Turtle Beach, a renowned peripheral company, has filed a patent for a new Xbox controller that features a touchscreen, a concept that appears to borrow from the Wii U. The patent diagram suggests that the screen could be utilized in multiple ways, including changing controller load-outs, posting on social media, adjusting audio settings, and monitoring a player’s game performance. The company claims that the controller would also synchronize with mobile devices.
The New Xbox Controller Borrows a Wii U Feature
Compared to the Wii U’s touchscreen, Turtle Beach’s design features a smaller, more practical, and less cumbersome touchscreen. While the Wii U’s touchscreen was employed for remote play, it seems that Turtle Beach concentrates on smaller and more useful functions for its controller. If well-designed, it could offer some advantages to gamers who prefer to have multiple controller load-outs or share lots of screenshots and videos on social media. The cost of the controller has yet to be disclosed.
It is important to note that many patents do not translate into real-world products. For instance, PlayStation filed a patent a few years ago to convert everyday items such as bananas into virtual controllers, which was never released. It is conceivable that Turtle Beach’s new Xbox design may not materialize, and there has been no official statement from Microsoft or Turtle Beach. As a result, Xbox enthusiasts will have to wait and see if this new controller sees the light of day.
In conclusion, Turtle Beach’s new Xbox controller patent is a concept that appears to have been inspired by the Wii U. If appropriately executed, the controller could offer several quality-of-life enhancements, especially for gamers who enjoy multiple controller load-outs or frequently share social media content. However, as with many patents, it is uncertain if this design will be transformed into an actual product.