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Microsoft is launching a new $29.99 Xbox Adaptive Joystick<\/a> early next year that\u2019s designed for players with limited mobility. It\u2019s a wired companion for existing Xbox controllers, and includes four buttons, an Xbox thumbstick, and two additional buttons for bumper and trigger controls.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Xbox Adaptive Joystick allows you to operate a controller without having to use both hands, making it ideal for any players who might have difficulty using the thumbsticks on existing controllers. All the buttons are fully customizable, and there are a variety of 3D printable thumbstick toppers to customize the sizes, heights, and width of thumbsticks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cFrom very early on with the adaptive joystick, we had disability community be hands-on with early designs and functional prototypes,\u201d explains Kaitlyn Jones, senior accessibility product manager at Xbox, during a gamescom stream. \u201cEven from a software perspective, we\u2019ve really heard from our players that they\u2019ve wanted an affordable joystick for their adaptive controller, but also something that fits in seamlessly with their existing setup.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n You can connect the Xbox Adaptive Joystick to Microsoft\u2019s Adaptive Controller for a full adaptive setup, or you can plug it directly into a PC or Xbox. It can even be mounted, thanks to a threaded insert like you\u2019d find on a camera tripod.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Community feedback played a big role in shaping this hardware. Microsoft visited a hospital in Seattle with a box of prototypes for one particular feedback session. \u201cWe got feedback on the grip size, shape, the number of buttons, and where the buttons are located,\u201d says Chris Kujawski, principle designer at Xbox.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Alongside Microsoft\u2019s own Xbox Adaptive Joystick, the company has also revealed a new $59.99 Lite SE controller from 8BitDo<\/a> that\u2019s also designed for gamers with limited mobility. It has low-resistance buttons and hall effect joysticks, and all the bottons are accessible at the top of the controller.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Microsoft has also built a new toggle hold feature for Xbox controllers that\u2019s available to test for Xbox Insiders today. \u201cThis new feature is intended to help make using a controller even easier and supports players who have difficulty holding prolonged button presses,\u201d says Microsoft\u2019s gaming accessibility team<\/a>. \u201cSimilar to sticky keys on a computer, assign any button or port on the Xbox Adaptive Controller, Xbox Adaptive Joystick, or Xbox Elite Series 2 controller to stay pressed until pressing again to release.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The Xbox Adaptive Joystick also comes with improved packaging that\u2019s similar to what Microsoft did with its previous Xbox Adaptive Controller<\/a>. Microsoft is also improving the accessibility of the packaging for its three new Xbox Series S \/ X console options that are launching in October.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n