A Senior Reporter's Perspective on the New Xbox Adaptive Joystick
is a senior reporter who’s been covering and reviewing the latest gadgets and tech since 2011, but has loved all things electronic since he was a kid.
The Xbox Adaptive Joystick: Accessibility at $29.99
Today at its annual Microsoft Ability Summit, the company announced that its Xbox Adaptive Joystick is now available exclusively through the company’s online store for $29.99. The joystick was originally announced last August with a planned release in early 2025. It’s designed to meet the unique needs of gamers with limited mobility through customizable buttons and optional 3D printable accessories that can make its controls easier to use.
Key Features and Functionality
With four remappable front-facing buttons, an additional shoulder and trigger button on the back, and an Xbox thumbstick, the Xbox Adaptive Joystick can be operated single-handedly, and includes a threaded insert allowing it to be mounted to articulated supports or tripods.
There’s no wireless functionality, but the joystick can be connected to Microsoft’s highly-customizable Adaptive Controller, or be plugged directly into a PC or Xbox’s USB port.
Accessible and Sustainable Packaging
The joystick comes in packaging that’s designed to be both accessible and sustainable, similar to packaging Microsoft introduced with its Adaptive Controller. And alongside today’s availability announcement, Microsoft’s Packaging and Content Team published a new design guide for creating accessible packaging that includes best practices and strategies to ensure it’s inclusive. The days of frustrating plastic clamshell packaging may soon be entirely behind us.