page_title: Xbox controller
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Xbox controller / History
caption_attribution_description: English: The controller for the Xbox, a sixth-generation gaming console made by Microsoft that was first released in 2001. The Xbox was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console market, and was followed by the Xbox 360 in 2005. The console is notable for having a built-in hard drive, breakaway controller dongles and an Ethernet port to support Microsoft's online gaming service, Xbox Live. This picture shows the "Duke" controller, and highlights the breakaway dongle and connection plug. The breakaway dongle was designed so if one tripped over the cord, it would harmlessly breakaway from the console, rather than let the console potentially fall off a shelf or get violently jerked.
context_page_description: The Xbox controller is the primary game controller for Microsoft's Xbox home video game console and was introduced at the Game Developers Conference in 2000. The first-generation Xbox controller was the first controller bundled with Xbox systems for all territories except Japan. A smaller and redesigned variant, called "Controller S", was sold and bundled with the console in Japan. It was later released in other territories and by the end of 2003 had replaced the first-generation controller worldwide. The larger original controller remained available as an optional accessory.
context_section_description: The Xbox controller features dual vibration motors, two analog triggers, two analog sticks (both are also digitally clickable buttons), a digital directional pad, a Back button, a Start button, two accessory slots and six 8-bit analog action buttons (A/Green, B/Red, X/Blue, Y/Yellow, and Black and White buttons).
  When the physical design of the controller began, circuit boards for the controller had already been manufactured. Microsoft had asked their supplier, Mitsumi Electric, for a similar folded and stacked circuit board design used in Sony's DualShock 2 controller, but the company refused to manufacture such a design for Microsoft. This led to the controller being bulky and nearly three times the size of Sony's controller. This initial controller design was never launched in Japan, where the console instead launched with a smaller, redesigned version named "Controller S" that did use the more compact circuit board design.
  The "Controller S" (codenamed "Akebono") is smaller and lighter, designed for users with smaller hands. After the original controller had received much criticism, and initial sales of the Xbox were very low, the "Controller S" was later released in other territories by popular demand and in 2002 replaced the first-generation controller in the US Xbox's retail package, and Europe in 2003, with the larger original controller remaining available as an accessory.
caption: The Xbox controller featured breakaway dongles to avoid damage to the console if the cord was tripped over.
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