In commemoration of the 17th anniversary of the Xbox 360, hardware peripheral manufacturer Hyperkin has announced it is bringing back the iconic game controller in the form of the Xenon. The name is a reference to the project codename for the console before its initial release.
The Xbox 360 was the 2005 successor to the original Xbox, a console that made a name for itself in the industry by shipping with Halo: Combat Evolved, one of the most revered first-person shooters of all time. Spawning a multi-billion dollar franchise, Halo and its sequels also landed on the Xbox 360 in the following years.
As the first generation console in the history of Microsoft’s foray into the AAA gaming industry, both the machine and controller for the original Xbox were quite bulky.
By contrast, the new Xbox 360 was sleeker, bringing with it a new design for the controller that was wireless capable and more comfortable to hold in your hands. It would set the foundation for all future Xbox controllers going forward.
Unfortunately, despite how popular it was, the Xbox 360 standard controller is incompatible with the Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.
Although the new Hyperkin Xenon will not make classic Microsoft Xbox controllers work with modern hardware, it is an officially licensed product that resurrects almost the same design, form factor, and button configuration as the original Xbox 360 controller.
Only a handful of modern updates have been included on top of the original design, including Menu, Share, and View buttons.
Fortunately, the Hyperkin Xenon also works on Windows 10 and 11 PCs. You can connect it directly to a computer or console over USB-C. Unlike the original, however, you will not find support for wireless connectivity. As for the pricing, Hyperkin is planning to reveal the details soon.
