Microsoft appears to have quietly revised the standard Xbox Series X|S controller, and while the change is small, longtime Xbox players are already talking about it.
The update was first spotted on the new Forza Horizon 6 Limited Edition controller, where fans noticed something unusual beneath the pad: the legacy Xbox headset port is gone.
For over a decade, Xbox controllers shipped with two audio connections at the bottom, the standard 3.5mm headphone jack and Microsoft’s proprietary headset accessory port. That secondary port dates all the way back to the original Xbox One controller in 2013 and remained part of the design through multiple hardware revisions.
Now, it looks like Microsoft may finally be phasing it out.
The Xbox Controller Change Most Players Probably Won’t Notice
At first glance, the revised controller looks almost identical to the previous Xbox Series X|S pads. The analog sticks, triggers, D-pad, and overall shell design remain untouched. The only visible difference is the removal of the old accessory port sitting beside the headphone jack. On the new controller revision, that space has simply been sealed off.
For newer Xbox users, this may not seem important. But for longtime players, it is a quiet end to one of the last remaining design elements carried over from the Xbox One era.
But the move actually makes a lot of sense in today’s gaming landscape.
Most modern gaming headsets now connect through either the standard 3.5mm jack or wireless solutions, making the older proprietary Xbox headset connector far less essential than it once was. Accessories that relied on the port, including older chat adapters and first-generation Xbox One headsets, have gradually faded out of mainstream use.
Removing the feature could help streamline manufacturing while simplifying future controller production for Microsoft.
It also comes at an interesting time, especially with recent reports suggesting Microsoft may be preparing new Xbox accessories, including another Elite controller refresh and a dedicated cloud gaming controller.
Could This Become the New Standard Xbox Controller Design?
Right now, the updated Forza Horizon controller is one of the first confirmed examples of the revision. However, there is growing speculation that future production runs of standard Xbox Series X|S controllers could adopt the same design moving forward.
If that happens, Microsoft will have officially retired a controller feature that has existed across Xbox hardware since 2013, a surprisingly long run for something many players forgot was even there.
Emmanuel Umahi
