Microsoft first unveiled its new Xbox Adaptive Controller back in May. Designed for gamers with disabilities, the controller has two large programmable buttons and 19 jacks that can be connected to a range of accessories to make Xbox and PC gaming far more accessible for a range of players. Microsoft has clearly focused on accessibility for the controller, but it’s also revealing this week that it has taken a unique approach to the packaging for the product.
People spend hours watching gadget unboxings on YouTube, but you rarely see a box that’s designed to be opened as easy as possible. That’s a design consideration that Microsoft has taken to heart for its new Xbox Adaptive Controller packaging. “A lot of these limited mobility gamers are actually used to opening packages with their teeth,” explains Mark Weiser, a packaging designer at Microsoft. The Xbox Adaptive Controller packaging can be opened a variety of ways, and it’s now even easier with or without the use of teeth.
Microsoft has created packaging that includes loops, multiple access points, hinges, levers, and ribbons to make it as easy as possible to unbox this new controller. Even the outside of the packaging that the main box will ship in has a loop that can be peeled away to reveal the main box. The main box includes a ribbon that can be pulled to activate a flap that lays flat to cushion the controller once a user pulls on the loop to remove it from the box. It’s a fascinating mechanism that shows the level of thought and detail that went into designing this.
There are no annoying twist ties, difficult-to-remove plastics, or other hindrances to getting the Xbox controller out of the box as fast as possible. Microsoft has been testing the design over the past year with a range gamers with disabilities to ensure the company got the right mix of accessibility. While the target market for the new Xbox Adaptive Controller might have a family member or a carer to help unbox items, it’s obviously a lot more rewarding if people are able to do it unassisted. “We wanted to deliver an empowering unboxing experience,” says Weiser. Microsoft is launching its $99.99 Xbox Adaptive Controller in September.
Update, July 25th 11:20AM: Article updated to clarify Microsoft’s design considerations.
Comments
Amazing!
By ralexand56 on 07.25.18 10:05am
Didn’t they say that you would most likely require the help of someone else to be able to hook up all of the cables?
Regardless, I guess its the small victories like being able to open something like this.
Good for them, anything to open up gaming to a wider audience is a good thing.
By jheck on 07.25.18 10:19am
I imagine the idea was that a large portion of purchases would be gifts for people with special needs, the overall experience would be heightened if they could receive the gift and get the whole thing open themselves until they are holding it in their hands solidifying what this device represents to them.
The admin of setting it up would still be required as you said but I am sure this is all about the ceremony of unboxing.
Source: I have heard marketing spiels like this for a long time
By K-C-B on 07.25.18 7:29pm
So good to see these "little" things!
By RAYMON PXB on 07.25.18 10:35am
This is incredible! So glad Microsoft thought about this as well, and kudos to The Verge for covering this! #itsthelittlethings
By Ragnorak on 07.25.18 10:48am
Really neat design. Tbh they should design everything like this, it’s cool
By Ponk on 07.25.18 2:26pm
This is awesome. Well thought out packaging for a well thought out product that can also help your company sell more of your product seems like a space missed all too often.
By Wojty on 07.25.18 10:58am
All packaging needs to be this easy to open, whoever keeps insisting on blister packaging needs to be catapulted into the sun.
By GambaKufu on 07.25.18 11:21am
This. Accessible design is good for every user.
By ench on 07.25.18 1:53pm
This. I want the next standard XBox to be packaged like this.
By AlanTuringsGhost on 07.25.18 2:07pm
Wow, pretty rude of Microsoft to assume that everyone has teeth.
By Bluephoria on 07.25.18 11:37am
Microsoft always ignores West Virginians!
By TheEveryman on 07.25.18 11:54am
Damn you!
Laptop, say good morning to my Americano….
By Winklemeier on 07.25.18 12:35pm
Bethesda got that covered.
By 1-Ton on 07.25.18 7:50pm
Reading Comprehension: The title says you can open it without using your teeth
I see my coworker who is a stroke victim opening shit with his teeth all the time and it often looks tedius. This is for those people.
By shabanga on 07.25.18 9:46pm
This is so awesome. Really glad MS did this.
By thebeatsalive on 07.25.18 11:37am
So could a controller like this be used to help someone like me, who lacks granular movement in his right side?
By Dj64Mk7 on 07.25.18 12:26pm
Absolutely! check out the video a few have linked to, you will be able to customize and tailor this to your specific need through the use of external triggers and sensors in addition to the larger surfaces for control
At about 32 seconds there is a gentleman who has CP and has good dexterity on left side, but not right, discussing how this controller has helped him continue gaming.
By grahamrose on 07.25.18 3:36pm
That’s actually my exact situation (CP with right-sided weakness). Thanks!
By Dj64Mk7 on 07.25.18 5:16pm
These are looking great for making custom controllers. I would love to mess around 3D printing some different things that will use this as the base.
By Jon Alexander on 07.25.18 12:26pm
Do it and let’s see it!
By Winklemeier on 07.25.18 12:36pm
Alternate headline:
"Microsoft’s Xbox Adaptive Controller has packaging that gamers with disabilities can open WITH their teeth"
By PenguinJoe on 07.25.18 12:50pm
Disabilities or not, i wish everyone takes this approach, particularly the premium products that command over 50% markup. Unboxing experience ruined couple of brands recently for me ( which have decent alternatives ).
By mcbhargav on 07.25.18 12:51pm
I have no need or use for this, but I absolutely love that Microsoft has gone to the effort they have to bring it to market. I can’t imagine it will be a very high volume product, but it truly is a "Gaming should be for everyone" gesture that I love.
By JohnDoe1836 on 07.25.18 1:06pm
This box is significant because it allows disabled consumers like me to independently unbox and use new devices. The keyword is independent as prior to this I have always required assistance in opening packages.
This here is absolutely groundbreaking technology. Even though the actual product is not something I hold interest in, I will say that the conceptual foundation behind this box means so much to me that it almost holds enough weight to be the product.
By Dj64Mk7 on 07.25.18 2:10pm