The Xbox One Controller Is Very Poor

It's almost unanimously agreed upon as the best controller on the market so um...yeah nah.

It may not suit you in particular and given the way you seem to hold your controllers, you may be unique, but no, it's a fantastic controller.

I quite like the newer models with textured grips, I use it exclusively on PC.

I like that I can actually just swap the batteries on the fly. Since I have a rack of rechargeable AA's battery swapping is seconds and I never have to be wired, but like with a DS4 that battery dies quick and then you gotta recharge via wire. Ew.

My one issue seems to be drifting sticks after about 6-9 months use. It's unfortunate but easy and cheap enough to just replace it twice a year.

Xbox is by far the best controller.

Hold it properly as well.

Xbox One controller is the best controller of current gen. Bonus points for removable batteries so I don't ever have to use these pesky wires.

DS4 has good ergonomics but abysmal battery life and useless gimmicks like light bar, touch pad and speaker.

Switch Pro controller also has good ergonomics but doesn't have analog triggers. I guess Nintendo doesn't want serious racing games on their platform.

Every controller can be considered bad if you hold it wrong.

I've never used a more comfortable controller tbh, it feels like the natural evolution of everything everyone ever did in shape, sizes and all. The concave sticks, the triggers, an improved D-pad, the asymmetric sticks, etc. etc.. I can easily go using it the whole day without issues, whereas many other consoles hurt my hands after a while or have other design issues (eg. the Joy-Cons with their shitty D-pad and the odd convex sticks, the PS4 controller with its symmetric sticks and weird touchpad, etc.). I'm aware it's not perfect for everyone, for example one of my cousins has quite enormous hands and it would be painful to "crunch" his hands for so long, but for me it's like the ultimate controller design as of now, with very few weak points. The RB button seems slightly less resistant than others, maybe, as I've had issues with that in the past, other than that I'm finding it great.

Henry.Swanson said:

Awful, feels all round cheap and batteries never last very long.

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Gotta use Eneloops my guy. That way you never have to be tethered like with a DS4.

I bought an Xbox One controller for my PC and I think the face buttons are terrible - at least for 2d games. Jumping (A) and doing rapid fire (X) at the same time with your thumb is hard because of the stiffness (the amount of pressure needed for a pressed state) combined with the relatively long travel distance. Maybe it's just this my controller, or maybe the shape of my hands since almost everyone else praises this controller. I vastly prefer the face buttons on my PS3 controller, but then the D-pad (and the overall ergonomics) is awful. Maybe I should try the PS4 controller instead.

I kinda like the form but the clicky d-pad and buttons are some of the worst I've used. Also a bit too heavy. Makes you wonder where the $100m R&D budget went.

This Gen we are blessed with excellent controllers and I personally prefer the Xbox One controller above all others. Xbox One>Switch Pro>DS4. Mind you, they are all great controllers. . I dislike the Switch Pro digital triggers, and I dislike the overall feel of the DS4 triggers. Xbox One triggers are so good. I mean, a lot of people have said pretty much all there is to love.

Regarding your issue OP, I suppose there is no way of making a universal controller with so many hand shapes. The bumpers on the X ever since the revision you can pretty much press them anywhere, don't know if this helps. Apart from that it sucks it provides you with such a bad experience. Maybe try the Duke or a third party? I doubt they will change the controller since the general consensus is that they are excellent. Hopefully you find a way to enjoy your gaming of Xbox without controller issues.

I thought the X1 pad was superb for the most part personally, but the 360 pad remains the best imo simply because of the thumbsticks. I found the X1's sticks too loose feeling, the 360's pad's sticks felt far more responsive.

Prefer it way more than the ds4. Not sure how its poor. The ds4s battery die so fast compared to xbox controller.

The One controller (especially the Elite version, but that's mostly a sturdier built One controller) is the best controller I've ever held. It just feels right on pretty much every level. I never understood the complaints about the bumpers, they work well and are well placed. The only room for improvement I see is the D-Pad. Can't really tell how, but it just doesn't feel as perfect as the rest of controller.

They just fucking nailed it with that controller. And the competitors propositions are no slouches either. Good times to be a gamer's hand.

Well, the triggers are bette rnot used with the finger tips and the controller is obviously not designed to do that. It is an amazing controller and considering the positioning of the left analog stick, there is not even a contest with any Dual Shock.

How is the thread title not changed yet? Makes me smirk every time.

I feel for seasoned videogame players who can't swap between all the main controllers without issues, they all have some minor issues but they're all great controllers. It takes me zero time to adapt between arcade sticks, main pads and Switch controllers.

Echoing what others have said, it's by far the best controller.

Best controller I ever had. Until I got an Elite.

I do wonder when the new Elite controller is going to be announced, really expected it to be at E3.

kubev said:

Well, thankfully, I wasn't asserting that there's one objectively correct stick position, because that'd mean that I'm immature, apparently. Seriously, re-read my comments. I'm not saying that Xbox has the perfect controller layout; I'm saying that it has the most sensible layout for modern games. On Xbox One X, I use either a standard Xbox One controller or a Hori Fighting Commander. On Switch, I use the Joy-Con (in a grip) or a Switch Pro Controller. On PC, I use either a Logitech F310 or a PDP Xbox 360 Versus Controller (unless I'm using keyboard and mouse, of course). I use a different controller dependent on the type of game I'm playing, because I realize that no one controller is ideal for all of them.

