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Xbox Adaptive Controller Packaging Features 'No Teeth' Design

Microsoft specifically designed the new controller's packaging so that gamers with disabilities won't have to resort to using their teeth to open it. Free from annoying twist ties and zip cords, the packaging features a series of helpful loops that allow for easy access.

 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

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Microsoft earlier this year showed off a new Xbox Adaptive Controller specifically designed for ease of use by gamers with disabilities, including those with limited range of motion and use of limbs. Ahead of its release this fall, we now know that the device's inclusive design will extend to its packaging as well.

In a Wednesday blog post, Microsoft's Kevin Marshall and Mark Weiser said the company adopted a "no teeth" rule when developing the packaging for its new Xbox Adaptive Controller.

"Often when engaging with packages not designed for maximum accessibility, customers [with limited mobility] resort to improvised means of accessing the product —including using their teeth," they wrote. "With the Xbox Adaptive Controller packaging, we wanted to ensure that no such extreme measures would be required!"

To see how easy it will be to unbox the new Xbox Adaptive Controller, check out the video below.

The packaging is designed to "unfold" and "reveal what's inside with minimal friction," Marshall and Weiser wrote. Free from annoying twist ties and zip cords, the packaging features a series of helpful loops that allow for easy access.

"Every major step of the unboxing incorporates loops, a feature that we heard resounding positive feedback on from beta testers," they wrote. "Loops are a highly proven lever to assist in accessibility."

The box also has a "low center of gravity," which offers a grounding, stable feel, Marshall and Weiser added.

The $99.99 Xbox Adaptive Controller is available for pre-order now and slated to arrive in September. PCMag's Will Greenwald got a chance to play with the device at E3 and said it "could be a very useful new accessory for gamers with disabilities."

"On its own, it's just a big slab with two buttons on it, but its compatibility with a wide variety of inputs means many gamers with different physical capabilities will be able to play games with the controls that best suit them," Greenwald wrote.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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