Xbox has introduced its smallest controller yet. Announced on Xbox Wire on October 14, the XBOX Nano Controller measures a little over 5 inches in length and weighs 3.5 ounces, a footprint the company describes as lighter and shorter than most modern smartphones. It costs $49.99 in the US, and pre-orders opened the same day.
The Nano keeps the standard 18 gameplay inputs in a familiar layout, but shrinks the shell to target younger players, people with smaller hands, and anyone who wants a portable option for play on the go. A rechargeable battery is built in, and a programmable Action Button can be mapped to screenshots, gameplay capture, or other frequently used shortcuts. Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth support let the controller connect across a range of compatible devices.
Availability begins in November across markets including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Japan, Australia, and much of Europe and Latin America, with additional markets to follow. Xbox notes that pricing and availability vary by country, and directs buyers to their local Microsoft Store or an authorized retailer for specifics.
Xbox frames the controller around family play. It names Minecraft Dungeons II, where up to four heroes can team up locally or online, and Forza Horizon 6 as two titles suited to the Nano’s pocketable, take-anywhere design, and highlights the programmable Action Button as a way to handle screenshots and capture without reaching for a menu.
The announcement does not pin down an exact November launch day, and the $49.99 figure is the US price only. Xbox positions the Nano as an approachable way to jump in and share the fun, whether players are traveling or gathering around the living room.
For the holiday season, Xbox is pairing the controller with two US offers. A Samsung promotion bundles the XBOX Nano Controller with two months of Game Pass Ultimate for new members with the purchase of select Samsung TVs, and a Meta offer does the same with the purchase of a Meta Quest.
Sources
- Reporting source: GamerHeadlines
- Official announcement: Xbox Wire
