The unannounced but consistently leaked Xbox Elite Series 3 controller has, well, leaked again — and this time the source is Microsoft itself. Dataminers dug a full spec list out of the backend of Xbox’s own Design Lab website, the service that lets customers customize and order their own controller designs, with the details surfacing on Reddit. Microsoft and Spectrum, the configurator provider, have since removed the data — but not before a cautious Redditor, u/esketitethan, preserved it.
What Leaked
The headline spec: the Elite Series 3 will offer Hall Effect and TMR stick options. Unlike traditional analogue sticks, Hall Effect or Tunnel Magnetoresistance (TMR) sticks rely on magnets rather than a physical connection, eliminating stick drift and wear — the single most requested upgrade in premium controllers. The listing goes deeper still: Hall effect modules come in standard, loose and tight tensions, alongside a TMR-based option, and there’s a low-friction “silent” stick in standard and longer-neck designs.
Then there’s the “advanced haptics” — which appears to mirror some of the PlayStation 5 DualSense’s features — combining voice-coil haptics with returning impulse triggers that feature their own haptics and multi-stage presses. A dedicated “Audio Scroll Wheel,” seemingly a physical dial for controlling audio, rounds out the marquee additions, along with replaceable faceplates (metal finishes, predefined designs, multiple colors, engraving options) and several d-pad choices split into cosmetic and performance variants.
The customization is extensive: paddle configurations cover standard, classic and doublewide shapes with different lengths and layouts — including a Butterfly arrangement or no upper paddles — and the internal “Beatrice” platform alone reportedly contains 27 topper and paddle combinations. The controller itself is recorded under the internal codename “Edessa.” Four SKUs appear in the data: Elite Complete and Base versions, each available with or without haptics motors. The Complete package includes a carrying case, charging dock and additional paddle configurations, while the Base model comes with a cable and a simpler setup.
When, and How Much?
There’s no word on a release date or a price. For context, current Xbox Elite Series 2 controllers go for around £150, and the line’s history — the original Elite Series 2 at £160/$180, followed by the £115/$130 Series 2 Core in 2022 — suggests the Series 3 will sit at the top of the gamepad market, alongside recent premium entries like Logitech’s new Pro line.
The read from those who’ve covered the leak: an official announcement is close. “Given the leak’s origin, and how detailed it appears to be, we’re likely closer than ever to an official announcement and potential release date,” Eurogamer writes — and KitGuru agrees that with this information coming from the software side, “the foundations are finally being put in place for a proper launch.” Stick-drift-proof sticks on an Elite controller would end one of the most long-running hardware complaints in console gaming. The question is no longer if, but when.