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| Prototype XBOX Elite Series 3 Wireless Controller (Image: u/ssuberlex from r/controller, Reddit) |
Following the accidental release of schematics and images of the upcoming XBOX Elite controller by a Brazilian regulator, one user from Reddit have found themselves handling one of its tightly-kept prototypes, which have appeared to boast a slight facelift of the controller's usual appearance in comparison to its predecessor, a swappable battery pack, and the ability to pair itself directly to XBOX Cloud Gaming servers using WIFI, further cutting its input latency on games played using the service.
In a now-deleted post from August 11, 2026, one user on Reddit from the r/Controller subreddit with the handle "u/ssuberlex" posted some hands-on photos of the unreleased elite controller successor, which he claimed to have grabbed through a deal from the reselling app OfferUp. He then followed it with an inquiry asking the users if they know anything about the said controller.
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| Another front-profile photo of the prototype XBOX Elite Series 3 wireless controller, highlighting its redesigned button design and layout. (Image: u/ssuberlex from r/controller, Reddit) |
The leaked XBOX Elite Series 3 controller prototype has almost all the premium features as the Series 2 controller such as remappable back paddles, tension adjustable swappable joysticks, hair trigger switches, and its signature premium sheen shell aesthetic. However, it appears to have a redesigned face button and d-pad glyph, which looks far from the usual glyph featured through Series 1 and 2 iterations. The share button is also visibly raised upwards to align itself in the middle between the Start and Select buttons.
It also features a slimmer body in comparison to its predecessor and the default design for the regular XBOX Wireless Controller.
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| Rear view of the prototype XBOX Elite Series 3 controller, with the signature four remappable back paddles, hair trigger switches, and new swappable battery pack (Image: u/ssuberlex from r/controller, Reddit) |
Aside from that, this appears to have what looks like an OLED mini display that "animates" and displays the connection/pairing status of the controller.
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| Top view of the prototype XBOX Elite Series 3 controller, with what looks like an OLED mini-indicator display which shows the current pairing state, along with the syncing button to the right. (Image: u/ssuberlex from r/controller, Reddit) |
This also has two scrolling mechanisms below the controller, sandwiching the built-in 3.5mm headphone jack. It still remains unknown as to what its intended purpose is, but it may be hinting to features such as controlling microphone and audio volume from the controller itself (which would make complete sense, given its placement), or other gameplay-related input.
Like the newer XBOX controllers released in 2026, the prototype is missing its proprietary extension port, a thing that used to be the staple for every Elite edition controllers, even tracing back to the original XBOX One controller from 2012.
Perhaps the turning point of the upcoming Elite Series 3 controller is its ability to pair itself between local wireless, and directly to XBOX Cloud Gaming servers. This is to effectively reduce the input latency for games streamed thru the cloud gaming service, making the experience as smooth as if the game was running locally.
Despite these rare glimpses of the upcoming controller series variant, the user hastily deleted the post and their account after it gained significant traction from the media, and the XBOX community.
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| Hardware photos from the Brazilian telecom regulator Anatel, first shared by Tecnoblog, which features both the exact design of the Elite Series 3 controller, and a smaller cloud gaming controller made by XBOX. (Image: Anatel Brazil, tecnoblog.net) |
It is also noted that a few months ago, Brazilian telecommunications regulator Anatel accidentally published hardware images of the upcoming Elite Series 3 controller, along with a new slimmer cloud gaming controller from XBOX, which is apparently a prerequisite from the Brazilian government before attaining certification. This was then promptly covered by the Brazilian tech outlet Tecnoblog, which went more into detail about what they really were at first glance.
Alongside this, users have also expressed various insights about the unprecedented reveal, with some saying that this can might as well have strong potential to rival third-party pro controllers such as the GameSir G7 Pro if Microsoft releases this with full TMR joysticks, which long dreaded their preceding models.
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| The entire Elite Controller generation timeline. (Image: The XBOX Store, Amazon, u/ssuberlex from r/controller, Reddit. Illustration: Staven Geoff Kho, Tekku Philippines) |
Nothing is sure yet as to when will XBOX officially unveil the newest addition of its premium Elite Controller series. But one thing is definitely for sure, and it is that this is still under works at XBOX, and we are expecting this to arrive somewhere around Q4 of 2026, or alongside Project Helix.
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DISCLAIMER: This contains unverified information from third party sources. Contents and qualities stated here are not to be treated as official unless stated formally.
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