New Xbox Design Lab translucent Elite controller options are clearly great

All of the new translucent controller options arrayed in a row, from left to right: white, red, green, pink, blue, and purple. — *Microsoft’s Xbox Elite Wireless Controller goes translucent* | Screenshot: YouTube

Microsoft went and made its pricey Xbox Elite 2 controller part of the resurgent transparent tech trend with some fetching new see-through “Cipher Series” color options in its Xbox Design Lab custom controller shop. In addition, the company announced new chromatic options for the D-pads and paddles. Prices start at $149.99 for a custom design, but you’ll pay extra for some options.

The new translucent faceplate options are white (Ghost Cipher), green (Velocity Cipher), purple (Astral Cipher), blue (Surf Cipher), pink (Candy Cipher), and red (Pulse Cipher) options. Meanwhile, you can choose Energy Chroma and Sunset Chroma for the paddles and D-pad.

Microsoft also released a new standalone Ghost Cipher edition of the standard Xbox Wireless Controller that’s much more transparent than the Elite options (the Elite rubberized grips keep the translucence from extending past the faceplate). It’ll set you back $69.99 when it arrives on October 8th, and preorders begin today. Click through the gallery below for that controller and examples of the Elite Cipher Series options.

The Xbox Design Lab is fantastic if you, like me, are a person who thinks gadget design takes itself too seriously most of the time. I particularly like the challenge of making something as garish as possible, so I’d end up creating something like the below images if I could bring myself to pay for it. (This build costs $194.95, thanks to the optional chromatic d-pad and back paddles.)

A translucent green Xbox Elite Wireless Controller with yellow joysticks, multicolored ABXY buttons, orange triggers, light blue shoulder buttons, and an “energy chroma” d-pad. — *Behold, my delightfully hideous creation.*

The rear of the custom controller shows a pink backplate and energy chroma paddles. — *Behold, my delightfully hideous creation.*

Microsoft has been on the translucent tech tip with its controllers for the last few years; see the 2018 Phantom Black controller, the 2021 Forza edition, or the more recent Sky Cipher blue one. Now, I wonder if Microsoft going all the way and giving us another Crystal Edition Xbox is too much to hope for?