The Xbox Elite Series 3 is filtered, a controller with WiFi 6, cloud mode and a more customizable design

A new leak suggests that Microsoft is also preparing a Xbox Elite Series 3. It does so just after the first details of a compact controller aimed at cloud gaming came to light. On this occasion, the information comes from regulatory documentation published by Technoblogwhere images and indications appear of what would be the successor to the current Elite Series 2, the premium Xbox controller.

The most relevant novelty is not only in the design, but in the direction it reveals. Like the compact controller leaked days ago, this new model would have WiFi 6 and Bluetoothas well as a button to switch between local mode and cloud mode. This detail reinforces the idea that Microsoft wants to reduce one of the classic problems of cloud gaming, namely the added latency when the controller depends on a mobile phone, a PC or a TV to forward the keystrokes to the server.

In the current Xbox Cloud Gaming scheme, the controller does not talk directly to the cloud, but to the device that acts as an intermediary. That extra jump introduces lag, especially noticeable in games where quick response is key. That’s why, direct connection via WiFi It would allow that route to be shortened, a strategy similar to the one already used by the Stadia controller and which now seems to gain weight within the Xbox roadmap.

A continuous design, but with new controls and more room for adjustment

According to the images of Technoblogthe supposed Xbox Elite Series 3 would maintain several of the hallmarks of the current model. They would still be present Interchangeable D-Pad, modular sticks and the adjustable triggers and rear levers, that is, the basis of customization that has defined the Elite family since its first generations. The difference would be in how Microsoft refines that formula.

One of the most striking changes is the appearance of two new controls at the bottomlocated between the handles and next to the 3.5 millimeter connector. From the pictures, they look like little wheels or dials. The documentation does not clarify their exact function, although it is speculated that they could be used for continuous adjustments, something that would make sense in flight, driving or games simulators where it is convenient to modulate parameters without releasing other main inputs.

The anchoring points of some rear levers also change, now more centered, something that could give more freedom for different lengths or configurations. Customization without tools It would continue to be one of the main arguments of the controller, a logical feature in a product that is aimed at advanced players and those seeking to adapt ergonomics to very different genres.

Xbox’s strategy involves reinforcing the controller as a gateway to cloud gaming

Another piece of information left in the documentation is the battery. The new model would maintain a rechargeable and removable battery, although with 1,528 mAh versus 2,050 mAh of the Elite Series 2. It is not clear if this reduction will have a real impact on autonomy or if it is compensated by efficiency improvements in connectivity and internal electronics. There is also no official confirmation about chip, price or release date.

It is worth remembering that in 2023, during the process with the FTC, references to the Sebile project already appeared, a more advanced controller with precision haptics and direct connection to the cloud. That idea did not reach the market as leaked, but new images suggest it was not abandonedbut transformed into a family of controls more aligned with the present of Xbox Cloud Gaming. As you can imagine, Microsoft has not confirmed the existence of this Elite Series 3. We will continue to pay attention to the news.