New Microsoft Controller Patent Sure Does Remind Us Of The Nintendo Switch

So... The name is Xbox Cloud for Handheld mode machine ??

This looks like it would be compatible with about an entire 1 phone. But who knows!

Oh what trash

Every other Chinese mobile controller mostly does what this thing is supposed to do, and guaranteed for way less... So what makes this anything special?

I'm on the edge of thinking these are cool or just straight up garbage.

Why am I not surprised?

Hopefully Microsoft doesn’t get sued by Gamevice.

@MagnaRoader well, if it has good build quality and they make it natively compatible with both Android and iOS (maybe even pc and Xbox!) it cold be an interesting option.

Tbh I'm not against more Switch-like devices (they'll never have Nintendo's first party library though!), but man that looks hideous. Really, really bad.

SUE, SUE, SUE , SUE!! They probably can't, but they probably should!

@MagnaRoader The Chinese are throwaway trash, while this will be high quality.

I have the XBOX One Elite controller for years now and that thing is built like a tank. One of the best controllers I've ever owned.

@StableInvadeel yeah but companies like steelseries, 8bitdo, phone joy, and even Hori, among others, have made products natively compatible with both mobile OSes and some even have headphone jacks and speakers too, so its nothing really new. Unless they have a feature we don't know of, it looks like a pointless expense on Microsoft's side.

They don't look too comfortable, but the one on the right turned sideways could turn your phone into a cool Gameboy-styled system.

@MagnaRoader oh well, beyond that, it’s really just a branded luxury. After all, gamers like their brands.

I know people would buy an official Nintendo android controller if it existed.

I think it's a bit click-baity and even confusing (especially for those who don't read the whole article) to put some fan made concept as the news image.

Well it’s the same old story. Nintendo innovates and the rest of the industry follows. Rumble, control sticks, portable gaming, motion controls and the list goes on. The only thing they can never copy well are the games though. The big n is still the best first party developer/publisher out there.

@Jeronan hori, 8bitdo and steel series are all made in China, never heard one complaint in Durability from all of the people I know who've used their products (myself included).
Yeah Microsoft do make amazing controllers, especially the Elite, but in this instance it seems like MS is releasing a niche device

"It's all about those removable input modules"

huh?... Everyone copying GameVice. I have one for my Ipad and had one for my iPhone ages before Switch. (They actually have analog triggers for racing games)

Their first "removable input modules" product released back in 2014.

https://www.polygon.com/2014/1/3/5269804/wikipad-gamevice-detachable-mobile-controller

I hope Microsoft copy those drifting stick mechanics too.

I’m so mad I’m gonna break my Xbox.

/s

Almost three years and over 35 million sales into Switch's lifetime, we might as well start discussing such things favourably. You can't label everything a "clone" and praise the original's potential influence at the same time. And while mobile gaming has yet to hammer the necessity of tangible control elements into its philosophy, any attempt to add buttons to phones is still an honorable attempt in my book.

@Jeronan Same here, the Xbox Elite controller is the best controller I have ever used! This thing could be really interesting for mobile gaming if manufactured by Microsoft.

@Anti-Matter Not a machine, just a cloud service so you can play your games anywhere so long as you have a phone and the internet. Also, pretty sure this add-on is optional, and a regular xbox controller will work just fine.

Lol this is most definitely not a Nintendo-inspired invention. Removable physical inputs have been a thing for phones since way before the Switch was introduced. Though I know this being a Nintendo fan site and all, it's tempting to point and say "look at how they copy Nintendo", but in this case it's just not true.

People forget, Nintendo did not do it first! Seen a comment that says "Sue!" Lol, for what? Peeps remember Nintendo had some court cases too? Switch looks like other tablets out there with controllers attached, they didn't 100% come up with the idea. They took others work and implemented in there own way! Which, they have the right to do! Just like Microsoft has the right to do or anyone else. So if Microsoft wants to do that, good for them. Why not? If your a true gamer, shouldn't you love everything about gaming? Not just a specific company? I own all platforms including pc! Love everything gaming. Why limit yourself? I sure won't. 🤷 But, kudos to the ones that want too! I'll just be over here enjoying everything that has to do with gaming instead! 😘

what a silly idea imo
l call it a mini switch xbox conosle because that's what it looks like.

Totally jealous of this things dpad

That's it guys, streaming games is going to be the future. With the upcoming 5g we could easily stream games in 1080 with any device. We'll have to pay more for internet and less for the actual gaming devices. The only problem: it looks like the turn that the market is taking is not due to customer choices but instead something imposed.

