playandchargekit
Latest
Xbox One Wireless Controller, Play and Charge Kit and Chat Headset available for pre-order
Already locked down your Xbox One Day One Edition order? Now's your chance to also reserve its initial batch of accessories (including that mono Chat Headset, which isn't included with the console). The Wireless Controller ($60), Play and Charge Kit ($25) and Chat Headset ($25) for the Xbox One have all popped up for pre-order at the Microsoft Store. The One's gamepad rings up at five bones more than the 360 variant, but it's also available as a $75 bundle with the Play and Charge Kit (roughly 10 dollars in savings). Joystiq notes that Gamestop and Amazon are also options, albeit only for the controller itself. If you plan to reserve any of the accessories, we'd suggest taking Microsoft's Dec 31st arrival date as a loose estimate -- the One releases in November and Amazon is pegging the controller for November 27th.
Microsoft lists new Play and Charge Kit, Chat Headset for Xbox One (update)
Once you've purchased that hot new Xbox One, you've got to have a couple of accessories to go along with it. Naturally Microsoft has thought of that, as it just announced a new version of its Play and Charge Kit plus a refreshed Chat Headset to accompany the next-gen console. As with the previous iteration, the Kit bundles in a controller-compatible lithium-ion rechargeable battery pack plus a cable that'll charge the gamepad when connected to the console. Microsoft claims it can juice up twice as fast as its predecessor and is able to keep charging during gameplay or standby. You can either get the Kit by itself or as part of a controller bundle. The Chat Headset appears to be the same as it was before; it's a wired mono headset with wideband digital audio and a unidirectional microphone. We're still looking for details on pricing and availability (plus a picture or two), but we'll let you know more details as soon we do. Update: We've added a source link to the Xbox One accessories page plus a picture of both the Play and Charge Kit and the Chat Headset.
New Xbox 360 controller with improved D-pad confirmed, $65 on November 9
Hey, what's this? We just started hearing rumors this morning that Microsoft was planning a new Xbox 360 controller with an improved D-pad, and bang -- Major Nelson just went live with a YouTube video detailing the new piece. The new D-pad is a trick new patented design that's just as we heard from Joystiq: it's a disc in the normal configuration, but a quick twist raises the crossbars about a quarter-inch, making it eminently more usable. (That sound you hear is joyous weeping.) The analog sticks have also been tweaked to be slightly more concave, and -- wonder of wonders -- the ABXY buttons are now translucent monochrome instead of colored. Wild. The new matte silver controller will only come bundled with the Play and Charge kit for $64.99 when it launches on November 9 in the States and replaces the existing wireless controller -- it'll hit Europe around February. Yep, it definitely seems like a major upgrade, but we've got a couple questions: when will it replace the packed-in controller? What about all the people who just bought new Stealthboxes and got the older controller? And, most importantly, when can we have one to try out? We're pressing for answers and we'll let you know -- check the video after the break in the meantime. %Gallery-100796% [Thanks, Bill]
Exclusive two-tone Xbox 360 Play and Charge kit coming to GameStop
We still think those crazy Mad Catz Modern Warfare 2 Xbox 360 controllers are the coolest around at the moment, but if you're committed to staying first-party this new GameStop-exclusive Play and Charge bundle is right up there -- black carbon fiber with red inserts never did anyone wrong, you know? Pre-orders are up now in all kinds of countries for $70. %Gallery-75740%
