The controller you employ to play video games is sort of as essential because the platform on which you play, and there are countless choices out there for these trying to up their gaming skills. Whereas many controllers can present sensible or monetary causes to decide on them over a competitor, one service stands above the remainder for these trying to categorical themselves by a {custom} controller — Xbox Design Lab.
Microsoft’s official controller-customizing platform returned after the arrival of the Xbox Sequence X and Xbox Sequence S duo of current-gen consoles with a brand new controller basis and colour choices. Since then, it has expanded with many extra customization choices and upgrades, a redesigned web site, availability in a larger variety of areas, and extra.
Xbox Design Lab: Worth & availability
To safe an Xbox Design Lab controller of your individual, you may must be keen to pay the value, and be residing in a supported area. For the previous, Xbox Design Lab controllers start at $70 USD, solely $10 greater than a normal Xbox Wi-fi Controller (and $5 greater than most of the official Xbox Wi-fi Controller colorways), which nonetheless enables you to customise the physique, again, triggers, bumpers, D-pad, thumbsticks, and face buttons with numerous primary colour choices.
These costs can rapidly go up, nevertheless, with optionally available upgrades like metallic triggers and D-pad, distinctive colorways for the physique, rubberized grips on the rear and sides, and engraving. With all of the extras added, a completely custom-made Xbox Design Lab controller is priced at $110, a considerable enhance over even Particular Version Xbox Wi-fi Controllers, and approaching the value vary of “professional” controllers that boast extra sensible upgrades and extra options.
Xbox Design Lab is offered in much more areas than at launch. Simply keep in mind that Xbox Design Lab orders, being custom-made, can take 3-4 weeks to be delivered (and refunds aren’t out there for the service). The Xbox Design Lab supported areas embrace:
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Canada
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Eire
- Italy
- Japan
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- South Korea
- Spain
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
- United States
Xbox Design Lab: What’s good
Xbox Design Lab’s biggest power can be its most distinguished promoting level, and that is the virtually countless potentialities afforded by its in-depth customization choices. Xbox Design Lab lets you customise to your coronary heart’s content material an Xbox Wi-fi Controller, with a plethora of choices out there for the physique, again, triggers, bumpers, thumbsticks, D-pad, buttons, and past.
No two Xbox Design Lab controllers are alike, with the vast assortment of colours and choices enabling gamers to create a very distinctive controller. These controllers might be impressed by your favourite recreation, sports activities workforce, film or TV present, character, and past. The Xbox Design Lab web site even encompasses a assortment of “reference designs” to peruse, which offer you a peek into what the service is able to delivering.
Xbox Design Lab is unchallenged for controller customization.
On this entrance, Xbox Design Lab is genuinely exemplary. It could actually truly be intimidating to land on a finalized design due to the breadth of choices out there, however there isn’t any finish to the instructions you’ll be able to go to seek out the controller that is good for you. If you happen to worth expression, even in your video video games equipment, Xbox Design Lab is virtually unchallenged within the area.
It additionally helps that Xbox Design Lab is constructed utilizing official Xbox Wi-fi Controllers (sure, the precise mannequin that debuted alongside Xbox Sequence X|S), so it advantages from all the identical options and enhancements. This is likely one of the biggest controller designs of all time, and the most recent iteration options improved ergonomics for smaller fingers, a superior D-pad, higher set off and button actions, grippier sides, and an built-in “Share” button. It additionally options twin Xbox Wi-fi and Bluetooth radios, that means you should utilize this controller on Xbox, PC, and Bluetooth-enabled cell units.
Infinite potentialities for personalisation and a tried-and-true design that excels at cross-device play is a recipe for achievement, and Xbox Design Lab does not disappoint. I noticed incredible construct high quality in each of the Xbox Design Lab controllers I had out there to check, with no regarding creaking, gaps, or drifting. It stays to be seen how properly these controllers maintain up over time, however they need to be basically equivalent to the usual Xbox Wi-fi Controller.
The rubberized grips are a practical, precious improve.
There’s quite a bit to like about Xbox Design Lab, however the overwhelming majority of its customization choices are, understandably, purely beauty. Nevertheless, there may be one notable improve that’s practical and properly definitely worth the added premium — the rubberized grips. Out there for the again and sides of the controller, the rubberized grips are a drastic enchancment over the textured plastic “grips” of the usual controller, and genuinely make the controller extra snug to make use of for lengthy durations of time.
After evaluating and contrasting, I even discovered the rubberized grips to be superior to the wonderful grips on the Forza Horizon 5 Restricted Version Xbox Wi-fi Controller that was my earlier every day driver. You are taking a look at a further $12 to put in each grip units in your controller, they usually solely are available black, but it surely’s simply definitely worth the consideration if you would like a {custom} controller that appears and feels higher than a normal Xbox Wi-fi Controller.
Earlier than I transfer on to the few negatives that crush Xbox Design Lab, I wish to contact on the much-improved web site for the service. The previous web site was complicated to navigate, and was susceptible to crashes, freezes, and different errors. This newly redesigned web site not solely seems a lot cleaner, it is also considerably simpler to make use of, and has by no means stuttered whereas I’ve used it.
