Leaked images show a compact Xbox controller with Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, and a 500-mAh battery, which appears to have been developed specifically for Xbox Cloud Gaming.
Microsoft is apparently working on a compact Xbox controller designed specifically for Xbox Cloud Gaming. The images and technical documents have been published by the Brazilian portal »Tecnoblog“, which claims to have obtained the documents from a radio regulatory authority.
Microsoft itself has not yet confirmed the existence of the model, although there have already been some rumors (for example, viaThe Verge) about such a controller.
Borrowing from well-known third-party manufacturers
As can be seen in the leaked images below, the new controller would represent a visible departure from the familiar Xbox design, appearing significantly slimmer and shorter here.
In the leak, Tecnoblog draws parallels to mobile smartphone controllers such as the “HyperX Clutch Tanto” or the “SN30 Pro” from 8BitDo.
- Notable is a separate button on the top edge, whose function remains unclear. The leak speculates it could be for Bluetooth pairing or a mode switch.
- Next to it is a second indentation, behind which small LEDs could be hidden—this could serve as a visual distinction between local console operation and cloud connectivity.
The leak indicates that power is supplied by a built-in 500-mAh battery, which is charged via USB-C. Microsoft appears to be sticking to a conservative button layout, relying on the familiar four buttons in the classic Xbox arrangement. These are joined by the familiar D-pad, offset analog sticks, and the standard shoulder buttons along with analog triggers.
Wi-Fi instead of Xbox Wireless
According to Tecnoblog, the device itself bears the model number “2147” and comes with a Realtek “RTL8730E” chip. This supports Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6, though the wireless connection is limited to a 20-MHz channel.
This very aspect is likely to represent the decisive technical innovation (assuming it is true). Until now, Xbox controllers have communicated either via Bluetooth or via “Xbox Wireless,” a proprietary wireless protocol.
A direct Wi-Fi connection would be a new lever for Microsoft’s streaming strategy: input could bypass the console or PC and go directly to the cloud servers instead.
