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Microsoft's unreleased cloud controller has been spotted in the wild and it's teeny

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Why This Matters

The leaked Microsoft Xbox Cloud Gaming controller introduces a compact design optimized for cloud gaming, featuring Wi-Fi connectivity to reduce latency and a rechargeable battery, signaling a focus on portable, high-performance gaming accessories. Its emergence may prompt Microsoft to officially announce the product soon, impacting the gaming peripheral market and cloud gaming experience.

Key Takeaways

Photos of an unreleased Microsoft Xbox Cloud Gaming controller have leaked online, thanks to a Brazilian website called Tecnoblog. The diminutive controllers look like something 8BitDo would release, though the D-Pad and home button feature the familiar Xbox aesthetic.

This is actually being manufactured by Microsoft, according to a report by The Verge. It supposedly features a rectangular body, short grips, staggered thumb sticks and the usual complement of Xbox buttons. It looks like two colors will be available, as photos show the controller in both black and white.

Despite the size, this could be a great controller for cloud gaming. That's because it reportedly uses Wi-Fi instead of Bluetooth to connect directly to Microsoft's service, which should reduce latency. It can also connect via Bluetooth when needed.

It even uses an actual rechargeable battery. Any Xbox player knows the company has had a major and inexplicable preference for AA batteries for decades now. The controller is powered by a dual-core ARM Cortex A7 in a Realtek chipset, according to analysis by Digital Foundry.

The controller remains unannounced, so we don't have pricing or availability information. However, this leak could force Microsoft to put out something official in the near future.