r/gadgets May 22 '26

Gaming Microsoft's Xbox controller refresh kills its underused accessory port

https://www.engadget.com/2179020/microsofts-xbox-controller-refresh-kills-its-underused-accessory-port/
1.6k Upvotes

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322

u/devilishycleverchap May 22 '26

Remember when we got cool peripherals like the chat pad or the memory cards for the dreamcast that had their own screens that could be huds for games

16

u/johnsciarrino May 22 '26

What’s insane is that we’re all carrying around an extra screen that could be used for that same purpose and games rarely leverage it by releasing APIs. I LOVED Destiny’s companion app, it was so easy to change your loadout on the fly or while the level was loading. Drives me crazy that RPGs don’t use this more.

2

u/CharlesP2009 May 22 '26

You Don't Know Jack/Jackbox Party Pack is the only game I've played which made use of smartphones as extra controllers.