Microsoft publishes hybrid Xbox controller prototype for mobile phones

Microsoft announced at E3 2018 who was building a multi-device game streaming service. The service already has a name: Xbox Project xCloud. In full development activity, the Microsoft Research division published a hybrid prototype of Xbox controller especially for smartphones and tablets.

Xbox controller for mobile devices

The new Xbox controller has the standard Xbox One layout, with the same sticks and buttons, but triggers moved from the shoulders to the back. The ergonomics are designed for non-standard use, as the control is divided in half.

The ability to split, just like the Joy-Con of Nintendo Switch, come back possible to adapt to all screens. Each part can be docked to the mobile device. The hand rests are interchangeable with others of different sizes, so you can play without the rests.

With a Lumia 930 running Titanfall and a Windows RT tablet running Forza Motorsport 5, it's clear that the images are old. The document was publicly shared this October 2018, but it's actually an updated version from 2014. With the success of Nintendo Switch and the development of Project xCloud, Microsoft Research has taken back the prototype.

The real reason for creating the prototype is the “unsatisfactory” experience which is to play through a touchscreen control simulator, as the document says:

“Smartphones and tablets have become pervasive, so they have mobile games. Not surprisingly, popular games for these platforms focus on the touchscreen as a form of interaction. However, many types of games are less well suited to mobile devices. Despite systems like AdaptControl, which offer touchscreen game controls, touchscreen emulation of traditional controls is often unsatisfactory.”

The document goes further and admits the current Nintendo Switch inspiration:

“Portable consoles like the PSP, DS and Switch are dedicated mobile gaming platforms that overcome these limitations through physical controls. The success of the Switch is proof of the value of mobile gaming with physical controls. A number of cheaper accessories allow a smartphone to be fitted to a modified controller, such as the ION iCade mobile, GameCase, GameVice and Moga products. However, the fixed shape of these accessories means they are bulky and unyielding.”

A controller for the future of streaming

Hybrid control was created with a clear objective to support the Xbox game streaming on mobile devices. This Microsoft service idea dates back to 2013, when demonstrated a Lumia 520 running Halo 4 with only 45ms of server latency.

The service was not compatible for the time, as comments today the CEO of Xbox, Phil Spencer, because the costs were too high. The current server structure Azure is “changing the level of quality and economy,” Spencer said. today are Azure servers in 140 countries, including Brazil.

The first public tests of the Project xCloud will be made in 2019, with a final release slated for 2020. According to Xbox Marketing Director Aaron Greenberg, streaming to mobile devices is one of the company's biggest goals for the Brazilian market.

“In Brazil, most people have smartphones. I looked at the data with the team, and 70% of consumers over ten have a mobile device. For us, the opportunity to bring our content to this audience, without the need to buy a console or PC, is a huge opportunity.”

Are you looking forward to using your Xbox controller for mobile devices with Microsoft's Project xCloud? Comment below!

Source: Destructoid, Windows Central, The enemy, The Verge