Is Microsoft… the Good Guy? - Xbox Adaptive Controller 

As a disabled gamer who can only use one arm. I want to thank Microsoft/Xbox for making this. I have trouble with some games, but for the most part I don't need it, but others may. Thank you for making this.

Also, serious mention to the unboxing experience since you can open this entire controller one handed thanks to the box design

This helped my lil brother finally play games with me... he always asked to play with and he never could... Now he finally can.

If a small company made this, it would cost a fortune. Microsoft putting their factories and resources into giving the disabled a reasonably priced product to enjoy gaming properly

Apple: No jacks Microsoft: 20 JACKS

I love how he avoids saying that this is a device for people with disabilities.

Linus, we are glad that you covered this adaptive controller. As a media and technology group that hires mainly persons with different ability levels, we have been considering purchasing this, but needed a good review prior to investing the funds. Thank you!!!!

Hey guys, Microsoft worked with the Able Gamer charity to build the controller. Able gamer actually prototyped the original controller, Microsoft refined and built it. Great job Microsoft!

I'm a quadriplegic and I love this controller. Kudos to Microsoft for making it.

Microsoft has always been a huge proponent of accessibility. We actually had 2 blind people and one deaf person on the ESC testing team just to ensure manual scenarios always worked right on the Windows platform and they would file any bugs where a new feature or existing feature had missing or hindered accessibility implementation. My guess would be since XBOX and Windows are merging as gaming platforms moving forward Microsoft wants to ensure even the games are accessible plus the controller could be leveraged for other types of input not gaming related on the Windows platform specifically. I'm happy to see Microsoft is doing some stuff like this and also embracing Open Source. I'm the king of giving them crap though for all their anti-privacy and secretive BS surrounding the use of personal data however, I give them a thumbs up on these efforts making there technology more accessible to everyone. Also, I 100% agree with you that they will never profit from this in any way, shape or form. Truth is every single XBOX Console that dropped sold at a loss to Microsoft, they are kind of the kings of make it now and profit from it way later because they have the money to float them until they are well established and prices come down.

Engineer's : how many port do you need? Microsoft : yes

This really helped my friend. Enabling him to play games and it works well for him. Most of the accessibility sensors were ones he already had.

"What am I suppose to play with two buttons and a d-pad?" NES:Am I a joke to you?

Microsoft collected all of the ports from the phones that abandoned them

Linus: And, other than that, there’s not a lot going on here. Me: *notices the 19 headphone jacks*

Everyone starts removing 3.5mm jacks, Microsoft: Hold my beer

No one ever said beeing disabled is cheap or easy But the possibillity alone is great

Microsoft's Xbox division is truly a shining example of a modern corporate not screwing over its customers

Microsoft obviously got a killer deal on the ports that Apple isn't buying anymore.

The button mapping on USB can be found in the controller settings on the console itself. When a button is pressed it will tell you what button in question is being pressed.

When a xbox controller has more headphone jacks than all flagship phones combined...

Apple: Get rid of the jack. Microsoft: *inserts a trillion jacks per device*

9:50 you dont have to go into any game. XBox has a thing where you can test a controller, meaning that you press a button and it shows which one it is.

This video more than confirms the following: USB-A will never plug in right the first time.

This is amazing and i'm truly happy that Microsoft made this, gaming has been a HUGE part of my relationship with my father when i was younger and it's something we can't do anymore because of the progression of his MS. The possibility of being able to play C&C Red Alert with him again brings some tears, i hope it comes soon to Brazil Thanks Linus, i had no idea this existed

Someone with no hands can play mortal combat with this

The problems are basically software, and can be easily fixed. Well done microsoft. Well done

Apple "We are unable to engineer a headphone jack into our phones." Microsoft "Hold my beer."

I'm glad to see Microsoft doing something different to help people interact with electronics. I don't doubt the engineers worked their asses off to make the gains they have. Props to Microsoft for doing a good thing.

Linus the type of guy to yell ding dong at people when his bicycle bell doesn't work

I heard that they made like a halo themed prospetic arm for a disabled kid

I don't care why they did it, a good deed is a good deed. And I applaud Microsoft for making this controller.

Buttons: Taran: (Intensifying)

Microsoft has been stealing all the 3.5 ports from other phones

The makers of the green button should be ashamed of themselves. $65? For a single actuation of a single button. I know they priced it that way too take advantage of insurance but still.

I love gaming. It's been part of my life since I was a kid. It makes me happy to know that with this Controller Microsoft brings gaming to people that weren't able to play at all. Hats off to you, Microsoft.

Cynics: "It's for good PR, and nothing else!" Everyone else: "...So? Good social reception is how we reward positive players in the social scene. Doesn't mean said players are good at heart., only that they act in our interest. If anything, Good PR is supposed to encourage cold, emotionless, calculating businesses to act properly."

😪🤧 it’s so nice when you realize each of these options will help someone play, who never could. I am cry

Agreed. Kudos to you Microsoft. And, so what if they did it just for the P.R.? So what. That it got done at all is the important thing here.

for those interested in getting this, there is a section in the app where you configure the controller where you can test buttons, instead of the "trial and error" method.

I imagine this video is gonna be super helpful for a lot of caregivers cool beans

I doubt you'll ever read this, but thank you for making this video Linus! And thank you Microsoft for making this controller, while I would never need to use it myself I know it must make the world of difference for those who struggle to use regular controllers.

"What am I supposed to play with just two buttons and a D-pad!?" Yoshio Sakamoto: I got your game right here!

1:13 anyone thought that was a Wii nunchuk

I can't appreciate Microsoft enough for making this controller!

This kind of controller is for sure great for gamers with disabilities!

I wanna start off by saying: I love this. Seeing a big name like Microsoft creating a handy, if still somewhat clunky, gaming controller is huge. It might even help lead the charge for cheaper products to hit market and make gaming more accessible for all. And that's great. But I want to bring up a point based off of one thing you said, Linus. No, I doubt they will ever turn a profit off of thia device, or even really break even. But what they are doing is trying to get more sales of the console and games they already have, as many people hesitated to buy console games just because they had no realistic way to play and enjoy them. The device won't turn a profit alone, but the influx of new gamers might. Which doesn't really demonize their goals with the controller in my book. They want money, but they're finally helping those who struggle with the Xbox controller, or those who just want more options, to achieve their own goals. And with the potential surge of third party options to lower price, everyone wins here really.

OMFG.... is this available now? Linus I was in a car accident when I was 19 wayyy back in 1986. As a result, I lost my left arm. I know this may sound silly but one of my biggest frustrations is not having the dexterity to play most video games with my sons. I always wondered if it was possible to replace the left side of a controller with a foot pedal. This is the closest thing I have seen that looks like that it may be finally possible to do it. I have no idea how much this thing cost but whatever it is I more than cannot afford it seeing that i am on a fixed budget but just knowing this thing exists made me almost cry. Hopefully the prices will come down soon so I can play. Thank you to you and Microsoft for the hope that someday I may be able to play with my sons. Just the thought made my day.

"what brung you" 4:00 Damnn.

Just like with the keyboards a bit ago, I really appreciate you guys reviewing these types of products. Do I need them in my life? No. But someone does.

This truly is fantastic. Well done Microsoft, and let's hope other companies follow in their footsteps.

Oooohhhhhhh, this is wonderfull for persons with physical disabilities that have no possibility to use normal controllers. Thank you Microsoft.

That is genuinely heartwarming. Really sticking with that Gates Moral.

Now I know where all these headphones jacks went that got removed by all these phone companies... Microsoft stole them! Damn you Microsoft!

Apparently if you plug standard earphones into it you can use your mind as a controller, or so I've heard.

Can you make a review of this controller(s), involving a disabled person? I'm courius about the results and it could be a heart-warming video also. ;)

It's real good to see this kind of product for people with disabilities. Everyone should be able to enjoy any form of entertainment.

What they have done with this peace of hardware is awesome...PLUS...now we can build our own cockpits for almost everything much easier. Great great work 👍

Great solution for the disabled or those who create custom arcade cabinets and racing/flying cockpits.

you, a normal person: wow, this opens the door to so many gamers me, an intellectual: finally, I can play Siege with a bop-it

The needs of the few have left a warm feeling in the hearts of the many in this case.

Water cool a Nintendo switch already

Rewatching this in november 2021 to gift an Xbox series X to a friend that is, sadly, disabled. Xbox really gets a heart from me

Really happy to see controllers like these. Gaming is great hobby for all of us

its an actually interesting video, opposed to most smartphone reviews

One like for showing us both Linus and the tv with greenscreen. Nice touch.

Yep. I was a "Strategic Commander" fan when they made them. Awesome controller in the day! Way ahead of its time!

The Xbox series S was in front of us all along

I see people beating me in PUBG with this...

