After generations of only getting to choose from a first-party publisher’s official controller options, Xbox’s Design Lab allows full customization for players.
While our media collection of over 1,000 total items is dominated by old physical video games, CDs and vinyl records, one feature that isn’t included in the total count is that of our video game controllers – which offer a fascinating view into how the technology has evolved over the past 40 years.
Evolving far beyond the candy bar-shaped controller days of the Nintendo Entertainment System, the controllers of today include features that even the most technologically advanced of developers and players could not imagine during the heyday of original 2D Mario.
From haptic feedback, optimal button/trigger positioning and enhanced rumble motors, the controller is more of a part of gaming now than it ever was. And while Sony continues to emphatically dominate the market for hardcore gamers with the PlayStation 5, it’s hard to ignore what Microsoft has been able to offer with the current iteration of Xbox controllers.
Sure, the overall direction of the Xbox is quite confusing. The Series X, while a phenomenal machine (we own one and think it’s great), continues to lag far behind the PS5 in sales, with Microsoft pouring more and more resources into homogenizing the experience between the Xbox and PC.
With attributes such as Xbox Cloud Gaming and Xbox Game Pass on PC, gamers with apt gaming computers can have the full Xbox experience without ever buying a console, an incredibly convenient feature that also spells the end of the Xbox’s existence as we have known it through much of its quarter-century history.
With the upcoming Halo title also receiving a PlayStation 5 release, it feels more and more like Microsoft is trying to carve out its own niche lane while leveraging PC features rather than go head-to-head with the PlayStation, something an Xbox console hasn’t truly been able to do since the days of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
While Sony has offered some degree of customization for the DualSense controllers used for the PS5, it pales in comparison to the wealth of special edition controllers released for the Xbox, in addition to much more detailed customization through the Xbox Design Lab.
Though we already have three Xbox Series X controllers, including one with the Electric Volt coloring and another with the custom Sunkissed Pink design, the endless amount of possibilities is quite tantalizing to the both of us – especially as we spend more time PC gaming while using the controllers.
After playing around a bit in the Design Lab, I came up with three custom controllers that we’d love to add to our collection – although I think both of us can confidently say we wouldn’t complain about any new addition involving what may be our favorite video game controller of all-time.
1. Fire Orange and Smoke Black
Although the days of Dorfic-inspired orange-and-black design seem to be well in the rearview mirror, I thought it would be cool to made a modern adaptation using the Fire Vapor faceplate offered in the Design Lab.
Although the vapor plate isn’t available for the backside of the controller, I felt like a solid colored orange alongside differing shades of grey and black for the triggers and buttons would help complete the picture of the fiery theme.
In addition to ash-colored control sticks, this controller utilizes a metallic storm grey for the d-pads, with black-and-white buttons to maintain the monochrome appearance over the fiery background.
2. Vaporwave-inspired Pink and Purple
It shouldn’t come as any surprise that this was among my designs, given the prevalent vaporwave theme embraced on this website. A look that truly never gets old for me, the Design Lab offered plenty of options for making the ideal vaporwave controller.
It all begins with the site’s most popular custom faceplate, the Cyber Vapor – which is noted to be in high demand on the Design Lab’s site. Providing a vivid mix of dark purple and faded pink, the back of the controller takes on a solid hot pink which are further complemented by light pink bumpers and dark teal triggers, the latter of which I used to both provide a color pop and more closely blend in with the purple visible on the faceplate.
The metallic dragonfly blue on the d-pad matches the color of the triggers, while a lighter pastel blue is used for the control sticks alongside colored buttons, providing quite a bit more variance than my first design did. While I’m happy with how this looks, I think there are numerous different routes one could take when going for the vaporwave aesthetic.
3. Frutiger Aero-inspired Green and Blue
As a 30-year-old who grew up alongside the internet, there isn’t a design or aesthetic more nostalgic or appealing to me than frutiger aero – the nature-inspired design trend prevalent throughout the early-to-mid 2000’s that was known for being extremely heavy on bright shades of green and blue.
Aiming to make a controller that looks like how I thought the future would look like in 2004 is a fun task that begins with velocity green, a vibrant shade that emphatically invoke thoughts of wakefulness and the outdoors.
This loud green transitions into glacier blue on the backside of the controller, with bumpers and triggers staying characteristically bright with the additions of dragonfly blue and soft green, respectively.
The soft green stays in use for the d-pad on front, helping to provide a pastel-like appearance on the front of the controller while glacier blue stars on the control sticks. The vivacious controller is finished off with colored action buttons to create what I hope is a nostalgic depiction of 2000’s tech.
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