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Microsoft Reveals Xbox Adaptive Controller, The Result of AbleGamers Collaboration

Microsoft also partnered with The Cerebral Palsy Foundation, Craig Hospital, SpecialEffect, and Warfighter Engaged.

Charles Singletary Jr

May 17, 2018 9:55 AM

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Earlier this week, an accessibility-focused controller called "Project Z" leaked. Today, the project's existence is confirmed and it turns out Microsoft collaborated with the AbleGamers Charity to create what is now officially known as the Xbox Adaptive Controller. This new hardware revolutionizes the gaming experience for gamers with various disabilities. 

We have had to keep quiet about this for over three years. And so proud of everyone who worked on this project. It was an honor to help @Xbox create such a beautiful new piece of hardware. https://t.co/OgSmfeEI5F

— Steven Spohn (@stevenspohn) May 17, 2018

The new controller's announcement is part of the international celebration known as Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), as revealed in the AbleGamers article about the development of the Xbox Adaptive Controller. The XAC features nineteen 3.5mm input jacks and two USB ports, giving it a great deal of expandability by allowing it to interface with switches and specialty joysticks right out of the package.

There are two large programmable buttons with very light resistance for those with strength difficulties and three custom profiles to switch between different settings for the controller. AbleGamers COO Steven Spohn, a trending gamer award nominee just last year, summarized the reason why this controller is ideal for accessibility in a tweet:

"Because it allows switches, tiny little buttons specialized to the movement of people with physical disabilities can still achieve, to work as the controller instead of having to hold one. You don't hold this controller. It goes down in front of you and you plug stuff into it."

The Xbox Adaptive Controller is available for $99.99 exclusively on the Microsoft Store. Stay tuned to Shacknews for additional updates.

Charles Singletary Jr

News Editor

Charles Singletary Jr keeps the updates flowing as the News Editor, breaking stories while investigating the biggest topics in gaming and technology. He's pretty active on Twitter, so feel free to reach out to him @The_CSJR. Got a hot tip? Email him at Charles.Singletary@Shacknews.com.