Microsoft confirms revised 360 d-pad

By Tom Bramwell Published 20 August, 2008

"For a limited time". Now with date.

Microsoft has confirmed our earlier report that it plans to release a new Xbox 360 controller with an improved d-pad on 24th October.

We found the pad and photographed it on Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer stand, and Microsoft confirms the pad is "optimised" for the football series.

"The new limited-edition green wireless controller offers enhancements to d-Pad functionality, which will add to the experience of playing games where the d-Pad is the primary control mechanism," Microsoft told Eurogamer.

"We're always looking to improve products and we made these changes based on feedback from gamers."

However, the new pad is "a limited edition promotional item that is only available in Europe, Asia and Latin America while supplies last", which is likely to upset fans who feel the d-pad needs full-time replacement rather than a one-off patch for PES.

Speaking to Eurogamer at Games Convention, one third-party publisher told us that the pad was also designed to work with Street Fighter IV, so perhaps it will turn up again next year.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (37) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • asphaltcowboy #1 4 years ago

    What?! Why wouldn't you just change all production so it stays improved?

  • bioreit #2 4 years ago

    Edited link so now no-one needs to play 'hunt the timeline'

    There is only one thing to say to this news:

    http://www .youtube.com/watch?v=5RgKYpISuw4
    Edited by 1 at 20/08/08 @ 15:00

  • GamesProgrammer Verified Games Team Programmer, Eutechnyx Ltd. #3 4 years ago

    i hope your right Nick_JC1 cos that does seem retarded otherwise

  • Psychotext #4 4 years ago

    Seriously, seriously retarded.

  • mazzl #5 4 years ago

    why do you use d-pad in soccer games? i always use the analog stick. this isn't the way to go?

  • Steroyd #6 4 years ago

    ...?

    ...WHAT?

  • Widge #7 4 years ago

    if it is how people are reading into it, expect to see ebay go SPASTIC for them

  • GarthVaderUK #8 4 years ago

    Surely it's just that colour of controller that's limited, not the dpad itself?

  • the_dudefather #9 4 years ago

    everything is available for a limited time or in limited amounts, unless there are infinite universes full of 360 controllers

  • Widge #10 4 years ago

    Well the new pad is the one that has had the change to it, and they've gone on to say "a limited edition promotional item that is only available in Europe, Asia and Latin America while supplies last".

    If this isn't the case, you can expect Mr PR to be on the case to clarify dead sharpish.

  • Darren #11 4 years ago

    How stupid is that? Revising the 360 controller's main weakness - its D-pad - for only a limited period!!! That's ludicrous. :?

    I regularly skip between 360 and PS3 games and although I rarely use the D-pad in-game, I use tend to instinctively use it for navigating menus and inputting text (in PS3 games anyway, on the 360 I have a Chatpad) and the 360's D-pad has proven itself to be beyond awful. Microsoft NEED to improve the D-pad PERMANENTLY IMO, not just for a trial period.

  • andywilkie35 #12 4 years ago

    from what I can tell, it says it was basically revised for Pro Evo...

    Couldn't they just spend a bit of money saying "use the analog stick, its better" than go through all this shit?

  • Whatsfor #13 4 years ago

    I hear that Sony's fitfh anouncement will be the PS3 sill have BC put back in. Limited time only though. 24/10/08 between 9am and 9:01am.

  • Buztafen #14 4 years ago

    They should just make the snes pad compatible with both the PS3 and the 360, then i would literally wee wee myself.....

    /hadouken

  • OfficialBlue #15 4 years ago

    Enjoy fanboys, enjoy!

  • convercide #16 4 years ago

    Is it me or does it look just as shit as the regular D Pad. I'm pretty sure the problem isn't just how loose the buttons is, more its shitty design.

  • Luvbeers #17 4 years ago

    can someone explain to me why the d-pad is shit? everyone says it is shit... but I have never had any problem... or have I?

  • the_dudefather #18 4 years ago

    @Luvbeers
    the main problems seem to be the dpad not reconising directions clearly enough, like trying to press up and you get a up-left response or vice versa

    makes quick switching in oblivion and other games a bit annoying sometimes

  • RexRunti #19 4 years ago

    If you really care about the quality of a d-pad you should buy an arcade stick and be done with it.

