GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links.

The Xbox 360 Controller Is Making A Comeback For Xbox Series X

These officially licensed controllers were inspired by Xbox 360 gamepads but feature full Series X support.

39 Comments

There’s no shortage of excellent Xbox Series X controllers, but there isn't anything quite like the upcoming Hyperkin Xenon Wired Controller . The gamepad is officially licensed by Microsoft, and it serves as a replica of the original Xbox 360 controller--although it’s designed for full Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC support. You can preorder the Xenon at Amazon for $50 ahead of its June 6 launch.

The Hyperkin Xenon Wired Controller features a share button, vibration feedback, a 3.5mm jack, and a detachable USB-C cable. Since it's a wired controller, it might appeal more to gamers who play PC or Xbox at a desk. Beyond the modern features, you’re getting an authentic replica of the old Xbox 360 controller.

No Caption Provided

Hyperkin is no stranger to working with Xbox to churn out nostalgic accessories, as the company previously released the Hyperkin Duke Wired Controller for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, which featured the chunky design of the original Xbox gamepad.

If you’re interested in picking up this new Xbox 360-inspired gamepad, you’ll find four different colors to choose from.

Hyperkin Xenon Wired Controllers

The Xenon could be a popular wired controller for Xbox Series X and PC, but you have plenty of other options to choose from as an Xbox user. For more great gamepads, be sure to check out our roundup of the best Xbox Series X controllers of 2023.

Jon Bitner on Google+

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

Join the conversation
There are 39 comments about this story
39 Comments  RefreshSorted By 
GameSpot has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to toxic conduct in comments. Any abusive, racist, sexist, threatening, bullying, vulgar, and otherwise objectionable behavior will result in moderation and/or account termination. Please keep your discussion civil.

Avatar image for Strychnine
Strychnine

104

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Can a brother please get an updated wireless "Duke" controller?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for trer24
trer24

89

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

My god...xbox 360 is considered retro now?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for JamesHetfield89
JamesHetfield89

752

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By JamesHetfield89

@trer24: there were 5188 days between the SNES release and Xbox 360 release. 14 years, 2 months, 13 days.

It’s been 6405 days since the release of the Xbox 360 release. 17 years, 6 months, 15 days.

Those are the North American dates. So, it certainly feels weird to call the 360 retro to me, at the age of 35. It doesn’t feel as old as the SNES did back then on the day it released but I think most would have called the SNES something akin to retro.

2 • 
Avatar image for restatbonfire
RestatBonfire

2572

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

RestatBonfire  Online

@trer24: I mean it is. Halo 3 came out when I was in highschool lol.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for faithxvoid
faithxvoid

934

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

Edited By faithxvoid

Would have been cooler if they made it with the 360 special edition d-pad that was adjustable. Still cool.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Keivz_basic
Keivz_basic

1330

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 13

User Lists: 0

Used to think this was the be all end all of game controllers but the Xbox series controller is a substantial upgrade.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for nevrfearjbhere
NEVRfearJBhere

145

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 2

Edited By NEVRfearJBhere

Wish it would work with the 360. I need a new 360 controller

Upvote • 
Avatar image for deactivated-64efdf49333c4
deactivated-64efdf49333c4

21783

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 36

User Lists: 0

@nevrfearjbhere: It doesn't? Why wouldn't it? 360 controllers are just standardized native Xinput controllers. So are modern Xbox controllers. For this thing to work, it must also be a native Xinput controller. It should work on the 360.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for realitybites
realitybites

80

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 5

I still have a xbox 360 USB controller plugged into my PC gaming rig. Really good. Xbox One controller is slightly better (very similar design). Hated dual shock controllers but I really do like the dual sense it has better weight and the haptic is great. If the left stick was off center like Xbox be nearly perfect.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for jenovaschilld
jenovaschilld

8022

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Bring back the Xbox duke controller, now that's ... that is a controller.

3 • 
Avatar image for gio-007-xbl
GIO-007-XBL

76

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 5

@jenovaschilld: The "Duke" was my favorite controller. However, the black and white buttons need to be replaced to mimic shoulder buttons. I'd like to see an updated version of the Duke controller.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for rohanrocks88
rohanrocks88

638

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By rohanrocks88

@jenovaschilld: they did awhile back

Upvote • 
Avatar image for doomsdayhell01
DoomsdayHell01

660

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

@jenovaschilld: Dude they still selling the duke controller everywhere

If you talking about the, Hyperkin Duke Wired Controller for Xbox Series X|S/Xbox One/Windows 10 Anniversary controller, then yes they still selling it

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Spartan_418
Spartan_418

4685

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

@doomsdayhell01: It exists, but it's a bit of a disappointment imo. It's big and expensive enough that it really makes you wish it was wireless instead, and the rumble motors and some of the button action doesn't feel right, and the OLED guide button seems like a waste when the only thing it can do is display the Original Xbox startup animation. It should have been programmable so that at least on PC it's capable of displaying something else and having some other use

Upvote • 
Avatar image for doomsdayhell01
DoomsdayHell01

660

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

@Spartan_418:

You said - It should have been programmable so that at least on PC it's capable of displaying something else and having some other use.

