Xbox One controller gets programmable trigger buttons, design refinements

The newly announced Xbox One is getting a refined controller. It looks a lot like the Xbox 360's controller, with "40 technical and design innovations," according to Microsoft.

Live from Microsoft's Xbox One reveal (pictures)

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Microsoft says developers will be able to program specific types of feedback into the trigger buttons of the new controller. The thought being that the trigger buttons will provide different types of feedback depending on if you're playing a racing game or a first-person shooter.

The controller will also link with Xbox One's new Kinect sensor for Xbox One, which may mean Kinect will need to stay plugged in at all times if you actually want to play games.Gone are the "start" and "back" buttons from the Xbox 360 controller, now replaced with what look to be an app-switching button and possibly a menu button. The new controller supports Wi-Fi Direct radio stack and has a newly designed "precision" directional pad and an integrated battery compartment (no more bulky battery alcove getting in the way).

Compared with the DualShock 4

We probably won't get any hands-on time with the Xbox One's controller or the DualShock 4 for the PlayStation 4 before E3, but there are a few ways in which we can compare them with each other now.

The DualShock 4 differentiates itself with a clickable touch pad on the front -- giving developers an additional option when designing games, although we've yet to see it in actual application.

Also, the lightbar includes some Move capability, allowing the PS4 to track the position and identify where the controller is and, if need be, actually adjust the split-screen orientation during multiplayer couch gaming. The Xbox One will accomplish this with assistance from Kinect, as it automatically tracks who's holding which controller.

The DualShock 4 also gets a Share button, a built-in speaker, and a headphone jack. Share allows players to quickly upload game footage to the Internet for others to see and while the Xbox includes a similar capture-and-upload feature, it's unclear if it will be as simple to use as Sony's ostensibly is.

The Xbox One uses Wi-Fi Direct to connect its controller, while the PlayStation 4 relies on Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR. On paper, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR's theoretical 3Mbps maximum speed is clearly outclassed by Wi-Fi Direct's 250Mbps theoretical throughput. However, whether this difference will result in any tangible difference remains to be seen.

The problem with comparing the two controllers right now is that we've yet to actually use them for what they're designed for: playing games. Check back in a few weeks during E3, as we're hoping to get copious amounts of play time.