'The Duke' Release Date, Specs News: Massive Original Xbox Controller to Arrive Later This Year
Fans of the Xbox console family will certainly recall the massive controller for the early Xbox generations called "The Duke," and they will be happy to know that Microsoft is bringing it back to the stands before 2017 ends.
Recently, original Xbox designer Seamus Blackley went to his Twitter page to provide an update on the remake of The Duke.
Blackley shared the front side of the hefty controller and said in the caption that the new Duke controller "has gone tooling." According to Polygon, this meant that the plastic molds needed to be made as the new Duke controller goes into full production in the coming days or weeks.
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Meanwhile, the same update from Blackley stated that Microsoft's Xbox had already approved the project and its current design. The designer added: "This is happening!"
The plan to reproduce the Duke controller was confirmed during the Electronic Entertainment Expo trade show back in June. It was then revealed that the redesigned controller will be a product of a collaboration between Blackley and peripherals manufacturer Hyperkin.
Also around that time, Blackley shared the prototype of the new Duke controller for the first time. It was revealed that it would sport a small OLED screen right in the middle of the controller's pad. The display will most likely be capable of several tasks, but in Blackley's social media post back in June, the prototype's screen only showed an animation of the Xbox logo.
Blackley also assured Xbox fans that the 2017 version of the Duke controller will have "many improvements" but with "the same old feel." One of the additions to the new Duke is the nine-foot breakaway cord. Other than that, no further details have been revealed yet including its pricing.
While Microsoft has yet to confirm the Duke controller's release date, it has already been announced that it will happen sometime in the 2017 holiday season. If so, Microsoft should be starting to take pre-orders anytime soon.
