Xbox announced another new controller for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One this week. Called Stellar Shift, the controller is compatible with both consoles as well as PC.
As the controller’s name suggests, it’s part of the “Shift” collection, which includes others like the Lunar Shift, and while it has some of the features of the others in the collection, like textured triggers and other grip protection, it has something that most controllers other controllers don’t have: a unique background for your console.
The freebie that came with the new Xbox controller was highlighted in the device’s ad, along with a preview of what that background would look like. Made to match the controller’s aesthetic, the dynamic background adds a moving spatial scene to your Xbox, but only if you have this controller.
A special feature of the Xbox Stellar Shift Wireless Controller that you won’t want to miss is the unique dynamic background that only unlocks when you connect your new controller to your Xbox Series X|S console. Live backgrounds are animated enhancements that bring your Xbox dashboard to life. Enjoy the purple and blue swirl design as you adventure wherever your Xbox takes you.
We know, it’s pretty. That’s why we turned it into a Dynamic Background that you can get just by plugging your new Stellar Shift into your Xbox Series X|S console. Get the details here: https://t.co/cRFhTwPJjc
You’re welcome 💫 pic.twitter.com/eMT3dg82rM
— Xbox (@Xbox) February 7, 2023
We saw something like this with the launch of the 20th Anniversary Xbox Controller, which included a dynamic background to commemorate the console’s 20th anniversary. This was obviously a special occasion, but the feature is now present on a “normal” control with its own unique background.
Interestingly, it appears that this background is not permanently saved to the console if you switch to a different background. Xbox says you can change the background any time you like, as you normally would with the default backgrounds, but if you want to apply the Stellar Shift background after using something else, you’ll need to “plug the Stellar Shift controller back into the console and navigate through the menu to reapply.”
This must certainly be a strategy to prevent a console from being resold without the collectible controller for a higher price.
What do you think of the new Xbox controller?
