Microsoft on Wednesday introduced the Xbox Nano Controller, a smaller and lighter gamepad priced at $49.99. Preorders opened the same day, and the controller goes on sale in November, according to Xbox Wire.
Microsoft says the controller is a little over 5 inches long and weighs 3.5 ounces, which makes it the company’s smallest controller. It also says the Nano is shorter and lighter than most modern smartphones. Despite the smaller size, it keeps all 18 standard gameplay inputs, so the button layout matches existing Xbox controllers.
The Nano has a rechargeable battery and a programmable Action Button. Players can assign that button to screenshots, gameplay capture or other shortcuts they use often. It supports both Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth for connecting to compatible devices.
Microsoft is pitching the controller at younger players, people with smaller hands and anyone who wants something easy to carry. The company described it as designed “to fit nearly every pocket and budget.” The announcement names Minecraft Dungeons II, which supports four-player local or online co-op, as a family game the Nano is suited for, and Forza Horizon 6 as an example of a game players could take on the road.
At launch, the controller will be sold in 36 markets, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, much of Europe, Japan, Korea, China, Australia, Brazil and Mexico. Microsoft says more markets will be added later and that prices and availability differ by country.
Microsoft also announced two US holiday offers. Buyers of select Samsung TVs will get an Xbox Nano Controller plus two months of Game Pass Ultimate for new members. Those TVs include the Xbox app through Samsung’s Gaming Hub, which lets players in select regions use their monthly cloud playtime to stream Game Pass titles with a connected controller. A similar deal with Meta pairs the controller and two months of Game Pass Ultimate for new members with the purchase of a Meta Quest headset.
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