When it comes to picking out a gaming controller here in 2026, there’s really one logical choice. Microsoft knows what’s up. In fact, Microsoft has known what is up since way back in 2013. The core Xbox controller still stands as being the best choice for gamepads if you’re playing on Xbox or PC. One of the many reasons for that is its affordability. It’s only $65 to $70 normally, but frequently finds itself on sale. Like right now, you can save as much as 23% and get it for as low as $54.
Modernized Design
So while Sony has been reconfiguring its controller design and adding more features with each console release, Microsoft has taken a completely different approach. The pretty much nailed the design with the release of the Xbox One back in 2013. They refined the shape of the Xbox 360 controller, but kept everything else mostly the same. Since then with variants that came out at the end of the Xbox One’s life, and then later with the release of the Xbox Series X|S, have added in small improvements to keep up with modern tech needs and player habits. Really all that has changed in that time is a switch over to USB-C connectivity, Bluetooth support, and dedicated share button. Other than that, this is the same controller that came packed with the Xbox One.
Why did Microsoft decide to stop innovating? Well because they were already at the ceiling. Sure, PlayStation is doing some cool things with the touchpad and the adaptive triggers, but the vast majority of games make no use out of them so they end up coming off as gimmicks—bells and whistles that just end up inflating the price of the controller. The Xbox controller gives you a comfortable grip with the exact functionality you need and nothing more.
Another big bonus for PC gamers who choose to use an Xbox controller is that most games on Steam and other marketplaces default to displaying Xbox controls. Some might have the option to change the display to PlayStations face buttons, but there are a lot of games both indie and AAA that only support the Xbox display options.
The Xbox controller comes in a ton of awesome color combinations. The cheapest option right now is the standard Velocity Green at $54, but for not much more you can really showcase your personal aesthetic with colors like velocity green, shock blue, and pulse red which range between $54 and $60 at the moment.