Xbox Reveals New Dune Controller That ‘Floats’

Microsoft has unveiled a unique Xbox controller that seemingly floats in the air, together with a special-edition Series S console, both styled after Dune. The debut of this distinct duo of Xbox devices coincides with the release of a Dune-themed expansion for Microsoft Flight Simulator.

Limited-edition hardware has been part of Microsoft’s console marketing strategy for years. Many such gadgets stemmed from collaborations between the company’s subsidiaries, as was the case with the Diablo 4-themed Xbox Series X that was given away to one lucky sweepstakes winner in late 2023, following Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

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This time around, Xbox ended up collaborating with Warner Bros., with that partnership yielding a pair of unique devices meant to promote the upcoming release of Denis Villeneuve’s second Dune movie. By far the more unusual of the duo is an Xbox controller that floats in the air, or rather its stand does. Microsoft made no attempt to clarify how this eye-catching contraption works. Given the bulky size of its sandy base, magnets seem like the likeliest explanation, assuming that the device is indeed floating in the air instead of relying on an optical illusion. Similar levitating stands are sold on Amazon for around $60, which is half the estimated retail price of this Xbox gadget.

Aside from the levitating gamepad, Microsoft’s Warner Bros. collaboration also yielded a special Xbox Series S whose exhaust grill was made to resemble the planet Arrakis. It even comes with a stand shaped like the Royal Atreides Ornithopter from Dune. Neither the console nor controller will ever hit retail and have been made exclusively for the purpose of the newly announced Xbox sweepstakes, which will have but one winner.

How To Participate in Xbox Dune: Part 2 Sweepstakes

• Be 18 or older.
• Follow Xbox on Twitter.
• Retweet the official sweepstakes tweet with the hashtag #XboxDunePartTwoSweepstakes by March 25, 2024.

As for some crossover creations that everyone will be able to experience, today marks the launch of the official Dune Expansion for Microsoft Flight Simulator. The free piece of DLC adds both Arrakis and the Royal Atreides Ornithopter to the game. Three tutorials made to teach players the ropes of piloting Paul Atreides’s aircraft are also part of the package, as are five time trial missions and a rescue operation taking place during an Arrakis sandstorm.

Today’s Xbox announcement marks the second video game crossover involving Dune: Part 2 this winter. The first such collaboration debuted in December, when Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 introduced operator skins made to look like Timothée Chalamet’s Paul Atreides and Austin Butler’s Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen. The second Dune movie hits theaters on March 1.

Xbox Wireless Core Controller

The Xbox Wireless Core Controller features a modern design. This model offers improved comfort, enabling effortless control for extended gameplay sessions. The controller’s battery life is capable of reaching up to 40 hours before requiring a recharge.

Targeting accuracy is enhanced by the hybrid D-pad and textured grip found on the triggers, bumpers, and back-case of the controller. A 3.5mm audio headset jack is integrated into the design, allowing for the connection of any compatible headset.