HomeWinBuzzer NewsMicrosoft’s Original Xbox “Duke” Controller Comes to Xbox One

Microsoft’s Original Xbox “Duke” Controller Comes to Xbox One

To coincide with OG Xbox – Xbox One backwards compatibility, Microsoft has teamed with Hyperkin to make a modernized version of the polarizing Duke game pad, which launched in 2001 for the original Xbox.

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For those who have been gaming with since the days of the original Xbox, there are probably mixed feelings about the original controller. Oversized is an understatement, the pad was loved and hated. However, Microsoft is on a nostalgia kick and is reintroducing the original Xbox controller on .

Known as The Duke, the OG Xbox controller will be available again in time for the holiday season. Xbox One users will be able to use the pad on all games. The peripheral will also work with .

Microsoft is not making the controller itself. Instead, the company has collaborated with accessory maker Hyperkin. As you can imagine, the company has added some modern twists to the new Duke. Chief among them are the additional left and right bumpers.

Other new additions include a logo display screen and a detachable three-meter cable. In its announcement, Hyperkin said the pad is a “faithful recreation of the original controller's form factor.”

There is no doubt that the introduction is to coincide with Microsoft's reveal that backwards compatibility now extends to the original Xbox. This means some selected titles from the first device will play on the Xbox One range.

The Duke

Derided for being massive and uncomfortable, the original Xbox pad was simply not as good as Sony's dual analogue PS2 controller.

For all the big selling consoles, many think The Duke was the worst controller. Although I would throw up the (equally dividing, but a personal favorite) N64 pad and the overly complicated Dreamcast pad, which shot for the stars and fell hard.

As for Microsoft, the company would hit a run with its new console controller, the Xbox 360 game pad.

The new Duke seems to be for nostalgia purposes. There is yet no word on price or a concrete release date.

SourceHyperkin
Luke Jones
Luke Jones
Luke has been writing about all things tech for more than five years. He is following Microsoft closely to bring you the latest news about Windows, Office, Azure, Skype, HoloLens and all the rest of their products.

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