Microsoft’s new Xbox Adaptive Joystick puts accessibility at the heart of things

Microsoft is launching a new $29.99 Xbox Adaptive Joystick early next year designed for gamers with limited mobility. It’s a wired accessory for existing Xbox controllers and features four buttons, an Xbox thumbstick and two additional buttons for bumper and trigger controls.

The Xbox Adaptive Joystick allows you to operate a controller without using both hands, making it ideal for gamers who may have difficulty using the thumbsticks on existing controllers. All buttons are fully customizable, and there are a variety of 3D printable thumbstick toppers available that allow you to adjust the size, height, and width of the thumbsticks.

“Very early on with the adaptive joystick, we involved the disability community in early designs and working prototypes,” explains Kaitlyn Jones, Senior Accessibility Product Manager at Xbox, during a Gamescom stream. “Also from a software perspective, we heard from our players that they wanted an affordable joystick for their adaptive controller, but also something that fits seamlessly into their existing setup.”

You can connect the Xbox Adaptive Joystick to Microsoft’s Adaptive Controller for a fully adaptive setup, or connect it directly to a PC or Xbox. It can even be mounted thanks to a threaded insert like you’d find on a camera tripod.

Community feedback played a big role in the development of this hardware. Microsoft visited a hospital in Seattle with a box full of prototypes for a feedback session. “We got feedback on the grip size, shape, number of buttons and where the buttons are located,” says Chris Kujawski, chief designer at Xbox.

In addition to Microsoft’s own Xbox Adaptive Joystick, the company also unveiled a new $59.99 Lite SE controller from 8BitDo that’s also designed for gamers with limited mobility. It features low-resistance buttons and Hall-effect joysticks, and all buttons are accessible on the top of the controller.

Microsoft has also developed a new Toggle Hold feature for Xbox controllers, which is available for Xbox Insiders to test today. “This new feature is designed to make using a controller even easier and support players who struggle to hold longer button presses,” says Microsoft’s Gaming Accessibility team. “Similar to Sticky Keys on a computer, you can assign any button or port on the Xbox Adaptive Controller, Xbox Adaptive Joystick, or Xbox Elite Series 2 controller to stay pressed until released by pressing it again.”

The Xbox Adaptive Joystick also comes in improved packaging that is similar to the packaging Microsoft used for its previous Xbox Adaptive Controller. Microsoft is also improving packaging accessibility for its three new Xbox Series S/X console options launching in October.

The Xbox Adaptive Joystick will launch in select Xbox markets worldwide in early 2025 and will be sold exclusively through the Microsoft Store for $29.99.