Has Microsoft finally solved the mystery of the mushy d-pad?
The official wireless Xbox 360 controller hasn't changed much over the years; in fact, outside of a few special edition variations, it has remained almost entirely the same. However, since the console launched players have complained about the controller's d-pad, criticizing it for being unresponsive and feeling too loose, resulting in inaccurate directional control. Now, after five years, Microsoft has come up with a solution – a new transforming d-pad that combines both disc and cross-shaped designs – but does it actually fix the problem?
The design is actually brilliantly simple – Microsoft's hardware team has essentially taken the Xbox 360's existing d-pad design and used a switch mechanism to isolate the 4-way 'plus' shape for better tactile recognition and performance, while at the same time maintaining the versatility of an 8-way directional 'disk' system. To alternate between the two control styles, players simply have to grip the d-pad and turn it 45-degrees to the left to enable the plus mode or 45-degress back to the right to return to the disk mode. The switching mechanism works fairly well and sports enough resistance and tension to prevent unintended switches. In fact, the resistance is almost a little too firm, as players have to pinch the narrow sides of the d-pad pretty hard in order to get enough grip to make the switch. Depending on the size of your fingers or how long you keep your fingernails, this can be tricky.
Once you get past the interesting concept of the transforming d-pad, however, you realize that its utility is largely superficial and there really isn't a significant difference between how the two modes function. Both the plus and disk modes retain 8-way directional functionality and the same level of resistance, but the plus shape simply emphasizes the four core directions – up, down, left, and right. Still, tactile variation can go a long way in certain game types, and fighting and classic games are easier to control using the plus mode. We wouldn't say the transforming d-pad fully resolves the Xbox 360 controller's problems – the swivel mechanism is still somewhat loose – but it certainly makes some worthwhile improvements.
But Microsoft has also made a handful of other tweaks to the Xbox 360 controller design beyond the d-pad, which players may enjoy. For one, the design now features a monochrome aesthetic, replacing the red, green, blue, and yellow action buttons with a grayscale arrangement, going from white to two different shapes of gray and finally black. The look of the controller chassis is also slightly different, using a softer matte plastic and a silver finish.
But Microsoft has also made a handful of other tweaks to the Xbox 360 controller design beyond the d-pad, which players may enjoy. For one, the design now features a monochrome aesthetic, replacing the red, green, blue, and yellow action buttons with a grayscale arrangement, going from white to two different shapes of gray and finally black. The look of the controller chassis is also slightly different, using a softer matte plastic and a silver finish.
The thumbsticks have also been tweaked and feature a more significantly indented center, making it easier to depress either inward. While previous iterations have used concave thumbsticks, the newest variation has a distinct center pivot and a sharper edge along the rim.
At the end of the day, the new Xbox 360 controller with a transforming d-pad is largely the same as preceding models, just slightly better. The new d-pad alleviates some of its previous issues, but isn't quite perfect, and smaller tweaks to the thumbsticks and finish make the design a little more ergonomically friendly. But more than anything else, Microsoft isn't charging players for these improvements – the controller is still $64.99 with the bundled play-and-charge system. Who are we to complain?
At the end of the day, the new Xbox 360 controller with a transforming d-pad is largely the same as preceding models, just slightly better. The new d-pad alleviates some of its previous issues, but isn't quite perfect, and smaller tweaks to the thumbsticks and finish make the design a little more ergonomically friendly. But more than anything else, Microsoft isn't charging players for these improvements – the controller is still $64.99 with the bundled play-and-charge system. Who are we to complain?
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