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The Xbox Adaptive Controller packing is adaptive too

Xbox Adaptive Controller packaging is as adaptive as the controller itself, Microsoft today detailed.

“On our journey of inclusive design at Microsoft, we are looking at extending this methodology and its principles—enabling and drawing on the full range of human diversity—to the complete consumer experience, including where that very journey starts – with product packaging,” Microsoft said in a new post on Xbox Wire.

Said packaging has physical touchpoints, visual and material cues and structural elements that “are designed to lead the customer through a logical and seamless unboxing.”

Microsoft has detailed the entire packaging experience in a new unboxing video, found below.

“The team developed a ‘no teeth’ principle, reflecting the common behaviour practiced by individuals with limited mobility when opening packages,” the post continues. “Often when engaging with packages not designed for maximum accessibility, customers resort to improvised means of accessing the product –including using their teeth. With the Xbox Adaptive Controller packaging, we wanted to ensure that no such extreme measures would be required! We also heard how painful twist ties, zip cords and paper that can cause cuts can be—things commonly overlooked by many, but which become so much more difficult for people with limited mobility to navigate.”

Other key features include:

  • Both the single-shipper and retail package have been designed to “unfold” to reveal what’s inside with minimal friction. The shipper reveals the retail package, and the retail package reveals the Xbox Adaptive Controller.
  • Discreet air cells integrated into the shipper packaging for protection for the product while maintaining a small footprint and clean design.
  • Every major step of the unboxing incorporates loops, a feature that we heard resounding positive feedback on from beta testers. Loops are a highly proven lever to assist in accessibility. The leveraging of loops begins with the tear-strip on the single shipper, kicking off the out-of-box experience seamlessly. On the retail box, a specially designed ‘break-the-seal’ label (which keeps the box lid secured to the base) employs two loops, for multi-directional removal. A soft, grey loop initiates the opening experience, then there are integrated loops on both the paper Quick Start Guide (QSG) and cable folio. There are five loops on the XAC packaging from beginning to end.
  • An open cavity area under the controller, enabling multiple ways to remove the controller from the box, including pulling via the loop or sliding it out directly.
  • The box has a low centre of gravity, grounding the unboxing experience and creating a sense of stability for the end-user. Additionally, the hinged lid provides a low-effort, single-pivot access into the package.

The Xbox Adaptive Controller will be available in September of this year. It will retail for $129.99 AUD, exclusive to the Microsoft Store.


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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.