The new Xbox controller looks like a beautiful galaxy

You can keep your console wars, I just want the pretty peripherals. Xbox continues to provide them with their latest controller color scheme, Stellar shiftand I can’t help but wonder if Xbox has looked at this Space themed PlayStation controller from a few years ago and said, “Yeahhhh, we can do better than that.”

Alternating shades of blue and purple meant to mimic the galaxy add a truly multifaceted moment to the gamepad – this babe looks different from every angle. It’s just like everything that was cool in the late ’90s and early ’00s: metallic, glitzy, and semi-futuristic. There is also what looks like a slight grain in the finish which gives me Ice Blue Game Boy Vibes and a swirling purple pattern on the grip that looks like a spiral galaxy. The face buttons are black and purple, of course, although I wish the Xbox logo button was branded too (it’s just white).

The Stellar Shift Controller is the next spacey peripheral in what appears to be an emerging pattern from Microsoft: late last year, the company released the Lunar Shift controller, which has the exact same finishes and pattern as the Stellar Shift, but in silver and gold. It was, as the name suggests, to bring reality to the moon. And from unboxing videos I’ve watched, it really captures the light beautifully. This thing is radiant, People. I want to see a full Xbox Series X made out of this material. Fuck it all, Iwant to be made of this material.

Funnily enough, in December 2021 PlayStation explicitly released space colors for the DualSense alongside snap-on plastic covers for the PS5, but they were just flat, bright controllers in hues like Starlight Blue (baby blue) and Nova Pink (pepto pink).

But despite its beauty, I have to say that the Stellar Shift or Lunar Shift Special Edition controllers are mechanically nothing special. They cost $70 ($10 more than your run-of-the-mill controller), and the only thing that might improve your gaming experience are the rubberized grips. Otherwise it’s a typical Xbox Series X/S wireless controller – you can remap your buttons in the Xbox Accessories app, play with your console, PC or mobile phone, and inevitably need to replace the batteries every 30 hours or so .

Would I spend an extra $10 for a pretty controller? *Looks over at my pile of custom Xbox controllers gathering dust* You bet your ass I would. I’m sorry, I know I said you could continue your console wars, but this little purple dude absolutely blows the DualSense out of the water. You can buy the Stellar Shift Special Edition Controller now.