Hands-on with PowerA’s new colourful pastel controllers for Xbox and PC

When it involves colourful controller designs, Xbox’s recreation has been on level for years. Ever for the reason that Xbox One technology, Microsoft has launched many amusing permutations of its controllers — together with restricted editions and the Xbox Design Lab — and this momentum has now not slowed with the Xbox Series X / S consoles. Meanwhile, the third-party vary of Xbox controllers is extra expansive than ever, and types like PowerA are hitting budget-friendly costs with slick new colorways of its personal, just like the not too long ago launched pastel vary of the $37.99 PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox and PC.

Announced again in March as a spring assortment, those new pastel colours for the Enhanced Wired line come with pink camo, lavender swirl, red lemonade, pastel dream, and cotton sweet blue. Pink lemonade looked like the transparent winner to me to start with with its swish yellow-to-pink gradient, however now having observed and treated all 5 colours in particular person, I will formally claim cotton sweet blue as the most efficient looker. It’s if truth be told a bit of extra seafoam blueish-greenish than its identify signifies, however regardless, it’s a daring but cushy monochromatic hue in this controller.

Grid View

But all 5 pastel designs glance nice general, with numerous makes use of of gradients, mottled patterns, and / or two-tone distinction on back and front that provides every one a singular signature. Sure, it’s a disgrace that those controllers are nonetheless saddled with out of date Micro USB connections, however I’ll give some credit score to PowerA for a minimum of choosing a white removable cable with every one to raised supplement the sunshine and ethereal glance.

I’d nonetheless love to peer a completely new model of the Enhanced Wired Controller that in spite of everything upgrades to USB-C and even perhaps squeezes in a pair extra rear customizable buttons with out cluttering issues up an excessive amount of. But gripes apart, there’s so much to like concerning the aesthetic of those brilliant new colorways. The Enhanced Wired Controller has been our best select for the most efficient finances Xbox controller you’ll be able to purchase, thank you largely to its very reasonable worth whilst nailing the necessities for a stressed controller. I will’t say those new colours pass as far as to make a excellent factor higher, as they’re functionally the similar, however they’re refreshing sufficient to lead them to really feel in some way advanced.

PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller (Pastels)

The PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller is a budget-minded stressed controller for Xbox and PC that connects by way of Micro USB and lines two customizable buttons on its rear. It’s introduced in many various colours and authorized designs.

These cool new pastels are actually readily to be had at many outlets, and it received’t be a wonder if they begin seeing reductions and gross sales of their very own like many others in PowerA’s lineup. They’re are a small breath of budget-tier recent air, and so they’re a pleasing addition to a summer season of gaming that’s were given new native multiplayer video games like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge (a excellent explanation why to want additional reasonably priced controllers, because it helps as much as six gamers on Xbox and PC).

Photography via Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge