As Microsoft prepares to make a big announcement on June 11 that many are expecting to feature what the company claims as "the most powerful console ever," the company has released its new Tech Series of wireless controllers for the Xbox One.
The first controller in the series is named the Recon Tech Special Edition, and it will be released worldwide on April 25 with a price tag of $69.99.
Xbox One Tech Series Wireless Controllers
According to the press release that announced the new controller, Microsoft developed the new Tech Series with inspiration from military technology and performance patterns. As such, the team explored concepts that were related to combat armor and mechanical gear from science fiction.
The Recon Tech Special Edition features premium finishes such as a laser-etched architecture, insignia and gold accents at the front, and a diamond rubberized grip at the back for additional comfort and control.
The Recon Tech Special Edition also comes with all the features that gamers have enjoyed with the regular Xbox Wireless Controller, including improvements in wireless range and Bluetooth connectivity to use the controller for the Samsung Gear VR or Windows 10 devices. The new controller is also compatible with the custom button mapping feature offered by the Xbox Accessories App, which can be downloaded through the Windows Store or the Xbox Store.
In the press release, Microsoft mentions the upcoming Copilot feature of the Xbox One as one of the great ways to use the Recon Tech Special Edition, as it allows two wireless controllers to act as one. The Copilot feature, which will be launched through the Creators Update that will be released later this year, will allow gamers to play while enjoying the assistance of others, whether they be children being helped out by their parents, novice players being taught by experienced ones, and players with unique configurations in how they play.
Xbox One Elite Wireless Controller vs Recon Tech Special Edition
The Recon Tech Special Edition does not really give players an edge in the games that they play. As compared to the $59.99 stock wireless controllers of the Xbox One, the changes are almost purely cosmetic.
For Xbox One owners looking to take their game to the next level, the Xbox One Elite Wireless Controller would be a better option due to its finely tuned sensors and extensive customization options, with interchangeable paddles and swappable components.
The price of the Elite controller, however, stands at $149.99, which is more than double that of the Recon Tech Special Edition. As such, customers looking to upgrade the wireless controllers from the stock version will have to choose whether they just want their new controller to look cooler or if they also want to be able to apply customizations.
Project Scorpio Rumors
The announcement of the Tech Series of Xbox One wireless controllers is just a break from all the focus being placed on the upcoming Project Scorpio console.
Details about the console leaked earlier this year claim that Project Scorpio will feature RAM architecture that is very different compared to the one used by the Xbox One, with four times the L2 cache compared to the Xbox One and up to a 6-teraflop GPU.
Microsoft claimed that games were already being played on the Project Scorpio in January, with mixed reality to come to the console next year.
