Xbox has a new controller, and its selling point is size. The Xbox Nano Controller, announced on Xbox Wire on October 14, is the smallest gamepad the company has made: a little over 5 inches long and 3.5 ounces, which Xbox says makes it lighter and shorter than most modern smartphones.
It costs $49.99 in the US, and pre-orders are open now through the Microsoft Store. Xbox says it will be available in November across the US, UK, Canada, Japan, much of Europe and Latin America, Australia, New Zealand and more, with other markets to follow. Video Games Chronicle lists the release date as November 4 and the UK price as £44.99.
What you get
Despite the smaller body, the Nano keeps all 18 standard inputs, so the layout should feel familiar to anyone who has used an Xbox Wireless Controller. Xbox pitches it at younger players, people with smaller hands and anyone who wants something easy to throw in a bag.
There are a couple of real upgrades over the standard pad, too. The Nano has a built-in rechargeable battery, where the regular Wireless Controller still runs on AA batteries or an add-on battery pack. It also has a programmable Action Button that can be set to take screenshots, capture gameplay or trigger other shortcuts. It connects with Xbox Wireless or Bluetooth, so it works on PC, phones and smart TVs as well as consoles.
For comparison, VGC notes the standard Xbox controller is about 6 inches long and weighs around 10 ounces.
Holiday bundles with Samsung and Meta
Xbox is also using the Nano to push cloud gaming. In the US, buyers of select Samsung TVs this holiday season can get a Nano Controller plus two months of Game Pass Ultimate for new members, playing through the Xbox app in Samsung’s Gaming Hub. A similar US offer pairs the controller and two months of Game Pass Ultimate with a Meta Quest purchase.
The reveal lands in a busy stretch for Xbox. Next up is the ID@Xbox Showcase on October 20, which RCG covered this week. Fans who want the opposite end of the spectrum may also be waiting on a possible Elite Series 3, after details appeared to leak through the Xbox Design Lab site last week. For now, though, Xbox has made the cheaper, smaller option official first.
