Microsoft Unveils Xbox Nano Controller for $49.99, Aimed at Younger and Mobile Players

Microsoft's Xbox division has introduced the Xbox Nano Controller, a compact wireless gamepad built for younger players, people with smaller hands, and anyone who wants a controller that fits in a pocket or small bag. The announcement was made on Xbox Wire by James Hunter, General Manager of Xbox Accessories, on October 14, 2026.

What the controller is

According to Xbox Wire, the Nano Controller is just over 5 inches long and weighs 3.5 ounces, which Microsoft describes as lighter and shorter than most modern smartphones. Despite the smaller body, it keeps all 18 standard gameplay inputs found on Xbox's full-size controllers, so the button layout should feel familiar to existing Xbox players, the company said.

The controller supports both Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth connections and ships with a rechargeable battery rather than disposable ones, according to Xbox Wire. It also includes a programmable Action Button that players can set up for shortcuts such as taking a screenshot or starting gameplay capture.

Price, release date and compatibility

The Xbox Nano Controller is priced at $49.99, a figure confirmed both by Xbox's own announcement and by gaming outlet VGChartz. Xbox Wire and VGChartz both state the controller is scheduled for general availability in November 2026, with pre-orders already open, though neither source lists an exact day.

Xbox Wire describes the controller as connecting, via Xbox Wireless or Bluetooth, "across a range of compatible devices," and specifically highlights its use with Samsung TVs through the Xbox app on the Gaming Hub and with Meta Quest headsets. The same post names Minecraft Dungeons II and Forza Horizon 6 as games it can be used with. VGChartz separately reported the device's size as "a little over 5 inches in length" and its weight as 3.5 ounces, matching the figures given by Xbox.

Availability and bundle offers

Xbox Wire states the controller will launch in more than 35 countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan and most of Western Europe, with additional markets to follow. VGChartz separately listed 36 countries by name — including Argentina, Brazil, China, South Korea and Mexico among others — also noting that more countries would follow, a figure broadly in line with Xbox's own.

Microsoft is also pairing the Nano Controller with hardware partners for the holiday season. Per Xbox Wire, buyers of select Samsung TVs will be able to get the controller bundled with two months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for new subscribers, and a similar offer pairs the controller with a Meta Quest headset purchase, also including two months of Game Pass Ultimate for new members in the US.

Who it is designed for

Xbox Wire and gaming outlet Insider Gaming both frame the Nano Controller primarily as a travel-friendly, budget-friendly accessory. Insider Gaming quoted Xbox's own description of the product as "pocket-friendly in both cost and form factor," underlining that the smaller size and lower price are meant to work together rather than being separate selling points.

Microsoft has not stated in these announcements whether the Nano Controller will replace any existing controller in its lineup; based on the available material, it is being positioned as an additional, smaller option alongside the standard Xbox Wireless Controller rather than a direct successor.