The Oversized “Duke” Xbox Controller Makes A Comeback To Xbox One

If you ever owned an original Xbox, then you may have a soft spot for the original enormous controller that came with it: The Duke. It’s hilariously oversized in comparison to the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 controllers we use now, but it was a tank of a controller and a comfortable one at that. That’s why it doesn’t come as a surprise that it’s coming back in a big way this March.

The “father” of the original Xbox, Seamus Blackley, worked alongside peripheral creator Hyperkin to bring The Duke back in its original form, and in a recent interview with CNET, Blackley spoke on the project and how a moment of nostalgia and camaraderie with those who remembered the system’s larger controller inspired this big comeback. He also spoke on the fact that some fans with larger hands have always appreciated how comfortably it fit versus smaller controllers. After tweeting an image of the Duke and getting about 2,000 likes and retweets, he had the idea to bring back the retro controller with the help of Hyperkin.

Microsoft ended up green-lighting the idea, which was a shock for Blackley. "It's unlike anything that's happened in games before," he said of the project. “It's fucking remarkable. I don't know a lot of brands that would re-release an unpopular product from the past, and Phil, I think correctly understands that it sends a message. He understands that it sends a message about how serious Xbox is about its heritage, and about the fans."

You’ll soon be able to pick up the new Duke controller for the Xbox One and PC, albeit a slightly altered version of the controller, for $69.99 this March. The new Duke omits the memory card slot since there’s no need for them, and there are two new bumpers on the top left and right to ensure it will work with new games. The coolest change, however, is the addition of the OLED screen where the Xbox logo used to be. When you press the button here, you’ll see the Xbox startup animation, which is an admittedly awesome alteration.

Make sure you nab Hyperkin's latest Duke controller when it’s available for purchase in March because it probably won’t stick around very long.