Game controllers have not changed much in shape since the mid-1990s. They're still two-handed symmetrical slabs built around adult grip dimensions, loaded with enough buttons to pilot a small aircraft. For a 10-year-old just getting into gaming, picking one up for the first time is a bit like being handed a TV remote and told to perform surgery, no sweat.
The third-party market in 2025 is no longer playing catch-up. It's producing controllers with drift-proof magnetic sensors, modular physical architectures, trigger calibration measured in millimeters, and battery lives that nearly triple what Sony ships as standard. The gap has flipped.
Settling in for "just one more run" usually means your thumbs, wrists, or forearms start complaining long before the game is done. Most controllers are fixed objects that expect your body to adapt, which can lead to repetitive strain or numbness. You either push through the discomfort or take breaks that feel like interruptions, but rarely can you adjust the hardware itself to match how your hands actually feel in that moment.
The Xbox Elite Series 2 Core Controller contains adjustable-tension thumbsticks. These allow you to adjust the tension to either loose or tight, based on what feels best for you. Shorter hair-trigger locks allow less travel, reducing the time it takes for actions to register. The wraparound rubberized grip covers the back and sides of the controller, providing additional grip during longer gaming sessions.
The console wars ended a while ago, in case you didn't know. But if they were still raging on, a talented hardware modder in China created a device force a lasting peace. It's a massive and very cleverly designed triangular box that contains an Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch 2. They all work and can be easily swapped between with the press of a button.
Retail tracking firm Circana shared the top five most-played PlayStation games in the U.S. in 2026. The list is the same as it was last year, with Fortnite at the top. And looking back at 2023 and 2022, you'll notice that the most popular titles haven't changed much at all, either. That's bad news for developers trying to release new multiplayer games and fans hoping for more innovation.
The RG GO1, which doesn't have a price or specific release date yet, features a 2.5-inch IPS LCD screen in the center of the controller. This can be used for various tasks, including reprogramming buttons and turning on rapid fire settings. The just-revealed controller also includes heartbeat sensors in the grips. Why? Anbernic says it will let you "monitor your well-being during intense sessions."