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What the heck are you on dude? First of all this isn't 2005 anymore bud. Most major games are dual stick making two sticks near the same position a match for your hands. While I use analog more than some, it's also quite often with the dpad about 50-50. So the buttons are offset but only slightly on the ds4. For me the placement on ds4 is nearly perfect. Higher sticks require higher thumb height or different positioning too. If you just put both analogs like wii pro it would feel awful on ds4 lol. Ds4 is explicitly designed to wrap on your hands at that angle with you middle to pinkie gripping below. High thumbs would be awkward as hell, but it feels mostly okay on X. Different tastes different games. Stop using the word objectively please, as it's pretty obvious you have no logical defense for the word.

The XB1 controller is the best this gen easily and second only to the 360.

The only real issues I have with the latest bone controller is that it doesn't have gyro and that the dpad is still not great. Better than the 360 abomination for sure, passable yeah, but certainly could be better.

I bought one to use with my computer and it was quite comfortable.

However, the build quality is suspect. After a few months of light usage, the left stick started messing up. Even without touching the controller, it would move up by itself (in game, in menu). Think the left stick became "loose". Started out small at first but now it's near unusable unless I apply a high deadzone with a different program.

But will it work for food?

potentialtodisplease said:

What the heck are you on dude? First of all this isn't 2005 anymore bud. Most major games are dual stick making two sticks near the same position a match for your hands. While I use analog more than some, it's also quite often with the dpad about 50-50. So the buttons are offset but only slightly on the ds4. For me the placement on ds4 is nearly perfect. Higher sticks require higher thumb height or different positioning too. If you just put both analogs like wii pro it would feel awful on ds4 lol. Ds4 is explicitly designed to wrap on your hands at that angle with you middle to pinkie gripping below. High thumbs would be awkward as hell, but it feels mostly okay on X. Different tastes different games. Stop using the word objectively please, as it's pretty obvious you have no logical defense for the word.

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What games are you literally using the D-pad 50/50 with the analog stick?

Yeah i dont think so. I dont even have an Xbox this gen but everytime i hold that controller im like ... Oh yeah, Microsoft still reigning controller wise since og Xbox.

I think the Xbox One controller is pretty comfortable and probablly the best controller they've made but I do have a problem with the bumpers.

amardilo said:

I think the Xbox One controller is pretty comfortable and probablly the best controller they've made but I do have a problem with the bumpers.

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They improved the bumpers significantly in the newer revisions when compared to the launch controller, thankfully.

potentialtodisplease said:

What the heck are you on dude? First of all this isn't 2005 anymore bud. Most major games are dual stick making two sticks near the same position a match for your hands. While I use analog more than some, it's also quite often with the dpad about 50-50. So the buttons are offset but only slightly on the ds4. For me the placement on ds4 is nearly perfect. Higher sticks require higher thumb height or different positioning too. If you just put both analogs like wii pro it would feel awful on ds4 lol. Ds4 is explicitly designed to wrap on your hands at that angle with you middle to pinkie gripping below. High thumbs would be awkward as hell, but it feels mostly okay on X. Different tastes different games. Stop using the word objectively please, as it's pretty obvious you have no logical defense for the word.

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Well, it also isn't 1997 anymore, bud, so stop trying to feed me some BS about a 21-year-old controller layout somehow naturally fitting your hand's natural resting position. As I mentioned before, if Sony no longer had a reason to put a d-pad on a controller, and only the analog stick needed to appear on the left face of the controller, then there's no way in Hell that Sony would put the analog stick in the same position that it's in on the DualShock controller. If you put something that low on the controller, then it's in a SECONDARY position on the controller. Look at any nearly any controller that doesn't have an analog stick, and you'll notice that almost no one is stupid enough to put a d-pad that low on a controller. I've already defended my use of the word objectively, and there's nothing wrong with how I've used it, as I've provided proper context.

Also, it'd be nice if anyone who had a gripe about my argument didn't outright ignore the fact that I've mentioned that there's no perfect controller layout (or input method, for that matter) for every single game ever created. Modern controllers are largely designed with modern games in mind, but Sony's a self-admitted holdout in terms of analog stick layout almost solely due to the fact that its customers are used to an outdated analog stick layout.

The D-pad for me is horrible. I prefer the 360 D-pad. The cross D-pad is a step back from the full D-pad the 360 had.

I think both the 360 and Xbone Controllers are great.

Shiranui93 said:

The Xbox One controller could have been so much better. The sticks are too loose, the buttons are too flat (don't stick out enough), bumpers are too resistant, the dpad is too loud and too hard to push, the triggers are too easy to push in...

The 360 controller feels quite a bit better in comparison.

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You get used to it, but it's far from great. Also the L1+R1-bumpers are really shitty. I prefer the X360-controller.