If you happen to register together with your Microsoft Account, it can save you designs to buy or edit later, making it simple to discover the creator with out committing to purchasing the controller. There’s even a group gallery stuffed with superior creations by different Xbox gamers, so you’ll be able to nonetheless discover one thing that matches your wishes when you’re not assured in your artistic skills.
Xbox Design Lab: What’s not good
Thankfully, Xbox Design Lab is not beset by many cons. Not solely is it one among your solely choices for buying a very personalised controller, it is also genuinely nice at delivering. Nonetheless, there are some things that will deter potential clients, or that want to enhance sooner or later.
For one, a number of widespread colour choices from the primary technology of Xbox Design Lab are nonetheless nowhere to be seen, just like the beautiful gradients. Microsoft has added a plethora of recent choices to the second technology of Xbox Design Lab since its debut, together with some brand-new additions like the gorgeous Xbox “Pleasure” controller and the return of different fan-favorite additions like metallic triggers and D-pads. Nonetheless, there are nonetheless some older colours that gamers want to see seem as choices within the new Xbox Design Lab.
Xbox Design Lab might be improved in a couple of locations.
Funds-conscious customers could also be dissuaded by the swiftly rising worth of an Xbox Design Lab controller, as properly. Whereas the vast majority of controller choices are included within the base worth, it is easy to extend the fee with optionally available, purely beauty upgrades. I personally do not imagine these choices are overpriced, however shelling out $110 for what’s successfully a normal Xbox Wi-fi Controller with some rubberized grips could also be a tall order for some.
If you happen to’re contemplating an Xbox Design Lab controller, consider how a lot you worth proudly owning a novel, private accent, and whether or not these optionally available upgrades are value it. You may nonetheless make a incredible, particular controller with out nudging the ultimate worth larger.
Lastly, Xbox Design Lab suffers slightly with regards to velocity of supply and availability. For the previous, consumers are taking a look at a 3-4 week wait to obtain their {custom} controller, and will not be capable of refund the order after a sure level post-purchase (since every controller is constructed to order). That is comprehensible given the character of the service, however can nonetheless be annoying when you’re in want of a brand new controller otherwise you change your thoughts.
As for the latter, Microsoft has significantly expanded the supply of Xbox Design Lab to extra areas, with the newest growth including over 10 new nations (you’ll be able to see the complete listing above). Thailand can be gaining Xbox Design Lab assist later this yr, opening the service to extra potential gamers. This situation is way smaller now than it was at launch, when Xbox Design Lab was restricted to a handful of areas. Nonetheless, South America, Africa, Mexico, and lots of different areas are nonetheless absent from the listing, so consumers in these locations are out of luck.
Xbox Design Lab: The competitors
Merely put, Xbox Design Lab does not have a ton of competitors. If you happen to’re in search of a extremely private controller, particularly one constructed for Xbox, PC, and cell platforms, there aren’t many locations to look. Some producers like PowerA supply controllers with numerous colorways and designs, however these controllers are sometimes extra reasonably priced entries and nonetheless restrict choices. Some “professional” controllers have swappable faceplates, which generally is a nice different when you additionally worth added options in your controller, however this requires extra work and procuring in your half.
ColorWare is probably going the closest competitor to Xbox Design Lab, as the corporate focuses on a wide selection of {custom} merchandise. You may seize an Xbox Wi-fi Controller from ColorWare in an impressively big selection of colours, however you may be restricted to the physique, again, D-pad, and engraving. ColorWare controllers are additionally costlier than Xbox Design Lab, making it arduous to advocate except the corporate presents a colorway you’ll be able to’t discover or replicate at Xbox Design Lab.
Xbox Design Lab: Must you purchase?
You can purchase this if …
- You need a novel, totally personalised controller
- You need a {custom} controller that matches the characteristic set of the Xbox Wi-fi Controller
- You do not thoughts ready or paying additional for a {custom} controller
You shouldn’t purchase this if …
- You worth sensible options and upgrades over beauty additions
- You want a controller proper now or are procuring on a good finances
Video video games and private expression go hand-in-hand, with many gamers’ setups and equipment reflecting their identities and character. From RGB lights to themed merchandise and collaborations, this effort to personalize is in all places. Xbox Design Lab makes it extremely simple to personal an Xbox Wi-fi Controller that completely matches you, and it is frequently getting higher over time.
Constructed utilizing what’s broadly thought of as the most effective general Xbox controller for almost all of avid gamers, Xbox Design Lab is easy and simple to advocate. If you happen to do not perceive the worth in purely beauty bills, nevertheless, you’ll be able to simply choose up a extra technically succesful controller for the same worth to a completely specced Xbox Design Lab controller. On high of that, you possible will not be met with the identical weeks-long wait time to truly obtain your new controller.
Xbox Design Lab is a superb addition to the Xbox ecosystem, and I hope it continues to enhance transferring ahead with new choices and larger availability. There are practically infinite potentialities to discover inside Xbox Design Lab. No matter what you create, it will be really “you,” and it will be capable of comply with you wherever you recreation, throughout Xbox, PC, and cell units.
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Microsoft’s second-generation Xbox Design Lab lets gamers tailor an Xbox Wi-fi Controller to their identification with dozens of choices and upgrades. If you’d like your controller to be fully distinctive, Xbox Design Lab is a superb possibility — for a worth.
