comprehensive. Although the price has reached 300~500 yuan, this is definitely a one-step handle.
 
Regardless of the price, the Xbox One Elite is the best gamepad on the market right now. In terms of workmanship, although the Xbox One is already excellent, the Elite Edition is even better, using stainless steel joystick shafts, aluminum alloy accessories, and better handle texture. The heart of the Elite controller is the back paddle keys and interchangeable accessories: including four paddle keys, six joysticks, two cross keycaps. The accessories are magnetic, easy to replace, and no tools are required.
 
Xbox Elite's four back paddle keys are a first, and they can be mapped to other keys on the controller, giving commands through the paddle keys while the thumb is occupied by the joystick — which makes some games much easier. In practice, players can use the left stick to trigger the D-pad command at the same time, or trigger ABXY when using the right stick, making it easier to switch weapons, dodge, jump, and so on while moving and switching perspectives.
 
In terms of interchangeable accessories, the six joystick accessories are divided into three groups, with different heights and textures, and the arrow keys are in the form of a cross and a disc, so players can mix and match according to their actual usage habits. On top of that, the Elite version of the triggers can also be adjusted for key travel, with long key travel for faster racing and short key travel for faster response times, which is best used in shooter games.
 
The Xbox Elite Edition is a near-perfect controller, but the price of about 1000 yuan is also quite high, but in some e-commerce activities, the price of Xbox One Elite can be reduced to 700~800 yuan.
 
Even though the quality of Microsoft's several handles is already very good, it has to mention some common small problems: First, its wireless handles all use AA batteries, although there will be no problem of battery aging, but convenience has indeed been affected. The second is that the Xbox controller LB/RB (shoulder button) is relatively fragile, and it is best not to press it vigorously.