miskMicrosoft starts blocking ‘unauthorized’ Xbox controllers and accessories
nottheengineerClassic microsoft. They’ll say they do it to combat cheating, but it’s just another step to lock people into their ecosystem and squeeze more money out of them.
Windows Central says they might be actually opening up a bit:
We’ve heard from sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans that this may be related to Microsoft expanding its program for approved third-party wireless Xbox controllers. Most Xbox third-party controllers right now are wired.
They don’t get a cut of unofficial devices, so no, it’s closing it so they can make more profit.
Approved means licensed in this case. This is a plot to sell those licenses by literally forcing third party manfacturers to buy them.
This is progress given that currently every third party controller has to be wired and everything else is rather clunky. I own a Brook adapter for fight sticks and let’s be real, it’s not a great solution.
Official devices* there is wireless non-official devices.
The progress is backwards, but the “marketing” is clearly working….
Brook adapter on it’s own costs more than an Xbox Series controller. For now I’ll stay optimistic and hope that in the new scheme licensing fees won’t outwieght what it costs currently to cobble together an adapter like that.
Yup,
For most licenses it’s a few dollars. But let’s say it’s $5 per unit. A $100 fight stick becomes $105. It isn’t a big deal in the grand scheme of things of that fight stick is now fully supported and is able to quickly link to the system woth no additional hardware or Tom foolery.
I love my Razor Wolverine Ultimate (Gen 1) wired controller with the original Xbox style breakaway cord.
I realized how useless wireless controllers are when you are playing in one room, not far from the TV. Why the hell would I want to juggle with recharging and my controller dying on me?
Wired makes way more practical sense to me, and I believe wireless controllers are not actually any more convenient. It really just depends on what you’re looking for. The only way wireless is actually more convenient is if you’re playing super far from your TV or have a child or pet that messes with cords.
I’d rather not deal with batteries, crappy charger packs that lose their charge too quickly, or my controller dying during a game.
I think in a general sense, wireless electronics are more reasonable and convenient. But absolutely not wireless controllers if you’re going to be sitting on your ass in one place, not far from the TV. Then they are just more hassle with the only benefit rendered irrelevant (if you’re playing in one spot near your TV).
RavenFellBladeThis all sounds great, but it’s predicated on the assumption that you’ll never have to worry about anyone else tripping over your cords.
I had my kiddo trip over a GameCube cord and ripped my console off the entertainment center, subsequently ripping the AV cables out of the connector. Took me two weeks to find replacement cords for it where I live.
You must’ve missed the part about the original Xbox style breakaway cord. There’s no possibility of yanking the console from the controller cord.
No, I didn’t miss that at all. However, the bulk of your post was about the pointlessness of wireless controllers when you’re playing close to the TV, and the annoyances of managing batteries. The Xbox breakaway cable was the exception to the rule. Most other controllers were just waiting to drag your whole console to oblivion.
I 100% agree that most wired console controllers were a disaster waiting to happen. I also lost a desktop dry herb vape by my one of my dogs yanking it off the table by the cord…
These breakaways really work so well tho. I’ve had both my 140 pound and 115 German Shepherds get tangled in this controller going full indoor speed, and they’ve never yanked the console. Been using these controllers for the last 2 Xbox generations.
That’s fair, but a lot of people just don’t have wires from their TV to the couch but chargers on the couch, so plugging the controller into that negates the downsides.
SuiXi3DYeah, I recently got one of those Gamesir controllers with the hall effect sticks. I love it, but hate that I’m restricted to using a cable.
If it’s to stop cheaters, they could just block the “unauthorised” controllers from online play, no need to punish offline players
Draconic NEOIt’s why I don’t really think that their main goal is to block cheating, it seems more likely they’re doing it to enforce controller exclusivity to get people to pay more for licensed first or second party controllers.
Cheat devices don’t care, they’ll easily find ways around it, even if it involves copyright or trademark infringement.