Microsoft’s new Xbox Adaptive Joystick puts accessibility at the center

Microsoft is launching a new $29.99 Xbox Adaptive Joystick early next year that’s designed for players with limited mobility. It’s a wired companion for existing Xbox controllers and includes four buttons, an Xbox thumbstick, and two additional buttons for bumper and trigger controls.

The Xbox Adaptive Joystick allows you to operate a controller without having to use both hands, making it ideal for any players who might have difficulty using the thumbsticks on existing controllers. All the buttons are fully customizable, and there are a variety of 3D printable thumbstick toppers to customize the sizes, heights, and width of thumbsticks.

“From very early on with the adaptive joystick, we had disability community be hands-on with early designs and functional prototypes,” explains Kaitlyn Jones, senior accessibility product manager at Xbox, during a Gamescom stream. “Even from a software perspective, we’ve really heard from our players that they’ve wanted an affordable joystick for their adaptive controller, but also something that fits in seamlessly with their existing setup.”

Read more: https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/21/24225264/microsoft-xbox-adaptive-joystick-accessiblity-accessory-release-date-pricing