Xbox One Elite Controller Series 2 thoughts

[Sensei Jacksama]

So if you weren't aware Microsoft has announced their second iteration of the elite controller. According to their website it will have the same features as the previous version with some upgrades like 3 profile switches adjustable tension on the thumb sticks 3 settings for the hair trigger instead of 2 etc.... None of that really matters to me though. What really makes me interested in this is that in this version apparently you can keybind unique inputs to the back paddles that you ordinarily dont have access too. The website says that you could for instance keybind the shift key to one of them. So for ED this is very useful as it opens up many more key bindings to the game. We could potentially use one of these buttons as a modifier so that when you hold it down you could use the ABXY buttons to launch heatsinks, chaff, scb, ecm,. The D pad could give orders to a ship launched figher... just as an example.

Now the other thing I'm thinking about is that 1) what if ED doesnt recognize the new inputs rendering it useless. 2) the XB1 is nearing its life cycle so if the controller wont be compatible with next gen consoles then it seems like a waste to pay $170 just to buy a new console a year later for twice the price I paid for the controller itself. 3) I'm already adapted to my current elite controller layout so maybee if when I switch to next gen consoles it might be a good idea to start a new layout but for only a year or two left for XB1 idk if the price is worth it for 4 more inputs that may or may not work with ED.
Sorry for the long post. Let me know your thoughts

Here is a link:

Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 | Xbox

The Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 features over 30 new ways to play like a pro.

www.xbox.com

 

[Northpin]

Well, hopefully ED will fully support the future Elite2 Controller

Until then, im pretty happy with my White Elite controller. And i managed to bind lateral thrusters, heat sinks, chaff, scb and also Attack, Follow and Dock as SLF orders

 

[Fray]

The HOTAS surely makes the Elite ironically redundant, doesn't it?

If they announced it'd work with the 'nXtbox', then I might consider investing in one already, even though my Elite's still doing fine. But it simply doesn't have enough perks to it - for conventional, non-Elite [Dangerous] games - so at the moment I see no reason to spend that much again on barely any gain.

If it does support more interesting uses for the paddles, then that's very good to hear. I'll wait for the next version for the next console, providing I actually stick with Xbox.

 

[Northpin]

Nope. HOTAS is not for Couch Potatoes.
And if i give up the couch, i might as well return to PC Gaming

 

[Sensei Jacksama]

I used to have a Hotas but it broke and I got a refund. In the end i think the elite controller is better because i think it has more versatility than the Hotas plus driving an SRV was a nightmare with it and I'm glad I never got to see the fss scanner with it. I got creative with the button mapping too and I ended up figuring out how to get as much out of the elite than I did with the Hotas.

 

[Fray]

I used to have a Hotas but it broke and I got a refund. In the end i think the elite controller is better because i think it has more versatility than the Hotas plus driving an SRV was a nightmare with it and I'm glad I never got to see the fss scanner with it. I got creative with the button mapping too and I ended up figuring out how to get as much out of the elite than I did with the Hotas.

Fair enough. For me HOTAS feels better (immersion), is far less of a nuisance with binds, and I can fly so much better with it than I ever could with a pad, even the Elite. Felt almost like an entirely new game when I switched to the HOTAS and FA-off.

The Elite pad's a mini work of genius, and I honestly probably couldn't tolerate playing with a normal pad ever again, as those paddles are godsends for so many genres. If I stay with Xbox, then getting the next console will be conditional on a similar pad being available for it. But yeah, I find it amusingly ironic that its namesake of a game is the one thing I just can't use it for.

The only thing I dislike about HOTAS on Elite is the awful headlook system, and I'd still prefer to just be able to use a pad or even the keyboard to navigate menus.

 

[Sensei Jacksama]

Oh I loved flying with my Hotas. It was a joy and I quit playing the game for almost 6 months after it broke because I couldn't stomach coming back without it; but objectively I do think my accuracy is better with a controller. I dont think I could even play the game at all though if I had to go back to the regular one. If they did come out and say 100% that the E2 will be compatible with next gen consoles and ED can use the extra paddle functionality I would preorder one the first chance I got.

 

[Sunyavadin]

2) the XB1 is nearing its life cycle so if the controller wont be compatible with next gen consoles then it seems like a waste to pay $170 just to buy a new console a year later for twice the price I paid for the controller itself.

MS confirmed the day they announced the Elite MK II that their next gen of consoles is going to use the same controllers as the XBox One. Ain't broke, don't fix it, etc. So nothing is changing controller-wise, just means when you buy the new console you have extra pads for multiplayer gaming with your friends.

