Home » News » The Diversion » Aussies, this is why you shouldn’t go to Xbox Design Labs right now
The Diversion

Aussies, this is why you shouldn’t go to Xbox Design Labs right now

If Aussies head over to the Xbox Design Lab — Microsoft’s new build-your-own controller website, it politely tells you to come back another time. You know, when the feature is available in the country.

The thing is, it’s pretty easy to bypass.

I couldn’t resist.

Heading over to the United States’ version of the site, I was able to experience Design Lab for myself, switching between bright pink Xbox One controller bodies to a far more sensible white. You’re able to customise your controller’s back and front, its bumpers and triggers, d-pad, thumbsticks, menu and options buttons and ABXY buttons too. All for a mere $79.95 USD.

Which is about $108.50 AUD. Far too much for a controller, right?

But did I mention you can engrave it too? “Stevivor” looks so good down the bottom there, if I so say so myself.

waynicer

And, really, the engraving is only $10 USD more. Well worth it. Right?

Of course, this is all hypothetical — I didn’t go to the site to buy a controller; just to mess around. That is, until I found myself making my sixth saved design. Yeah; you can make design combos and save them for later, essentially letting you refine your work in progress until IT FEELS LIKE A CHILD YOU’VE BROUGHT INTO THE WORLD AND NEED TO THEN RAISE.

Ahem.

I’m not alone on this, by the way — several other creative Aussies are taking advantage of the feature as well. And, while it’s not been specifically said, I’m sure they’re as attached to my creations as I am*.

https://twitter.com/PstiDrdn/status/742927021769166848

So $89.98 USD later — or $122 AUD for those keeping track — and a shiny new controller was sititng in my cart. Upon checkout, I realised that Microsoft will only ship the controllers to a United States address.

Yeah, that’s also pretty easy to bypass as well. Shipping site comGateway to the… um, “rescue”? And only for about $25 AUD more.

And that, boys and girls, is the story of how a hype-filled, impatient idiot just bought a $150 AUD Xbox One controller. The lesson to be learned from this is to be patient — it’s not been confirmed that the program is heading to Australia, but it’s also not been confirmed it’s not (great logic, right?). If it does make it here, I’m sure I could have saved around $40-50 AUD. Like a smart person.

We’ll keep you posted.

*The Twitter users above are probably far less weird than I am.


This article may contain affiliate links, meaning we could earn a small commission if you click-through and make a purchase. Stevivor is an independent outlet and our journalism is in no way influenced by any advertiser or commercial initiative.

About the author

Steve Wright

Steve's the owner of this very site and an active games journalist nearing twenty (TWENTY!?!) years. He's a Canadian-Australian gay gaming geek, ice hockey player and fan. Husband to Matt and cat dad to Wally and Quinn.