If they would have done that, then we would have been paying at least 200 smackers for that controller. i think they trying to keep it consumer price friendly and that's why in the first place the controller isn't even wireless. A wireless controller would cost us a lot more.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Spartan_418
Spartan_418

4685

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

@doomsdayhell01: Don't see why? You get that it already has the OLED screen and that it stores an animation to play, right? Making the button capable of playing a different animation should not be a huge increase in complexity. Maybe it would be limited to the same black and green color range, but I wouldn't care

Upvote • 
Avatar image for jenovaschilld
jenovaschilld

8022

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@doomsdayhell01: lol, too cool.

I was joking, the duke was a ergonomic nightmare of a controller. We would fight over Madcatz controllers, until the S-controller eventually came out for the first xbox.

Still, fun memories of the original xbox controller.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Spartan_418
Spartan_418

4685

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

Too bad MS doesn't allow third parties to make wireless Xbox controllers.

A wireless version of this, with a smaller internal battery and no huge hump on the underside, would be appealing

Upvote • 
Avatar image for robthehermit
robthehermit

1

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

@Spartan_418: They do. PowerA recently released the MOGA XP-Ultra which uses the Xbox wireless protocol. Hopefully this will pave the way for others to follow.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for fattiesgonewild
FattiesGoneWild

132

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Controllers, controllers and MORE controllers! 👎 Give us the GAMES MS!!!!

2 • 
Avatar image for bthegamer
BtheGamer

269

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

@fattiesgonewild: yea let's hope they address these long awaited games on thier showcase. A lot of games been in development for a long time that they announced like 5 years ago. Where are they now dunno who knows lol. But ps5 I only got 3 games they both need more games

Upvote • 
Avatar image for johnny0779
johnny0779

2257

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

I love the Xbox 360 controller, but not over the Series X controller.

3 • 
Avatar image for definer0
definer0

259

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Good idea, but not for that price

Upvote • 
Avatar image for deactivated-64efdf49333c4
deactivated-64efdf49333c4

21783

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 36

User Lists: 0

Yay! I've always wanted a return of the controller that could never last more than 9 months without breaking in some way. Of course, that's better than current Series controllers. They drift out of the box (like the one I just bought last week).

Upvote • 
Avatar image for nintendians
nintendians

6054

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 139

User Lists: 0

Edited By nintendians

i don't trust 3rd party controller much, since it often break on me.

but out of all the xbox controller's rt and lt triggers - xbox 360 have the best ones out there.

2 • 
Avatar image for Tiwill44
Tiwill44

3896

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 384

User Lists: 7

We're now old enough for people to have nostalgia for the Xbox 360 controller.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for deactivated-64efdf49333c4
deactivated-64efdf49333c4

21783

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 36

User Lists: 0

@Tiwill44: Hell, I have nostalgia for the original Xbox controllers. Those things were built to last. Mine still work great. Shame the Xbox itself doesn't. Stupid cheapass MS and their cheapass capacitors...the rest of the unit is in great condition.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for mogan
mogan

19934

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 6

User Lists: 0

mogan  Moderator

Great controller for its generation, but I feel like the Xbox One and Series X controllers are strict upgrades to it.

3 • 
Avatar image for Spartan_418
Spartan_418

4685

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

@mogan: They have a distinctly different feel, though. And the bumpers on the Xbox One controller were a downgrade from the 360 (Series controller fixed them)

And though the Series dpad is an improvement in terms of feel, not everyone likes how loud it is, with all that clicking

Upvote • 
Avatar image for hardwenzen
hardwenzen

42366

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

Extremely overrated controller. Good for its time because standards were low, but now, you really can't compare to the xbone, series and ps5 controllers.

2 • 
Avatar image for deactivated-64efdf49333c4
deactivated-64efdf49333c4

21783

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 36

User Lists: 0

@hardwenzen: You like the PS5 controller? Can't say that I do. A little too chunky and expensive for something with so little durability.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for nintendians
nintendians

6054

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 139

User Lists: 0

@hardwenzen: for me, i think the xbox 360 controllers - mostly the triggers is way more better versus xbox one, xbox series x, dualshock 1, 2, 3 and 4 and dualsense's.

never like wide triggers.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for deactivated-64efdf49333c4
deactivated-64efdf49333c4

21783

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 36

User Lists: 0

@nintendians: Gotta agree on the triggers. Never liked the pokey triggers on the PS4/5.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for nintendians
nintendians

6054

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 139

User Lists: 0

@Barighm: yeah.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for hardwenzen
hardwenzen

42366

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

@nintendians: I would agree on the triggers, but the analogue sticks are way too low and tight.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for nintendians
nintendians

6054

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 139

User Lists: 0

@hardwenzen: yeah, kind of - for me, it's okay-ish.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for deactivated-64efdf49333c4
deactivated-64efdf49333c4

21783

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 36

User Lists: 0

@hardwenzen: Can't say I ever had a 360 controller where the sticks felt tight. I did get third party ones that were too tight though. Unsurprisingly, they sucked.

Upvote •