  • cyacomini #20 4 years ago

    don't bloody use the d-pad then - only thing I've ever used it for is sending messages via the dashboard.

    i havent yet had one single game that demands use of the d-pad, not even VF or Soul Calibur, which was a surprise I must admit.


    Who uses it anyway, and for what?

    [edit]

    Just remembered I do use it for Ninja Gaiden II - retard that I am.
    Edited by 1 at 20/08/08 @ 15:32

  • DUFFKING #21 4 years ago

    I did use it for NG2 until I got fed up with the game randomly deciding to not pause the game when the menu opened :p

  • skullcommander #22 4 years ago

    A lot of games are designed to be played with the D-pad/arcade stick, such as Street Fighter, Pro Evo, Tony Hawks (not more recent versions) and a hole host of old style shooters. For those style of games the analogue doesn't give the player the precise movements needed in a 2D game. Microsoft really should have had this sorted three years ago, but better late than never.

  • cyacomini #23 4 years ago

    @DUFFKING

    Yeah, I noticed that too a couple of times - seems to happen mostly during boss battles though if you try to access your inventory whilst mid-attack. It's like the attack 'animation' needs to complete before it'll open. Pain in the ass, but if you know about it you can avoid it.

  • DUFFKING #24 4 years ago

    It seemed to happen more on some bosses than others. Master Ninja's hard enough without having to worry about dying simply because you tried to use a health item...

    I don't really use the DPad enough to need a new controller, it's annoying occasionally in menus but I can live with it.

  • Luvbeers #25 4 years ago

    I only use it to select weapons in R6V and change radio stations in GTAIV. I am just having trouble thinking about a game where I was like, "Damn d-pad is fucked-up!". I never played Oblivion.

  • Slurmseh #26 4 years ago

    New d-pad for Pro Evo, nice!
    I've always used the d-pad for PES, can't see how people use the analogue stick it's just not right!!

  • Aretak #27 4 years ago

    You can't play many XBLA titles then, Luvbeers. Try playing Sonic 2 or Street Fighter II or a whole host of other 2D titles on there with the analogue stick. It's a horrific experience.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #28 4 years ago

    I had to compare images considerably before I could see the difference.

    Is a miniscule kink in the plastic going to help much?

  • Quint2020 #29 4 years ago

    Seems ridiculous not to simply replace the current 360 controller with this one with the improved D Pad, it's not something that ever really effects me as I don't play fighters or PES but it does seem stupid.

  • FenderMaster #30 4 years ago

    360 owners are going to be screwed when Street Fighter 4 comes out

  • miiiguel #31 4 years ago

    ^huh? I have an arcade stick, long, long time ago.

  • JediMasterMalik #32 4 years ago

    Who thought: "Let's improve the controller by fixing it's biggest fault, but let's only let them have the best version for a limited about of time"?

    Kill that person!

  • Anthony_UK #33 4 years ago

    The crap d-pad made me change to the stick on pro evo, now after getting used to it, I can't imagine going back! Plus no more thumb blisters after extended sessions! :-)

  • Syrette #34 4 years ago

    Where does it say that the new d-pad is limited edition?

    I'm reading this article is it saying that the green controller is limited edition.

  • oceanmotion #35 4 years ago

    It will be limited at first for Europe etc. and as what is already happening, US folk are crying out for it too along with people hear in non puke colour.

    Microsoft "Due to popular demand we are making this new controller standard"

    P.S We were just testing the water with this so we don't get flak for selling 20 million crap d-pad controllers.

  • Tonka #36 4 years ago

    Playing PES with a Dpad? How old fashioned. Pointer is where it's at for me.

  • SFKosmo #37 4 years ago

    @Arbiter

    That's exactly what I think. If anything, it seems it will only make it worse, now that there's about 4x more chances of hitting a wrong direction.

    By the way, wasn't the d-pad from the second version of the controller for the original Xbox pretty good? If so, I wonder what made MS think it was a good idea to redo it for the 360 one.