@PikPi Did Damo say it was inspired though? They did also say in their article

"This is by no means a new approach – bolt-on control interfaces have been available for Android and iOS devices for year"

pretty sure this was "news" a few months ago

Never knew patent drawings could be so basic.

Wow, some people need a SERIOUS update on their reading skills...

Nowhere in the article does it say that the mock ups, who were made by an online concept artist not tied to Microsoft, were actually the real deal, so commenting on how bad this "Microsoft product" looks, makes you look rather stupid.

Waiting for news of some mentally challenged fanboy to smash up a Xbox one.

Looks like something I will never use.

Looking at things like this always remind me of the Nokia N-Gage

I'm very interested in the approach Microsoft will take in terms of cloud streaming, especially since they can be more than a viable competitor towards the likes of Stadia, and they have a compelling back catalogue of titles from their first party and selective third party studios to back up the value proposition of essentially having access to the Xbox One's entire library of games across any mobile device or even a low spec PC. If they handle the pricing model like Game Pass right now, Stadia will literally have no justifiable reason to exist in a year's time. I sincerely hope that service fails.

This looks like an accessory that could only work for 2-3 different Windows phones (without cases attached to them) and nothing else.

@Yorumi they already are. At this point the Switch Pro is their Bigfoot.

You need games first and that's something the Xbox has never had for me personally. With Switch in hand, it would be hard to for anyone to compete considering the amazing library Nintendo has already. 2019 and beyond are almost 100% Nintendo now for me even though I have a PS4 Pro. Recent games like Days Gone have reminded me that realistic graphics don't count for much when games just aren't fun or are full of glitches that take me out of the game. I'd rather just play Nintendo's games with what spare time I have.

Ill just wait till they show the final build.
Looks interesting.
I wish them all the best.

Where GameVice at?

lol microshaft will never have the games that nintendo has..

Also, what a blatant rip-off.. And yeah I know gamevice and other things made detachable controllers before switch did, but do you really think that is what microsoft is copying? Nope, they are making these detachable controllers now because switch has them and they want in on the action that the switch is soaking up right now..

Xbox cloud yea that's really smart Einstein NOT. Not everyone has equal bandwidth or you face ISP throttle. Cloud is all washed out already. Lags lags...ring a bell...

Also smartphone isn't if they is made for that isn't Prime time. They don't have the dedicated gaming GPU and many downsides.

The Aikun Morphus X300 did the "Joy Con" idea before the Switch, though:

@Sunanootoko

I don't think so.
4G doesn't even work very reliable, and its been along for some years now...
Give it 2-3 years and 5G will be relulary overloaded, just like 4G, so get used to streamed games will youtube-like-pixelate regulary.

@Airsqueeble Nintendo copied this from some other company.

The difference is that Nintendo makes a dedicated console with removable parts, where as every body else is making removable parts to attach to smart phones.

Still not as good as a switch. I need to use a phone with it in addition to the console and presume I need to be a blind to stream my games from the home unit?

My switch has the screen already and can be entirely offline

These controllers already exist from other companies. But they don't much matter as quality mobile games that make use of them are about as common as legit shiny Pokemon in the old games.

@RasandeRose
Market is, unfortunately moving in that way.
If you look at the last year market revenue digital games have seen an increase in sales, so did streaming platforms against physical media and cinemas.
It's matter of years when the market will be almost totally in streaming. Maybe not with the 5g, but soon or later we'll see a full conversion.
Imo Gamepass and Psnow are the Troy horses to the streaming switch.

@MagnaRoader it's about the content. I might like it, actually.

@sportvater but it's too wide. It's like Gamepad from WII U. You need to be fast in some games. I had to take step by step by holding the RZ buttong and I had to use other. It felt like it was slowing down. Never had trouble with Gamecube controller. To wide controllers won't be as fast with regular pads. This one could work slow RPG games without rush and simple games

@Alucard83 that I don't know, of course. I think one would have to experience it by using. I got big hands. But I know what you mean. I like the concept anyway. Plus, I don't know why: I like Microsoft. Since a the Xbox 360 they at least tried to be open minded for niche products (like the controller for handicapped people) and less profit orientation (backwards comparability). I feel that MS takes a lot from the Nintendo spirit nowadays. So I say: bring it on. Having my games on the go is always a plus. As I said, I see your point

And one last thing to everyone downvoting @anti-matter for nothing all the time: why? If you don't like what he is posting, push ignore. I know, the NL community is better than this. I seldom post but read a lot. Especially in the comments. They are very thoughtful, funny and nice mostly. I enjoy them a lot. So please keep it up.

I'm wondering if this is part of "Project Scarlett''.