Hyperkin recently dropped the Xenon, a remake of the Xbox 360 controller made to work with PC and Xbox Series S and X.
Here, we’ll dive into how the Xenon compares to its predecessor and whether it captures what made the original so great.
The Xenon pays tribute to the original Xbox 360 controller by bringing back its shape, layout, and overall design. And if you had an Xbox 360 in the past, this will feel very familiar in your hands.
But Hyperkin has made some updates.
The Xenon added a new Share button to the controller, and renamed the “Back” and “Start” buttons from the original to “View” and “Menu,” which are present on newer Xbox controllers.
Also, the iconic ring light around the logo button on the original has been replaced with a more straightforward indicator light.
While these differences are noticeable, they don’t significantly change the overall experience. Well, except for one.
The most notable drawback of the Xenon is its lack of wireless functionality. Unlike its predecessor, this version isn’t wireless and comes with a required 10-foot USB cable.
The wire does make setting up the Xenon easy — simply plug it into your Xbox or PC’s USB port, and start playing. But you’ll have to have it plugged in every time since adding a battery is not an option.
But at $50, the Xenon is also slightly more affordable than standard Xbox controllers.
Overall, while it offers the chance to revisit the Xbox 360 era, the Xenon is a mixed bag of nostalgia and practicality held back to the past by a wire.
