Microsoft Announces Xbox Nano Controller For November
The Nano costs less than the standard pad and swaps the dry-cell bay for a built-in battery, which is a change to the baseline controller rather than another colorway.
Key Facts
- Microsoft announced the Xbox Nano Controller on October 15.
- The Xbox Nano Controller will be released in Japan in November at 8,000 yen, with two sources giving November 4 as the date.
- The Xbox Nano Controller measures about 12.7 cm long and weighs about 99 g, against 15.3 cm and 230 g for the standard Xbox wireless controller.
- The Xbox Nano Controller has 18 input types, customizable action buttons for shortcuts including screenshots, and a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery, with a USB-C cable sold separately.
- The Xbox Nano Controller price in the US is 49.99 USD, and pre-orders are open on the Microsoft Store.
Reporting from 5 sources: 4Gamer.net, GAME Watch (Impress), Denfaminicogamer, GIGAZINE, and 1 more.
Microsoft announced the Xbox Nano Controller on October 15, a new official Xbox pad built to pocket size. It measures roughly 12.7 cm long and weighs about 99 g, smaller and lighter than a standard smartphone, against 15.3 cm and 230 g for the standard wireless controller. Microsoft Japan will release it in November at 8,000 yen, and sources point to November 4 for the domestic date. Pre-orders are open on the Microsoft Store, with a US price of 49.99 USD. It carries the same 18 input types as the standard pad, adds customizable action buttons for shortcuts such as screenshots, and uses a built-in lithium-ion battery instead of dry cells, with charging over USB-C. The pad supports Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth and connects to Xbox Series X|S consoles, Windows PCs, iOS and Android devices, and some smart TVs. Microsoft calls it the smallest controller in Xbox history.
The Nano sits well under a modern phone in both dimensions and mass, and Microsoft is positioning it for travel, play at someone else's house, younger players, and people with small hands. Its input set matches the standard controller one for one, so nothing is cut from the button layout to make the smaller shell work.
Where the sources diverge is timing. The domestic release is given only as November in one account, while two others state November 4; the announcement date is given as October 15. The US listing price of 49.99 USD is separate from the Japanese price of 8,000 yen. One report notes that the USB-C cable is sold separately, so the built-in battery does not arrive with a charging cable in the box.
Compatibility is consistent across accounts: Xbox consoles, Windows PC, iOS, Android, and some smart TVs. Microsoft's own language, quoted in the Japanese coverage, frames the pad as designed to fit in almost any pocket and any budget.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 5 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- 4Gamer.net ポケットにも楽に入るコンパクトなXBOX純正ゲームパッド「XBOX Nano Controller」が発表。税込8000円で予約受付中
- GAME Watch (Impress) XBOX史上最小の「Nano コントローラー」11月発売！ポケットに収まる軽量・コンパクト設計
- Denfaminicogamer ポケットに入るサイズの「XBOX Nano コントローラー」が発表！一般的なスマホよりも軽くてコンパクト。11月4日発売で、価格は8000円
- GIGAZINE XBOXがポケットサイズのPCでもスマホでも使えるワイヤレスコントローラー「XBOX Nano コントローラー」を発表
- Game Spark 充電式で小型！「XBOX Nano コントローラー」発表＆予約購入受付開始―日本国内では11月に8,000円で発売予定