Original Xbox Controller, “The Duke,” Is Making A Comeback This March!
Quite a few gamers will fondly remember the days of the original Xbox. For many, it was the beginning of their gaming careers, however it wasn’t without its issues. One of those being the original Xbox controller which was a massive and clunky beast. Due to its incredible size, it was dubbed “The Duke” and that has been its legacy ever since. Now generations later, the iconic controller from the early days of the Xbox is making a return, this time to the current generation of consoles.
Hyperkin, a company that makes retro and modern gaming peripherals, announced a while back that they were planning on bringing the classic controller back for modern consoles. Fans were immediately excited at the prospect of the Duke’s return, finding it both hilarious and a fitting way to come full circle linking the past to the present. Not only are fans and Hyperkin excited for the return of the classic Xbox controllers, but so are some of the most prominent people of Xbox’s history. Both Seamus Blackley, the “Father of Xbox” and Phil Spencer, current Head Executive of Microsoft’s Xbox division shared their love for the original Xbox controller and its triumphant return.
Thank you for being such a force behind making this happen. Cool to see this coming out.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) January 12, 2018
— Dan: The Fat One (@Drodriguezwdsc) January 12, 2018
https://twitter.com/XboxE3Fans/status/951923401580564480
The resurrected Duke controller will be incredibly close to the original design. It will be just as massive as it once was but with some minor changes. Not only will the controller be compatible with Xbox One consoles and Windows 10, but will get rid of the memory card slots of the original, add left and right bumpers, as well as feature the OLED “jewel” centered in the middle of the controller. The jewel was originally never animated which was a feature Blackley had wanted to implement from the beginning. While in an interview previously, he explained that he had a tough time getting the animation into the jewel stating, “I built a prototype myself, because I knew if I said we should put a screen behind the jewel nobody would ever go for it.”
Set at the price of $69.99, the revived Duke controller will become available at the end of March. It might not have been the most refined controller in the world, but it might be nice to have for nostalgia’s sake. Let us know your thoughts on the original Xbox controller and more in the comments section below. As always, don’t forget to follow Don’t Feed the Gamers on Twitter for 24/7 coverage of all things gaming and entertainment.
Chris Calles1560 Posts
Known as "Stash" or Yippee Calles. He's a student of everything, avid adrenaline junkie, and creator of random things. When he's not delving into a game, book, or movie - He's out teaching himself new things or taking part in some pretty epic adventures. You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr.
