What the hell is this. It looks so uncomfortable.

"What if we made a Valve Steam Controller, but worse? 🤔" -- Microsoft

Looks like a successor to https://www.8bitdo.com/lite2/ but with Xbox branding.

...why do you need a special controller for Cloud gaming?

Let’s take everything we learned over the years about making kick-ass controllers and forget all of that and make a shitty one instead!

If it's like the Stadia controller, stuff like user authentication is done by the controller's embedded system.

These make sense as are portable, meant to be squeezed in a bag.

I have an older handy 8bitdo controller. Forgot its name. It's fully featured with d-pad, 2 sticks, 2 shoulder buttons each side, even works with Nintendo Switch. I keep it with me in the bag with the USB C charger and cables. The added bulk is not noticeable. It's too small as the main controller for daily use but from time to time being able to join in when visiting friends is a nice option

It takes some effort to cramp in a single controller every single wrong thing that you can imagine about a gamepad

Looks like Microsoft is preparing to shut down console department or at least handheld department.

My God that looks uncomfortable

But we already know its not.

Exec 1: What's the most universally lauded controller design that we can emulate for our Next Big Thing?

Exec 2: The Wii U gamepad, but we take away the screen

Exec 1: Brilliant!

Everyone would have to buy new ones then

The controller sends nput direct to the server via WiFi, rather than via Bluetooth through the viewing device. Removes some latency, which given how much latency cloud having introduces makes a difference.

If it's like the Stadia controller, it'll have a kickass D-pad but shitty battery life, featuring a battery that CAN'T be replaced.

But then why is it shaped like a shitty pancake?

To make it more portable would be my guess. Same reason the Switch is flat.

Wut? Xbox controllers are my favourite controller form factor, what the hell is this thing?!

featuring a battery that CAN’T be replaced.

That would make it tough to impossible to sell in certain jurisdictions that adopted right to repair laws.

But we already know its not.

"It will connect directly to Xbox Cloud Gaming servers to reduce latency, much like how Google’s Stadia controllers used to work."

Nothing about user authentication in that sentence.

Good thing Google killed it before that became their problem!

E-waste. Nothing more.

E-waste. Nothing more.

Status LED on top clearly shows that it will also work as regular local controller: