Xbox now has a controller small enough to vanish into a jacket pocket. The Nano Controller costs $49.99, and pre-orders opened Oct. 14 ahead of a November release.
Size is the point. Xbox says the Nano runs a little over 5 inches long and weighs 3.5 ounces, which makes it shorter and lighter than most modern smartphones. James Hunter, general manager of Xbox accessories, pitches it at younger players, smaller hands and anyone who wants a controller that travels.
The layout is not shrunk down to a stripped-back version. Per Xbox, the Nano keeps all 18 standard gameplay inputs, in what Xbox calls a familiar controller layout. A rechargeable battery powers it, and a programmable Action Button can be set to take screenshots, start gameplay capture or fire off another shortcut. It pairs over Xbox Wireless or Bluetooth with a range of compatible devices.
If you play on the couch, the Nano works as an extra pad for local co-op, and Xbox points to Minecraft Dungeons II, where up to four players can team up. If you travel, it slips into a bag, which is how Xbox frames taking its games beyond the living room.
Xbox is leaning on partners to get the Nano into homes. This holiday season in the US, select Samsung TVs will come with the controller plus two months of Game Pass Ultimate for new members, and a Meta Quest purchase will carry a matching two-month offer. Both deals are US-only.
Retail starts in November in more than 30 countries and regions, among them Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Korea and Australia, with more to follow. Prices in other markets were not given, so $49.99 settles the question only for US buyers.
