Microsoft Launches Affordable Xbox Adaptive Joystick for Enhanced Accessibility
Microsoft has introduced several new accessibility offerings for Xbox players, including the Xbox Adaptive Joystick. Priced at $29.99 and set to launch in early 2025, the joystick is designed for gamers with limited mobility and can be used with one hand, mounted on various surfaces, or operated with non-hand body parts. It features customizable button remapping and can be directly connected to a console or PC to enable menu navigation and Nexus button functionality.
In addition to the joystick, Microsoft has partnered with peripheral makers 8BitDo and ByoWave to introduce the 8BitDo Lite SE 2.4G Wireless Controller and the ByoWave Proteus Controller. The 8BitDo Lite SE controller, priced at $59.99, features low-resistance buttons and highly sensitive Hall Effect joysticks, while the modular ByoWave Proteus Controller, priced at $299, offers a customizable adaptive kit. Microsoft also released new 3D printable files for adaptive thumbstick toppers through the Xbox Design Lab.
These new products are part of Microsoft's broader initiative to enhance accessibility in gaming, developed in collaboration with the Gaming & Disability community and nonprofit organizations. Additional accessibility features, such as the Toggle Hold feature for players who have difficulty holding prolonged button presses, have also been introduced for Xbox Insiders.
