The original 'Duke' Xbox controller design is making a comeback

Update: After it was announced at this year's E3, things have been fairly quiet around the re-release of the Duke controller. Now, however, as the Christmas season and Xbox One X release period approaches we're hearing a little bit more.

We didn't get to actually see the controller when it was first announced but now Xbox designer Seamus Blackley has taken to Twitter to show the final approved model which you can see below:

There's still no price and release date yet, but Hyperkin has said that it'll be taking pre-orders for the controller.

Original article continues below...

While we can't wait for original Xbox games to come to the Xbox One X, we can't help but think we're missing a certain something to fully recapture the nostalgia of Microsoft's original console.

Thanks to a deal between Microsoft and accessory maker Hyperkin, that 'certain something' could be the OG Xbox's massive hand-wringer of a controller, aka the Duke.

This holiday, nostalgic gamers can get their hands on a remastered take on the original Xbox controller, compatible with the Xbox One family of systems (including the newly announced 4K-ready Xbox One X) and Windows 10 PCs.

Old pad, new features

While the relaunched Duke will retain all the oversized glory of its 2001 ancestor, Hyperkin is adding a few tweaks to bring the controller up to speed.

First off, the new Duke will feature left and right bumpers, making it fully functional for games both contemporary and classic. Additionally, the giant Xbox logo that took up the middle of the original Duke will be replaced with a fancy display screen. 

Finally, Hyperkin's Duke redux will come with a 9-ft detachable cable with the option to go wireless, according to Gizmodo.

A price (or net weight) for the brand-new Duke controller hasn't been announced yet but given the semi-ironic/semi-serious love for Xbox's original pad, we hope Hyperkin can keep up the stock to avoid the kind of shortages that can plague retro callbacks (looking at you, NES Classic Edition).

• E3 is the world's largest exhibition for the games industry, stuffed full of the latest and greatest games, consoles, and gaming hardware. TechRadar is reporting live from Los Angeles all week to bring you the very latest from the show floor. Head to our dedicated E3 2017 hub to see all the new releases, along with TechRadar's world-class analysis and buying advice about the next year in gaming.

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September 22, 2017 at 03:32PM
Parker Wilhelm,Emma Boyle