Microsoft has launched the Xbox Adaptive Joystick, a companion controller that looks very similar to the Wii’s Nunchuk accessory.
Fans of Nintendo’s retro console will spot the same shape as the Wii Nunchuk, with two trigger buttons on the back of the device and an analogue stick on top. Four face buttons are also included.
The Xbox Adaptive Joystick was announced last year as a further aid to accessibility, and plugs directly into any Xbox One or Xbox Series X/S console, Windows 11 PC, or the Xbox Adaptive Controller device.
For now, the controller is being sold via the Microsoft Store for £25, or $30.
“With more than 429 million players with disabilities worldwide, we know each player has unique needs and preferences for how they choose to play,” Microsoft’s chief accessibility officer Jenny Lay-Flurrie said in a Microsoft blog post.
“The Xbox Adaptive Joystick is a singular, wired controller primarily designed to meet the needs of players with limited mobility. Its versatility helps players seamlessly incorporate it into their existing gaming setups. Built with the Gaming and Disability community who inform the development of Xbox products from the beginning. The joystick joins our family of adaptive accessories including the mouse, pen, adaptive kit and Xbox Adaptive Controller.”
Buttons can be remapped via the standard Xbox Accessories app. A range of 3D-printable thumbstick topper designs are also available via the Xbox Design lab, to allow users to customise their controller further to their needs.
Eurogamer previously took a deeper look at how gamers with disabilities helped shape the Microsoft Adaptive Controller.