Yep, I can't stand the asymmetrical stick setup, and the shoulder and trigger buttons are just terrible.

I find after long use my palms hurt when using the xbox one controller, the nintendo switch pro controller is by far the most comfortable of the lot

I actually disliked the XBO controller when the console first launched, the sticks and the bumpers just felt weird compared to the 360 one but it was mainly just adjusting to the difference for a short while, then you realise how much better the thing is. Personally I prefer the XBO controller over all the others this gen but we actually ended up with all consoles providing great controllers (really glad Sony changed their DS design to what it is now, the DS3 gave me nothing but cramp after playing for a short time).

Best controller on the market.

Its my favourite controller. The Elite was even better, until mine broke within a year.

Holds the controller wrong, calls the controller design 'poor'. Yeah ok! The Xbox One controller is by far the best controller available, especially the Elite.

Shiranui93 said:

The Xbox One controller could have been so much better. The sticks are too loose, the buttons are too flat (don't stick out enough), bumpers are too resistant, the dpad is too loud and too hard to push, the triggers are too easy to push in...

The 360 controller feels quite a bit better in comparison.

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The 360's buttons were hard and stiff as hell. I almost got blisters from it playing fast action games.
And the One's Dpad is so much better than the shit MS did with the 360 controller, any kind of positive it may have is insignificant when the One's can be used as an actual Dpad.

Looks like you need new hands, OP. But, seriously the Xbox One controller is the best controller in the market right now, especially the Elite.

Only problem I have with the controller is the dpad, which is still not optimal, but the Elite Controller Disc is really good :)

Gwyn said:

This

Also to OP check this old vid but shows the "correct" way to hold the controller.

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But isn't it bad design when you need a video to do what's instinctive with other controllers?

Also there's no right or wrong way to hold the controller just habits, of course if you hold it upside down you're gonna have a tough time but I'm guessing OP hold his controller in the most comfortable way to him and it is a real problem when one controller isn't compatible with OP way of holding the controller when others are still comfortable.

It feels great to me

Sony's left stick placement makes no sense for modern games but they're kind of locked into it at this point because of tradition. Microsoft had the benefit of cribbing controller ideas from Sega and Nintendo has always made significant and dramatic changes to their controllers, so they were able to adapt to modern control paradigms much more easily. The Playstation controller, on the other hand, has used pretty much the exact same modified-SNES design from its inception, betraying its 2D roots. I seem to remember reading somewhere that their main idea and innovation for adapting to 3D games at the time was adding two extra shoulder buttons for camera control; it turns out 3D games are much more complicated than that, even though the 4 shoulder buttons paradigm has stuck.

At least Sony finally moved on from its mid-90s conception of ergonomics with the Dual Shock 4. It's the first Sony controller I find somewhat comfortable.

Threads like this just go around in circles because everyone has different size/shaped hands and holds the controller differently, my favourite controller of all time is the DS3 but it seems to be strongly disliked by most people.

I bought an X recently and I'm enjoying the controller better than DS4 or the Switch Pro. I like symmetrical sticks but all 4 of my DS4 has some kind of defect now whether the left stick not clicking in correctly or the triggers being sticky. Switch Pro is better but the dpad sucks. The Xbox One feels like it was built better and I like it so much that I'm considering getting one of those conversion kits so I can use it on everything.

azertydu91 said:

But isn't it bad design when you need a video to do what's instinctive with other controllers?

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Millions of people have "figured it out" without the video, so I doubt it's bad design.

azertydu91 said:

But isn't it bad design when you need a video to do what's instinctive with other controllers?

Also there's no right or wrong way to hold the controller just habits, of course if you hold it upside down you're gonna have a tough time but I'm guessing OP hold his controller in the most comfortable way to him and it is a real problem when one controller isn't compatible with OP way of holding the controller when others are still comfortable.

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"Insinctive" - You don't need a video, you hold literally every controller for the last 3 generations the exact same way. I agree it's instinct to want to put the controller that is shaped like the palm of your hand into the palm of your hand in the manner that it is shaped, yet here we are.

Feel free to watch my video a few posts after the one you quoted - The only way to get that result ALSO results in a shitty way to hold a DS4, a DS3, a DS2, a GC controller, a swithc controller, etc. They're all shaped in the same basic way these days.

Admodieus said:

Millions of people have "figured it out" without the video, so I doubt it's bad design.

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I understand that but you can't tell OP you hold it wrong look at that video that someone made because a lot of people held it wrong.Look how user friendly it was.
I mean I don't think there is a how to hold a ds4 controller on youtube but there is one for Xbox controller dosn't it inherently mean some kind of design flaw?

azertydu91 said:

I understand that but you can't tell OP you hold it wrong look at that video that someone made because a lot of people held it wrong.Look how user friendly it was.
I mean I don't think there is a how to hold a ds4 controller on youtube but there is one for Xbox controller dosn't it inherently mean some kind of design flaw?

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No, it doesn't.
There are also a bunch of 'how to hold a dual shock 4' videos if you simply went to Youtube and searched it, rather than try to console war something that is beyond ridiculous to do so with.