E3 2019: Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 brings Bluetooth, Scarlett compatibility

Being the Elite.

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June 10, 2019 12:12 a.m. PT

2 min read

e3-2019-xbox-elite-controller4308 — Our first look at the new elite controller at E3 2019.
James Martin/CNET

At the Xbox-centric E3 press conference Sunday, Microsoft pulled back the curtains on an update to the Elite Controller: Series 2. An even more Elite controller with a slew of adjustments to bumpers, grips and thumbsticks that looks to iterate on and improve one of gaming's best controllers.

The short trailer showed off, in around 90 seconds, all the new features of the controller. In brief:

Adjustable tension thumbsticks
Higher precision control
New trigger grip and redesigned bumpers
Wrap-around rubberized grip
Bluetooth connectivity
Three profiles
Internal rechargeable battery and dock with 40 hours per charge.

xbox-elite-controller-3 — The Series 2.
Microsoft

The controller will work on both Xbox One and PC and Series 2 program manager at Microsoft, Allan Carranza, confirmed the controller will also be compatible with Xbox Scarlett. Cool!

The Elite Series 2 will be available from November 4, 2019 and you can already pre-order at xbox.com.

You can watch the full reveal below:

E3 press conferences

Saturday, June 8

Electronic Arts -- The game maker showed off 15 minutes of gameplay for its upcoming adventure game, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. It also announced new features for its free-to-download Apex Legends last-man-standing battle royale game, offering a new character and weapon to play with. The company also showed off a new paid update for The Sims 4, called Island Living, that brings the series to a tropical beach. Finally, the company did discuss drama over the mixed reviews for its Anthem action adventure game, saying it "learned a lot" and had more updates and features planned soon.

Sunday, June 9

Microsoft / Xbox -- The gaming giant's biggest news was Project Scarlett, its next-generation Xbox, coming in 2020. The new device is up to 4x more powerful, the company said, and like the next-gen PlayStation it'll include a fast non-mechanical SSD hard drive, and it'll be powered by custom innards built with the help of chipmaker AMD. The company also announced that Halo Infinite will launch alongside Project Scarlett next year. Meantime, Microsoft is starting public tests of its Project xCloud streaming service in October, promising people the ability to play high end games on their mobile devices while away from home. While fans wait, Microsoft announced an update to its Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 as well as a slew of new games. And action star Keanu Reeves, fresh off the success of John Wick Chapter 3: Parabellum, was on stage to announce his involvement with Cyberpunk 2077, which is coming next year.
Bethesda -- 5:30 p.m. PT (8:30 p.m. ET)