New Xbox 360 Controller With Redesigned D-Pad Out November 9

One of the oldest design oddities of the Xbox 360 controller--its concave disc D-pad that proved an ill fit for any game played in two dimensions--is finally getting addressed. Today, Xbox Live director of programming Major Nelson revealed that a new, redesigned wireless controller--bundled complete with Play-and-Charge kit--will arrive on stores shelves on November 9 in the US. 
 
What makes this controller noteworthy, other than removing the various colors associated with the controller's face buttons (the rationale being that gray is "stylish"), is what Nelson refers to as the patented "transforming D-pad." By twisting the D-pad itself on the controller, you'll be able to shift that pad between two different design modes: the current, concave "disc" directional pad and a more traditional "plus" shaped pad, raised outside of the "well" on the controller. 
 
And that new raised D-pad looks a little something like this!
 

One of the oldest design oddities of the Xbox 360 controller--its concave disc D-pad that proved an ill fit for any game played in two dimensions--is finally getting addressed. Today, Xbox Live director of programming Major Nelson revealed that a new, redesigned wireless controller--bundled complete with Play-and-Charge kit--will arrive on stores shelves on November 9 in the US. 
 
What makes this controller noteworthy, other than removing the various colors associated with the controller's face buttons (the rationale being that gray is "stylish"), is what Nelson refers to as the patented "transforming D-pad." By twisting the D-pad itself on the controller, you'll be able to shift that pad between two different design modes: the current, concave "disc" directional pad and a more traditional "plus" shaped pad, raised outside of the "well" on the controller. 
 
And that new raised D-pad looks a little something like this!
 

Yayy!

Um...neat?

I wonder if it's actually as shiny as that.

I don't have a problem with the original controller.

Finally! The current d-pad was a giant pain in the ass when I was playing through Symphony of the Night.

 It took four years to hear the community complaints about the d-pad? They're only putting it on one model of controller? Removing the face colors? Only with the play and charge? SIXTY FIVE EFFING DOLLARS?!??! 

I play my 360 more than any other console, but MS is really pissing me off lately between this and the XBL price increase. Get your act together, Microsoft. $65 is a cruel joke.    

$65 for a controller, don't make me fucking laugh

I think it looks pretty slick.

" I don't have a problem with the original controller. "

Nice.
 
The Nintendo-like D-Pad is a lot better than the Sega-like one from before.

PlayStation controller d-pad will always be the best

SIXTY-FIVE.

So, you twist the d-pad and it sticks out a little? 
 
Um, big whoop.

I think it's rather telling that I would rather have a 360 controller with a functional d-pad than a year of Xbox Live.  But yeah, this should have been standard on all of their controllers post the redesign.

I disapprove of removing the button colors.  Lots of games rely on those colors to identify buttons. They were a nice additional identifier for the buttons.  Some people remember that the right button is B, but I bet that most people think of it as red. 

" $65 for a controller, don't make me fucking laugh "

It's about time.  Still this won't make me stop using my TE stick for SSF4, but for the pad warriors out there it might be the holy grail. 
 
Confused about removing the button colors though, that's integrated into games and instruction manuals from here to the dawn of XBOX360 time.  My guess is that this particular pad will never be packed in with the console.

Looks pretty sweet, release date is a bit of a let down, would have helped if they just went ahead and implemented these along with that there new console there.

Too bad it's wireless. I need a wired controller for my XIM. I guess I'll stick to sanding, for now.

Do the wireless controllers really cost that much?

Was interested until I heard the price. 
 
Will stick with my Halo Reach pads thanks.

It's definitely better. In fact it looks great. I don't know why they didn't bundle it in with their hardware redesign though... Oh wait -- yes I do.

 " Look at how much higher that D-pad! It barely touches the well at all!" Is this supposed to make sense? Wait, it's a refence isn't it? 

So, what's wrong with color? I like color.

Does anyone else think Major Nelson might be gay? Just sayin

...I don't understand why can't have built in batteries like the PS3.

It took MS nearly 5 YEARS to fix the D-Pad on the 360 controller? They will probably charge $10 more for the new model...oh wait, they did.
 
I'll stick with the older model. I play most of my 2D games and fighters on the PS3.

" So, you twist the d-pad and it sticks out a little?  Um, big whoop. "

I wish they'd come out with a console that looks that colour, without gloss.

" ...I don't understand why can't have built in batteries like the PS3. "

i hope they don't keep the new colorless ABXY buttons. i taught my little sister how to play games by telling her to press colors rather than letters.

I love the gradiation, but holy fucking hell $65? I'd rather actually give my $65 to the workers who fucking assembled this hunk of plastic.
 
Probably more money than what they were paid for.

" " Look at how much higher that D-pad! It barely touches the well at all!" Is this supposed to make sense? Wait, it's a refence isn't it? "

So if you're unfamiliar with the controller, all those on-screen colorful button prompts will be less helpful. Make sure your non-xbox friends get the old pad then, I guess?
 
Can't see the pad being much better for fighting games, there's still not enough roll room. To be suitable for fighting games, it'd be better off like the Saturn pad, which was copied for the fight pad. Tough to fit that into the current pad shape though.

I don't understand. The problem with the D-Pad is that it's all stiff and clunky and unreliable. Does this fix that or not? Maybe it does but they're just talking about the shape changing. With this weird mechanism i would assume if anything it'll be worse...

i want one of these.

People can do 360 motions on a D-pad?!

Other than the chrome Xbox globe, that thing is pretty sexy

Removing the colors seems like a bad idea, since every game representing the buttons on screen are color coded. 
 
Also, the problem with the D-Pad had less to do with it's overall shape, and more to do with the fact that it only had 4 directions for input, instead of the full 8 that every other d-pad recognizes. Without diagonal recognition, games that make heavy use of quick movements between directions become difficult. 
 
Did they fix that issue? They make no mention of it.

" People can do 360 motions on a D-pad?! "

Cool ! And about freakin' time !
 
Maybe I'll try playing Lumines again in September.
And Street Fighter...  hell, all the 2D fighters on 360 will be better.
I'm sold.

Damn the price. I don't need yet another play and charge kit.
 
Also damn the gray buttons. I hope the colored buttons on regular controllers fit in the key slots.
 
Thirdly, damn the lack of wired solution.
 
I'll probably still pick one up later on down the line. But for now I'll stick to sanding and cushioning.

Looks nice, but $65? and I don't really like the colorless buttons.

It really takes 4 months to release a controller in another region? I'll never understand this region bullshit.

Sony and Nintendo own the patents for the most obvious D-pad design solutions - kind of explains why it took MS so long to come up with something that wouldn't infringe on those patents, and why it's such an odd solution.

Now they just need to release a controller that has the sticks in the right place. 

" Removing the colors seems like a bad idea, since every game representing the buttons on screen are color coded.  Also, the problem with the D-Pad had less to do with it's overall shape, and more to do with the fact that it only had 4 directions for input, instead of the full 8 that every other d-pad recognizes. Without diagonal recognition, games that make heavy use of quick movements between directions become difficult.  Did they fix that issue? They make no mention of it. "

My original controller is old and the rubber is coming off of the sticks, so I got a new black one. But then I decided to play Lost Odyssey and the black controller met its demise, so I'm probably gonna get this. It looks really cool, and I bet you will be able to find it on amazon or ebay without the stupid charge kit. I'm pretty excited for this new D-pad change and the awesome looking design.