The XBOX One Elite Controller is Nerdgasmic

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Blackstone

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Mar 8, 2007
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Got one over the weekend on a lark. This has to be the best controller ever made. For straight PC compatibility it is unbeatable. This is a big step up over Dualshock 4 ergonomically. Build quality is second to none. The special directional pad is awesome for fighting games. The different size swappable sticks all feel great and offer much better control and precision that Dualshock 4. The only thing I like about Dualshock 4 better is that the upper bumper buttons are a little better placed, but once you go Elite you won't ever want to use another controller.

Also, there are all kinds of quirky compatibility issues with Dualshock 4 and PC that this thing just does not have. It just plain works. And nothing feels better in the hand. Treat yourself if you need a PC controller. It seems expensive until you get it in hand.

Games tested:

Battlefront
Dark Souls III
Street Fighter V
Grand Theft Auto V - driving is a particular pleasure with this controller.
 
Aren't the overall dimensions the same as the regular Xbone controller? If so, pass, especially for $150.
 
-Strelok- said:
Aren't the overall dimensions the same as the regular Xbone controller? If so, pass, especially for $150.
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Suit yourself I suppose. For me it's the best controller I've ever used, easily.

I had to send mine out for warranty replacement a few weeks ago (it was a manufacturing defect and I had been putting off the replacement since I bought it in December) and had to use a 360 wired controller while it was gone. Wow it was rough going back to it after being so used to the Elite controller. First world problems, lol.
 
The dimensions may be the same but the different analog sticks and quality of build make a huge difference. In particular, the taller analog sticks make for much more precise control for driving.
 
eh, for $150? Not worth it to me. Looks really comfortable, but I can't see myself paying more than $50 for a controller.
 
Maybe if it didn't cost 3 times as much as a Steam Controller and include less useful functionality.
 
Here's a question - how sturdy are the shoulder bumpers? I recently broke a normal Xbox One controller right shoulder bumper and discovered it was only two tiny plastic pieces holding it in place. One broke and rendered that button nearly useless.
I'd hate to drop $150 bones on one of these and have the same thing happen. Are those metal or still plastic?
 
Domingo said:
Here's a question - how sturdy are the shoulder bumpers? I recently broke a normal Xbox One controller right shoulder bumper and discovered it was only two tiny plastic pieces holding it in place. One broke and rendered that button nearly useless.
I'd hate to drop $150 bones on one of these and have the same thing happen. Are those metal or still plastic?
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The bumpers definitely feel stronger than the regular controller. I have no idea how it's constructed, though. But the whole thing definitely feels of higher quality. Unfortunately the face buttons feel like the same type of membrane construction, so not everything has been upgraded.
Comixbooks said:
Is it Heavy?
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It's 25% heavier with all accessories and batteries installed (350g vs 280g). After first getting the controller and playing some Forza, my left wrist did get strained pretty bad, but I'm not sure if it was due to the controller or something else. But if that's your concern then I think I just made it worse...
 
I purchased one this past December and really loved the look and feel of the controller, but I had a defect with mine (I am sure I was just unlucky) where one of the buttons was stuck halfway depressed which made it unusable. I took it back for a refund, but I have been watching and waiting for it to get down to $100 on sale and I will pick up another one. I have both XBOne and PS4 and I personally like the XBOne controller much better, but I realize that this is a heavily personal thing. I look forward to eventually getting another elite controller though.
 
djlenoir said:
I purchased one this past December and really loved the look and feel of the controller, but I had a defect with mine (I am sure I was just unlucky) where one of the buttons was stuck halfway depressed which made it unusable. I took it back for a refund, but I have been watching and waiting for it to get down to $100 on sale and I will pick up another one. I have both XBOne and PS4 and I personally like the XBOne controller much better, but I realize that this is a heavily personal thing. I look forward to eventually getting another elite controller though.
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For precision I definitely like the Xbox ONE controller, but it hurts my hands after awhile. The Dualshock 4 you can hold loosely in your hands, which I like for longer gaming sessions. The ergonomics of the Xbox controller kind of forces you into a death grip.
 
