New Xbox Hardware Leaks, And It Looks Wildly Different

1 week ago 8

Published May 14, 2026, 2:11 PM EDT

Ben Brosofsky has been writing for Screen Rant since 2022 and editing since 2024. He graduated from Vanderbilt University with a Bachelor's in Cinema & Media Arts. Writing serves as a much-needed distraction from tackling a backlog of Steam games that will never be surmounted.

Xbox is prepping for some major hardware changes in the future, with the reveal of the next-gen Project Helix highlighting its status as a console that can also play PC games. That's almost certainly the biggest shake-up for the foreseeable future, but we won't have to wait until Project Helix to get a glimpse at some interesting new hardware.

Today, The Verge shared a look at some leaked Xbox Cloud Gaming controller images, originally posted by the Brazilian site Tecnoblog (to view the images directly, check out the link to either site). Per the images, the button layout is similar to standard Xbox controllers, but the protrusion of the handgrips is minimized in favor of a vaguely rectangular design. Presumably, the controller is putting an emphasis on portability, as it should be a bit easier to toss in a bag or even a pocket than its bulkier siblings.

One of the leaked images highlights this minimized form factor, showing that the controller appears to be roughly 130 mm in length and 60 or 70 in width (around 5 x 2.5 in inches). For comparison, the standard Xbox controller is closer to 150 mm in length and 100 mm in width, in addition to a bulkier height profile.

The other big takeaway from the leak is the use of an integrated rechargeable battery rather than AAs or removable rechargeable packs. That could be another major point of convenience, as any USB-C charger should presumably keep it going on the go. The controller is intended to connect to cloud gaming servers rather than the local device, minimizing the inherent lag introduced by streaming games.

Microsoft's Xbox Cloud Gaming initiative has been continually ramping up over time, so it's not surprising to see a new (and long-rumored) device supporting the digital platform. At the same time, Xbox is starting to back off from some of the related branding initiatives, abandoning the "This is an Xbox" campaign that highlighted devices like phones and TVs as Xbox platforms.

For those seeking a more traditional gamepad, rumors also suggest that an Xbox Elite Controller Series 3 is on the way. Anyone in the market for a new controller is basically spoiled for choice this year, and that's without getting into the wide array of quality third-party options.