Within a massive overnight leak of Microsoft documents, the Sebile controller, formerly known as the Xbox Universal Controller, takes center stage. This controller, featured in a hardware roadmap circulated internally on February 5, 2022, places a significant emphasis on sustainability and durability improvements.
Sebile is poised to become a part of the Xbox Design Lab lineup, granting purchasers the ability to customize controller colors, with special and limited editions anticipated in the future.
Notably, one of the most significant changes to the Xbox controller is the inclusion of a swappable and rechargeable battery, offering a more eco-friendly approach as users can replace batteries instead of purchasing entirely new controllers. Sebile is also designed with recycled materials and reduced resin usage to minimize waste.
The hardware roadmap introduces various enhancements such as modular thumbsticks and improved durability, aimed at bolstering the controller’s reliability. Additionally, new immersive features include precision haptic feedback, VCA haptics that double as speakers, an accelerometer, and quieter buttons and thumbsticks.
Sebile boasts the convenient feature of automatic wake-up upon being lifted, eliminating the need for manual activation if it enters sleep mode. Connectivity options are exclusively wireless.
According to the leaked document, Sebile is slated for release at the end of May 2024, with plans for an earlier announcement, although not as early as September 2023.
Sebile’s introduction is just one aspect of Microsoft’s extensive hardware initiatives, which encompass a mid-generation refresh of Xbox Series X and S before the anticipated release of the next Xbox console in 2028.