I have the exact opposite situation with the PS4 controller. My thumbs get sore from using the analogue sticks after an hour or so, but on the Xbox controller I can use it endlessly without getting sore.
 
I was interested in the Elite controller until I used the Steam Controller. Granted, the Steam Controller has a tremendous learning curve. Like, it took two or so months for me to get use to it. But, once I did...boom headshot!
 
For me, I like the feel of the PS4 controller but the analog sticks are way too sensitive. If my touch is anything but feather light, things spazz out.
The Xbox sticks have less give.
That and I hate how sharp the plastic is by the PS4 triggers.
 
I can't believe they charge $150 for it though... I mean you can get a portable gaming system for that price... or even a decent tablet.
 
I honestly don't understand the price tag on this controller.
Tweak155 said:
I can't believe they charge $150 for it though... I mean you can get a portable gaming system for that price... or even a decent tablet.
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I agree. It's a great controller but the price tag totally mystifies me.
 
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horrorshow said:
Would rather pay for this:

Modded Controllers & Custom Controllers for Xbox 360 & PS3
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Except that is more expensive. It seems silly that people would complain about the $150 tag on the Elite and then promote something like that. For a modded X-Box 1 controller with 4 remappable back buttons and no other changes you hit $160 on that site.

The reason the Elite controller costs so much is the same general reason controllers from a place like that cost so much:

1) It has more features. The more features you pack in to something, the most it costs to build. Shit like the paddles on the back, swappable sticks, etc all add cost.
2) Better build quality. Build quality always ups cost. More expensive materials, tighter tolerances, etc these things push up price point.
3) Lesser market. Higher prices kinda feed in to themselves. If you make a product that costs more, the price has to go up. That makes less people want it, meaning the fixed costs account for a higher unit price, meaning you have to raise the price more. It isn't an infinite cycle, obviously, rather a limit function but that is why cost increases in things don't scale in a linear fashion always.

At any rate, it is a very, very nice controller. I like mine and I'm satisfied with the value/money. It is certainly not for everyone, but it is very well built, and very flexible both of which make me happy. Also the price seems to be in line with other high end mod-style controllers.
 
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Blackstone said:
The dimensions may be the same but the different analog sticks and quality of build make a huge difference. In particular, the taller analog sticks make for much more precise control for driving.
Click to expand...
For $5 you can add thumbstick extensions. I've been doing it for years. I can also add bumper extensions.

As far as build quality, it is no doubt built using the same process the normal controllers are. The materials do feel a bit more premium.

I did not pay for mine, it was a gift from a relative. I would not pay more than $75 for it.

The real advantage comes from player skill level, not something gamers perceive as fancy
 
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Rav3n said:
For $5 you can add thumbstick extensions. I've been doing it for years. I can also add bumper extensions.

As far as build quality, it is no doubt built using the same process the normal controllers are. The materials do feel a bit more premium.

I did not pay for mine, it was a gift from a relative. I would not pay more than $75 for it.

The real advantage comes from player skill level, not something gamers perceive as fancy
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The pots in the Elite controller are more precise than the standard controller. Whether I'm using the longer joysticks or not, I'm able to play Forza 6 using simulation steering with the Elite controller while it is nearly impossible to do so with the regular controller. And while they could extend the software to standard controllers, right now the profiling software for the Elite controller is also well worth the price of admission. You get control of pretty much every aspect the drives the controller. On Windows, unfortunately, it's a UWP app that only works on Windows 10...
 
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People comparing the Elite controller to other controllers just don't. I was considered Pro in MW - WaW then got a real job. This Elite controller is hands down the best controller I have EVER used. The build quality is second to none , and its catering to the hard core FPS crowd that would buy SCUF controllers. I have had 2-3 scufs per console and when I got my elite controller I got rid of my Xbox one SCUFs. You cannot beat the interchangeability of parts of the preciseness of the thumbsticks . I would gladly pay the price for the 4 triggers on the back and ability to swap out thumbsticks or the dpad. And People are not lying , my KDR in BOP3 3 on either console used to hover around a 2.5. With the Elite its around a 2.92 which I feel is a HUGE jump for just swapping controllers. That being said I use another one for PC but only for single player games. Mouse in keyboard > controller any day of the week.
 
