Microsoft has officially unveiled a new special edition Xbox Wireless Controller. This translucent blue variant, called Sky Cipher, is available for pre-order now.
Announced via a recent Xbox Wire news storyThe Sky Cipher Xbox Wireless Controller features a striking translucent blue casing that shows off the internals of the gamepad. Every other aspect of the controller, including the buttons, grips, and analog sticks, are also various shades of blue.
The controller is available to pre-order now for $69.99 / £64.99 and will retail for Xbox Online Store as well as participating retailers. However, there does not appear to be an official release date for the gamepad yet.
Today’s reveal of the Sky Cipher Xbox Wireless Controller lines up with a leak from French outlet Dealabs, which correctly claimed that the gamepad would feature a translucent design, similar to the Forza Horizon 5 edition from a few years ago. In its leak, Dealabs suggested that the controller would “likely” launch on August 13, so buyers may only have to wait a few weeks if they choose to pre-order now.
Interestingly, the Sky Cipher Xbox Wireless Controller also comes in revised packaging for official Xbox gamepads.
“Sky Cipher is introducing a new packaging design for Xbox controllers that embodies our commitment to reducing the carbon footprint of our products,” the Xbox Wire post reads. “Single-use plastics have been removed from the packaging and the traditional paper manual has been replaced with a QR code for a digital Quick Start Guide. Additionally, the packaging is now 22% smaller and 21% lighter, further reducing the environmental footprint.”