Microsoft’s Xbox was first laughed at when it was released a few years ago due to the unnaturally large size when compared to the pre-slim PS2 and even smaller GameCube, and the size of its controllers were the butt of many a joke among those in the gaming industry. Looks like nothing has changed at all over the years if this upcoming Xbox 360 controller from Microsoft is anything to go by. Featuring the same buttons, D-pad, and analog sticks that you find on a regular 360 controller, it now comes with a QWERTY keyboard that you find on plenty of smartphones and PDA-like devices these days.

This updated controller was designed specifically to take advantage of the new chat features which are available on the Xbox’s dashboard which will be released later this year. The presence of a QWERTY keyboard will greatly make life easier for everyone to compose and send messages to one another, enhancing what is already a pretty impressive online experience on the Xbox 360 platform. In addition, this controller comes with its very own headset while the keyboard possesses backlit keys that make it a cinch to send messages despite being in a dark room that gamers generally love.

The only immediate downside that I can forsee at the moment would be its already huge size becoming even larger, adding extra weight that isn’t too fun to carry around for extended hours of play. On the upside, you get to chat with your PC counterparts over MSN Messenger in a more streamlined and faster manner. You will only be able to find these new controllers sometime this summer at a yet undisclosed price.

Source: Coolest Gadgets

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