PowerA’s New Pastel Controllers Are the Sweetest Feels of All Summer

When it comes to colorful controller designs, Xbox games have been on point for years. Since the Xbox One generation, Microsoft has released a number of fun variations of its controllers—including limited editions and Xbox Design Lab—and that momentum hasn’t slowed with the Xbox Series X/S console. Meanwhile, the third-party range of Xbox controllers is wider than ever, and brands like PowerA are hitting budget-friendly prices with new colorways of their own, like the $37.99 for Xbox and the recent PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller. Recently released pastel range. pc.

Announced as a spring collection back in March, these new pastel shades for the Enhanced Wired line include purple camo, lavender swirl, pink lemonade, pastel dream, and cotton candy blue. Pink Lemonade with its sleek yellow-to-pink gradient seemed like the clear winner to me at first, but now after seeing and handling all five shades personally, I’m officially considering cotton candy blue the best-looking one. I can declare It’s actually a slightly more bluish-green hue than its namesake, but regardless, it’s a bold yet soft monochromatic color on this controller.

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But all five pastel designs look great overall, with various uses of gradients, speckled patterns and/or two-tone contrast that give each a unique signature. Sure, it’s a shame that these controllers are still saddled with old micro USB connections, but I’ll give the PowerA some credit for opting for at least one white detachable cable, each with a lightweight and airy look. to be better complemented.

I’d still love to see an entirely new version of the enhanced wired controller eventually upgrade to USB-C and even a few more customizable buttons on the back without cluttering things up too much can squeeze. But gripe aside, there’s a lot to love about the aesthetics of these bright new colorways. The Enhanced Wired Controller has been our top pick for the best budget Xbox controller you can buy, thanks to its very reasonable price while meeting the essentials for a wired controller. I can’t say that these new colors go so far as to make a good thing better, because they’re functionally similar, but they’re refreshing enough to feel better either way.

PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller (Pastel)

The PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller is a budget-minded wired controller for Xbox and PC that connects via micro USB and features two customizable buttons on its back. It is offered in several different colors and licensed designs.

These cool new pastels are readily available at many retailers now, and it will be no surprise if they start seeing discounts and sales like many others in PowerEye’s lineup. They’re a little breath of budget-level fresh air, and they’re a nice addition to a summer of gaming that’s got new local multiplayer games. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge (Good reason to need additional affordable controllers, as it supports up to six players on Xbox and PC).

Antonio G. Photography by Di Benedetto / The Verge