Blackstone said:
The dimensions may be the same but the different analog sticks and quality of build make a huge difference. In particular, the taller analog sticks make for much more precise control for driving.
Click to expand...

You're spending $150 for a console controller for a driving game on a PC? Why not just buy a cheap wheel and really have precise control? In fact, I don't get using any console controller for a driving game on a PC. On a console, sure. Not on a PC. Hell, I use my Logitech G25 on my console.
 
Armenius said:
You get control of pretty much every aspect the drives the controller. On Windows, unfortunately, it's a UWP app that only works on Windows 10...
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Facepalm. Guess I won't be buying one then, if they're arbitrarily locking it to 10, and tying it to a metro app no less.
 
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Yippee38 said:
You're spending $150 for a console controller for a driving game on a PC? Why not just buy a cheap wheel and really have precise control? In fact, I don't get using any console controller for a driving game on a PC. On a console, sure. Not on a PC. Hell, I use my Logitech G25 on my console.
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Blackstone was talking about playing GTA V, you can't use a wheel on that.
 
twonunpackmule said:
I was interested in the Elite controller until I used the Steam Controller. Granted, the Steam Controller has a tremendous learning curve. Like, it took two or so months for me to get use to it. But, once I did...boom headshot!
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This x100. The touchpads have a learning curve, but holy crap of they are not as accurate as hell and the haptic right under your thumbs is awesome.
 
Everyone has their own personal preference; whether it be a controller, mod or otherwise. We all need to keep that in-mind.
 
I really have to say that of the Xbox (360 or One) style controllers, included modded ones, I feel the Elite is probably the best built, most functional around for general gaming. Its build quality is definitely a step above any other of its type and all the options you get "from the start" (ie all the sticks, buttons, paddles etc.. included) are worthwhile; I wonder if there are 3rd party custom addons made for the Elite as well. Comparing it to modded standard controllers, I find it often less expensive (as Sycraft mentioned) with better all around build quality. Its core features are fantastic and seem to be better in some cases (ie the triggers, sticks, pads and maybe buttons seem to be easier/better to control), but the "new" feature are the paddles. These are well built as well, but require a learning curve whether you use two or four of them. I'm still learning, but I anticipate that having them will make some sorts of gameplay much easier and more effective as I can already see the beginning of such benefits. As far as the price is concerned, I think it could be perhaps best sold for $100 or $125 for a wider audience, but overall it is equal or cheaper to any similar, third party offerings while offering better quality. I am very likely going to use it as a main controller on PC when I complete my switch to Win10 or when Linux gets full XBO and Elite functionality .

I do not yet have a Dual Shock 4 though I anticipate getting one soon, so I'll be interested to compare the two, though I wonder if Sony would ever make a "Dual Shock Neo Pro" with similar upgrades and options to the XBO Elite. However, I do have a Steam Controller which is exceptional in its own right. It is hard to compare to the Elite since they are so different and I haven't mastered either yet truly, but they are both amongst the best controllers I've used to date.
 
I'm not thrilled with DS4 controllers. I've had one for a long time (I have a problem with buying too many input peripherals :D) and it is ok, but nothing special. The triggers are pretty nice, though not as nice as the Elite, but better than the 360's. The d-pad is ok but really would be better if they'd done it as individual buttons. The sticks are meh. Part of the issue I have is I don't like the configuration/layout as much as the Xbox controllers which is personal preference. Overall it is built like you'd expect a normal controller to be built. It works fine, but is nothing to write home about.
 
Not that I've really checked, but I haven't seen one on display to test out. Kind of hard to drop that much.

Though, who am I kidding, I doubt I'd drop that much for it even if it feels great. I'm too cheap.
 
