New Special Edition Xbox Controllers Discounted At Amazon During Launch Week

Last week, Microsoft unveiled a trio of Special Edition Xbox Wireless Controllers for its new Breaker series. Releasing this week, the Breaker controllers are the first new models to hit stores since Microsoft raised prices on a slew of hardware and accessories. Special Edition Xbox Wireless Controllers now retail for $80, but Amazon is offering discounts on two of the Breaker editions. Xbox and PC players can pay the old $75 price for the Ice Breaker and Heart Breaker Special Editions.

Aside from the bold colors for each variant and textured grips, these are your typical Xbox controllers in form and function. This has been the default design since the Xbox Series X|S consoles were launched in late 2020, and they’ve stood the test of time thanks to several factors: comfortable ergonomics, durable inputs, and strong battery life. The other great thing about Xbox controllers is that they’re extremely versatile, as you can pair them with your Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One consoles, PC, Android, and iOS devices. Thanks to Bluetooth connectivity, linking them to compatible hardware is relatively easy.

$75 (was $80) | Releases September 9

The Ice Breaker Xbox controller lives up to its name, as it sports a glacier-blue design and a frosted, translucent finish. This makes several parts of the controller look like fragmented crystals, and there are variations of blue found across the thumbsticks, ABXY buttons, and textured grips.

$80 | Releases September 9

Microsoft calls the Storm Breaker controller a “refined” peripheral that has a color palette grounded in black, white, grey and silver highlights. It features a metallic d-pad and opaque top case, and when you rotate it, you’ll spot hints of silver foliage in the light.

$75 (was $80) | Releases September 9

A controller with a very loud color scheme, the Heart Breaker combines neon pink and blue aesthetics into an eye-catching design.The translucent top case also adds depth to this artistic design.

Even with the $5 discounts, the Breaker series is more expensive than most Xbox Wireless Controllers you can find at retailers like Amazon and Walmart. If you need a new first-party Xbox controller but don’t want to spend $75, there are some notable deals right now, including nice discounts on other Special Edition designs. The transparent Cipher series has one of the coolest Special Edition themes Microsoft has made, and you can get the red Pulse Cipher for $20 off at Walmart. The cheapest first-party Xbox Wireless Controller is the Robot White for $50 (was $65) at Amazon.

Standard Editions:

Amazon also has Microsoft’s pro-style Elite Series 2 Wireless Controller for $154 (was $200).

Third-party Xbox Wireless Controllers

First-party Microsoft controllers used to be the only wireless controllers for Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, but Microsoft opened up its wireless protocol to select third-party manufacturers a couple years ago. One of the most notable recent releases on the third-party side is the 8BitDo Ultimate 3-Mode Rare 40th Anniversary Edition. A lovely tribute to the famed developer of GoldenEye, Banjo Kazooie, and classic Donkey Kong Country games, the Rare 40th Anniversary Edition is 8BitDo’s first wireless controller for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, and it’s compatible with PC/Mac and mobile devices as well. It’s highly customizable, and it has premium parts like Hall Effect sticks and a metal D-pad. This edition of the 8BitDo Ultimate 3-Mode comes with a matching charging dock and retails for $90.

Third-party manufacturer PowerA also has a series of customizable wireless Xbox controllers themed around specific games and franchises. Each model has four remappable back buttons, Hall Effect sticks and triggers, trigger locks, and supports three custom profiles. On September 12, PowerA will launch an officially licensed Borderlands Special Edition Controller for $100. Earlier this year, PowerA launched a Pac-Man Special Edition Controller with unique lighting effects that’s on sale for $84 (was $100). The lineup kicked off last year with a Fortnite Special Edition Controller that’s up for grabs for only $51 (was $100).

Another Elite Series 2 alternative is Razer’s stellar Wolverine V3 Pro Wireless Controller. With six remappable buttons, swappable stick caps, trigger locks, and microswitch buttons, the Wolverine V3 Pro has a ton of cool features.

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