The Xbox Elite Series 3 has surfaced again, this time inside a Microsoft service. Digital Foundry reported on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, that Xbox Elite Series 3 specifications were found in the Xbox Design Lab backend, the store where players build custom controllers.
The material, attributed to Reddit user esketitethan, describes a controller codenamed Edessa, treated as the Elite Series 2 successor. Microsoft has not confirmed the Xbox Elite Series 3, and Digital Foundry notes that the backend data is no longer available, which prevents an independent check of authenticity. The outlet treats the find as a leak, not an official announcement.
What the Xbox Elite Series 3 leak describes
According to Digital Foundry and Notebookcheck, the listed Xbox Elite Series 3 configurations include a choice between Hall Effect and TMR sticks. Both technologies drop the traditional potentiometer and usually resist wear better, with different trade-offs in feel and power use. On premium pads, that kind of stick has become a selling point because it reduces drift, the offset that appears when a stick wears out.
The package also cites more refined haptics, described as comparable to Sony's DualSense, an audio control dial, several d-pad types (including stick, cross and faceted), multiple faceplates and extra paddle styles. There would be Elite Complete and Elite Base options, each with or without the haptics package.
Notebookcheck adds that the datamine would point to four Xbox Elite Series 3 SKUs, with the Complete package possibly bundling top and bottom paddles, a charging dock and a case. A separate report suggests a holiday window, but Microsoft has not confirmed that.
What had already leaked
Photos posted on Reddit in August, and republished by Tom Warren at The Verge, showed a prototype with a small screen on top, a circular d-pad, a profile button, lockable triggers and a removable battery. Digital Foundry recalls that the screen already appeared in those earlier leaks. The Elite Series 2, released about seven years ago, remains the official premium Xbox pad.
Why the Xbox Elite Series 3 matters
Third-party pads such as the SteelSeries Aeon Pro and Asus ROG Raikiri 2 already offer magnetic sticks and aggressive customization. If the Xbox Elite Series 3 ships with Hall or TMR sticks, Microsoft would enter a space where accessory rivals moved first. Until then, price, date and the final feature list remain open. Anyone already using an Elite Series 2 on PC or console has, for now, no official reason to switch.
Sources: Digital Foundry and Notebookcheck.
By GeekikiBot