Xaeos said:
I really have to say that of the Xbox (360 or One) style controllers, included modded ones, I feel the Elite is probably the best built, most functional around for general gaming. Its build quality is definitely a step above any other of its type and all the options you get "from the start" (ie all the sticks, buttons, paddles etc.. included) are worthwhile; I wonder if there are 3rd party custom addons made for the Elite as well. Comparing it to modded standard controllers, I find it often less expensive (as Sycraft mentioned) with better all around build quality. Its core features are fantastic and seem to be better in some cases (ie the triggers, sticks, pads and maybe buttons seem to be easier/better to control), but the "new" feature are the paddles. These are well built as well, but require a learning curve whether you use two or four of them. I'm still learning, but I anticipate that having them will make some sorts of gameplay much easier and more effective as I can already see the beginning of such benefits. As far as the price is concerned, I think it could be perhaps best sold for $100 or $125 for a wider audience, but overall it is equal or cheaper to any similar, third party offerings while offering better quality. I am very likely going to use it as a main controller on PC when I complete my switch to Win10 or when Linux gets full XBO and Elite functionality .

I do not yet have a Dual Shock 4 though I anticipate getting one soon, so I'll be interested to compare the two, though I wonder if Sony would ever make a "Dual Shock Neo Pro" with similar upgrades and options to the XBO Elite. However, I do have a Steam Controller which is exceptional in its own right. It is hard to compare to the Elite since they are so different and I haven't mastered either yet truly, but they are both amongst the best controllers I've used to date.
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Yup there is some third party accessories.. When I picked up my elite controller (about 4 weeks ago) gamestop guy showed my some
 
DPI said:
Facepalm. Guess I won't be buying one then, if they're arbitrarily locking it to 10, and tying it to a metro app no less.
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There are Elite device drivers for Win7 and Win8, so it's not technically locked to Win10. Without the universal app you can't remap the home button, bottom paddles, or configure the profile switch. The bottom paddles are default mapped to A, B, X, Y.

You can use 3rd party apps like TocaEdit to remap everything else. It's far from useless in something like Win7. I've used it natively with Dark Souls 3 and The Division and it's functioning perfectly as a generic XBox controller.
 
just got it last night. Its very.....nerdy. A lot of modifications i would have never thought of. One thing i love is the hair trigger settings, and the wireless updates. Very sturdy, and feels very fuckin solid. The very first thing i did was take off the paddle shifters. Ill worry about that later.. Still dont understand the high ass $150 price tag (i didnt pay for it with my money, i got it as a returned favor), if all the internals are more less metal instead of plastic then that would explain. Ill see in the long run if it lasts longer than the standard controllers.
 
I'm still keeping my eye on this thread thanks to the broken right bumper on my normal X1 controller. I'm really hoping the Elite Controller isn't using those tiny plastic pegs on those bumpers, too.
 
Domingo,
Ive seen a comment or post somewhere, talking about bumper stoppers breaking, and supposedly from the post it was a small plastic piece. All I know I try not to use them unless I'm about to start a major hardcore gaming session.
 
well, i played a few rounds of hardline a few nights ago with it. That thing is solid as hell. I love the hair trigger setting, which shortens the length of pulling the trigger.
 
Zohar78 said:
Domingo,
Ive seen a comment or post somewhere, talking about bumper stoppers breaking, and supposedly from the post it was a small plastic piece. All I know I try not to use them unless I'm about to start a major hardcore gaming session.
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This is what happened to me:
In the video he uses super glue on the broken little piece, but I do kinda wonder if that's durable enough. If it happens to me again, I supposed I'll give it a shot since I have nothing to lose.
Still, if that happened to me on a $150 controller I'd be livid. $50 is bad enough. For $150 I'd think those would be made of some kind of ultra light metal.
 
Yippee38 said:
You're spending $150 for a console controller for a driving game on a PC? Why not just buy a cheap wheel and really have precise control? In fact, I don't get using any console controller for a driving game on a PC. On a console, sure. Not on a PC. Hell, I use my Logitech G25 on my console.
Click to expand...

It gives a premium experience for what it is. I can afford a $150 peripheral. I spent that much on a Mad Cat Arcade Stick for Street Fighter. I use this for console ports. It is a controller. It has limitations, but it is probably the best controller there is. That is all I'm saying. Do I think it is overpriced? I guess. It feels better in the hand than any controller I've ever felt.
 
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