Microsoft loves a special edition Xbox controller, whether it’s storm cloud fumes, personalization, or a super-sized superhero butt. The latest is a throwback to the late ’90s with the new Sky Cipher Special Edition Xbox Wireless Controller, which offers a glimpse into the controller’s internals through a semi-transparent blue tint. You can pre-order the new controller now for $69.99 ahead of its official launch on August 13.
Translucent hardware is a beloved aesthetic – look no further than Dbrand’s popular x-ray skins — but for a generation that grew up with Apple’s iMac G3’s and Nintendo’s translucent N64 controllersThere’s also an element of nostalgia here as you see the actual innards of video game hardware filtered through tinted plastic. Another recent example is the Analogue Pocket Transparent, which is currently (and unfortunately) out of stock.
Whether intentional or not, the new Xbox controller, which Microsoft describes as a metallic sky blue, captures that era perfectly. And given the company’s larger push toward Xbox Cloud Gaming via Game Pass, it’s worth noting that this Bluetooth-compatible wireless controller not only works with Xbox hardware, but also Windows PC, Mac, iOS, and Android, and select smart tvs.