Also makes them more appealing for disabled gamers, since it'll be the first time a new console has supported already existing accessible custom controllers right out fo the box without needing to wait for someone to make a compatible one.

The XBox Accessories division's marketing manager was fielding these questions non-stop during E3...

 

[fishgotnosole]

I ended up trading in my Xbone Elite controller. The extra weight was flaring up my RSI. Unless this one is significantly lighter I'll stick with the standard. I didn't use the paddles, but the longer sticks were nice for ED also the circular D pad. i can live without them and save myself £100GBP+

 

[Dutchman141]

Nope. HOTAS is not for Couch Potatoes.
And if i give up the couch, i might as well return to PC Gaming

I'm in the same boat.

I never bought the Elite Controller because of the many reports of weak bumbers breaking and sticks beginning to drift, oh and the rubber grips coming off.
If the new one has fixed these issues, which will only become visible after a while and some good reviews, then I might consider buying it.
Still, 180€ is a pretty steep price for a controller, to bad all alternatives are wired.

 

[Northpin]

I never bought the Elite Controller because of the many reports of weak bumbers breaking and sticks beginning to drift, oh and the rubber grips coming off.

Mine only has 2 months, i did read those reviews and i'm a bit worried, but with it i could finally bind everything* i wanted and i still have room for several other binds.
I don't think i can return to the standard controller.

* throttle on upper paddles, lateral thrusters on lower paddles, 75% throttle, 0 throttle, heatsink, scb, chaff, slf orders (attack, follow, dock)

 

[Sensei Jacksama]

I didn't use the paddles, but the longer sticks were nice for ED also the circular D pad. i can live without them and save myself £100GBP+

Have you ever looked into installing those in a standard controller yourself? You can buy the same interchangeable sticks and D pad for pretty cheap and you can install it yourself pretty easily. Theres lots of tutorials on YouTube that show how to do it.

 

[Sensei Jacksama]

MS confirmed the day they announced the Elite MK II that their next gen of consoles is going to use the same controllers as the XBox One.

You sir have won the internet for the day. o7

 

[CMDR Cknarf]

I manage combat just fine with the regular controller fine as it is, the Elite just makes using lateral thrust a little more comfortable. Everything else I can access via menus and stuff so I’m not too worried about additional bindings.

My main concern with the new Elite would be durability over anything else. The quality is a little hit and miss with the current model. Like if you get a good one, great. If you don’t, have fun mailing it back and forth for repair/exchange.

 

[Northpin]

I was going to try the elite controller, but I grip the standard controller firmly so I talked myself out of buying it.

Q: Was it difficult to get used to the buttons on the underside?

Nope, not really - took me only a couple of sessions. Although i still find myself using LB/RB instead of upper paddles from time to time - mostly in menus tho.

 

[CMDR Cknarf]

Just a little squeeze of the hand you have lateral thrust. It’s pretty great, if you use that sort of thing.

Beats the hell out of clicking the sticks and sending your aim wild because you pushed a little hard lol.

 

[Northpin]

Just a little squeeze of the hand you have lateral thrust. It’s pretty great, if you use that sort of thing.

Beats the hell out of clicking the sticks and sending your aim wild because you pushed a little hard lol.

well, the fact i got an elite controller is entirely on you - as i was wondering if i get one how will i use the paddles.
Then i seen your post with LS/RS clicks mapped to lateral thruster and lower paddles and that was it.

 

[CMDR Cknarf]

Lol that’s all I even use them for in Elite, really. It was the easiest setup for me without moving things around, I think.

Also nice when my Elite breaks again, I still have laterals while I’m using my old controller.

Thankfully, Xbox support is usually pretty cool. They’ll hand out replacements like candy if they have to.

 

[Sensei Jacksama]

Q: Was it difficult to get used to the buttons on the underside?

For me yes but what I did was buy a set of spare paddles off Ebay and cut and grind them down to where they are much shorter. I'm planning on getting some moldable plastic called sugru and make a custom button out of some of the cut pieces to where they are pointing upwards instead of out like they normally do. I also use the smaller paddle as a trigger because I have my set up where the paddle is the B button and if I hold B plus push up/ down on my right stick it uses my vertical thrusters. It comes in handy in a fight because normally you couldn't do that with a normal set up but I can quickly press it on the fly.

 

[GODofDUTY83]

Rubber grips burst apart on my Elite. Took less than 6 months for it to happen. Now they have decided to increase the rubber coverage, so, more damage will occur to the new version than the last, no thanks.

Company I bought it from would not exchange or repair the unit and Microshaft wanted it mailed off to the US. I couldn't be bothered. Waste of cash.