3:59 the same people what brung you... Now that's a sentence Linus

Even with it's limitations and the basically-necessary cost of getting plug-ins, it's still a pretty awesome idea! Chances are that everyone will be able to figure out some sort of setup that works for them. The thing where you can't choose what buttons you use on a controller with a lot of buttons is sort of a bummer, but something tells me they could fix that in a software update.

The 2 buttons are so big so that you can sit on them and just lean to the sides.

With the care they took just for the box, an proper unboxing should have been done on this product. Nice video and I hope it gets a lot of views.

As someone who has an A* in A Level Product Design and is currently about to move into their 4th Year Integrated Master's Degree in Engineering Science at the University of Oxford: This is fucking amazing. I would argue that the biggest problem industry faces is not understanding how people use their products, and indeed, not properly addressing how the relationships people have with their devices are influenced by how well they are able to interface with said devices. We need to put more into UI development. Ideally, we want to reach a position where people can interact with their technologies seamlessly, without having any (unnecessary) obstacles in the way, so that we can best make use of the utility of the tools we create. I cannot tell you how much better I am able to use computers since learning to touch type, for example; it's made such a difference in my productive output, and it's turned me from a person who hated even the idea of having to write things down into someone who avidly journals to aid in laying out my thoughts coherently. Being able to better interface with technology not only made it so that I was able to make better use of said technology, but it also changed ME for the better. I can actually WRITE now, and I understand why that is so powerful - think what else we could accomplish if we made similar revolutions in how we interact with our inventions and machinations. The ability to customise one's interface is so obviously central to this that I won't even bother explaining why. The benefits also to people who don't fit into the 5%-95% rule (which is standard practice to make one's design fit) are also eminently desirable, but I think Linus addresses this sufficiently in the above video. I'm not the biggest fan of Microsoft generally speaking, but I have to commend them for this. Bravo.

"Nobody need that many ex's" xD

Super Cool of Microsoft to Think of Everyone 👊. I don't Need this Personally, but Happy for those who get to Game it because of this Controller. Gears 5 for Life!!.. ☮️

This is great! Now PlayStation players can come over to Xbox without complications.

I'm physically disabled, I have no idea why they made it, I don't care what the reasons are for making it. I'm just simply glad they decided to make it and I'm glad it exists because I have one now and even though it sucks having to pay so much for simple switches, it really has made a huge difference in my gaming life that a lot of gamers take for granted

Great Job covering this guys. I have a close family member with a c-level spinal cord injury, can't appreciate coverage of something like this enough.

The duolingo bird has my family hostage

Well done Microsoft. This makes gaming more inclusive and that is only a good thing.

That buddybutton is 65 bucks???? that can't cost more than 1 Dollar in production! they're ripping off the differently abled!

It would be cool if they allowed the ability in the configure section to add different keys to certain parts of the circle pad (think pizza cuts) and when activated, the key name and section would light up.

9:27 that's why we need DirectInput back 🤔

So glad I found this video today friends of mine for my birthday got me the Xbox with adaptive controller in the components looks like I’m just gonna have to play around a bit till I can get it right! Please make more.

“Buddy button 65$” damn

When he showed the controller for the first time, I had to check to see if this video was posted on April 1st.

Lmao can I use the controller with my *_butt_*

from a humanitarian standpoint, this is probably the best gaming-related product in a long time! kudos to Microsoft for making this!

I mean haven’t they always been the “good guy” good is relative and if we only look at other major players in the same space they have always been objectively less bad than the competition, doesn’t that make them good?

you've haven't fully closed your mouth in a thumbnail since last week

the buddy button is 65 dollars? wow . healthcare industry.

people with reduced mobility could greatly benefit from this ,THIS IS GREAT

There's a controller checking app in store you can get for xbox. You can use it for checking wich buttons are mapped to wath and if they work.

9:23 umm.. did linus just say "oof"??

5:01 imagine that the woble swich had 5 inputs with imaghes: the first one is forward, and you conect it with L forward, the second one for pressing, and you conect it with L3, etc...

Hey man, was there no way you could get someone disabled who uses one. so we could actually see if it works for them..

The real question can you attach a weird DualShock 4

You should have another look at Xbox accessories. Press the flask, it will take you to a menu where you can press any button and it’ll tell you if it is bound to anything (if the button isn’t bound, nothing will happen when it’s pressed). You can then remap buttons under the configure option. You can then hold just about any button you want to use then press a button you want it to configure to.

Apple: the jack port is dead Microsoft: hold my beer