Microsoft has released dozens of Xbox controller colors and special editions since the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S launched in 2020, and continues to drop new colors and variants every few months. There are standard colors like Carbon Black, Robot White and Shock Blue, along with camouflage designs, transparent controllers, game-themed limited editions and plenty of other eye-catching options.
We’ve rounded up every Xbox Wireless Controller color and special edition below, including how much each controller costs and when it was released. We’ll continue to update this page whenever Microsoft announces a new design, so you can see all the Xbox Series X|S controller colors in one place.
The good news is that most Xbox controllers don’t cost significantly more than the standard Carbon Black and Robot White models. However, limited editions tend to command a premium and can quickly sell out, making some older designs difficult to find.
All the controllers below work with Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One and Windows PCs, while Bluetooth support also lets you connect them to compatible Android and iOS devices.
Xbox controller colors at a glance
Standard Xbox controller colors
Carbon Black
Release date: November 10, 2020 · Launch price: $59.99 · Available
Robot White
Release date: November 10, 2020 · Launch price: $59.99 · Available
Shock Blue
Release date: November 10, 2020 · Launch price: $64.99 · Available
Pulse Red
Release date: February 12, 2021 · Launch price: $64.99 · Available
Electric Volt
Release date: April 27, 2021 · Launch price: $64.99 · Available
Deep Pink
Release date: May 3, 2022 · Launch price: $64.99 · Available
Velocity Green
Release date: March 7, 2023 · Launch price: $64.99 · Available
Astral Purple
Release date: September 19, 2023 · Launch price: $64.99 · Available
Special edition Xbox controllers
Daystrike Camo Special Edition
Release date: May 4, 2021 · Launch price: $69.99 · Available
Aqua Shift Special Edition
Release date: August 31, 2021 · Launch price: $69.99 · Discontinued
Forza Horizon 5 Limited Edition
Release date: November 9, 2021 · Launch price: $74.99 · Discontinued
20th Anniversary Special Edition
Release date: November 15, 2021 · Launch price: $69.99 · Discontinued
Mineral Camo Special Edition
Release date: October 2022 · Launch price: $69.99 · Available
Lunar Shift Special Edition
Release date: November 2022 · Launch price: $69.99 · Discontinued
Stellar Shift Special Edition
Release date: February 7, 2023 · Launch price: $69.99 · Discontinued
Xbox Remix Special Edition
Release date: April 18, 2023 · Launch price: $84.99 · Discontinued
Starfield Limited Edition
Release date: June 2023 · Launch price: $79.99 · Discontinued
Stormcloud Vapor Special Edition
Release date: August 8, 2023 · Launch price: $69.99 · Discontinued
Gold Shadow Special Edition
Release date: October 17, 2023 · Launch price: $69.99 · Discontinued
Dream Vapor Special Edition
Release date: February 6, 2024 · Launch price: $69.99 · Discontinued
Arctic Camo Special Edition
Release date: 2024 · Launch price: $69.99 · Available
Nocturnal Vapor Special Edition
Release date: April 9, 2024 · Launch price: $69.99 · Discontinued
Fire Vapor Special Edition
Release date: May 7, 2024 · Launch price: $69.99 · Available
Sky Cipher Special Edition
Release date: August 13, 2024 · Launch price: $69.99 · Discontinued
Ghost Cipher Special Edition
Release date: October 8, 2024 · Launch price: $69.99 · Discontinued
Pulse Cipher Special Edition
Release date: February 4, 2025 · Launch price: $74.99 · Discontinued
Doom: The Dark Ages Limited Edition
Release date: April 18, 2025 · Launch price: $79.99 · Available
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 10th Anniversary Special Edition
Release date: May 22, 2025 · Launch price: $79.99 · Limited availability
Ice Breaker Special Edition
Release date: September 9, 2025 · Launch price: $79.99 · Available
Storm Breaker Special Edition
Release date: September 9, 2025 · Launch price: $79.99 · Available
Heart Breaker Special Edition
Release date: September 9, 2025 · Launch price: $79.99 · Available
Forza Horizon 6 Limited Edition
Release date: May 19, 2026 · Launch price: $79.99 · Available
Gears of War: E-Day Limited Edition
Release date: August 30, 2026 · Launch price: $79.99 · Available
X25 Special Edition
Release date: November 2026 · Launch price: TBC · Upcoming
Xbox Elite Series 2 controllers
Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 – Black
Release date: November 4, 2019 · Launch price: $179.99 · Available
Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 – Halo Infinite Limited Edition
Release date: November 2021 · Launch price: $199.99 · Discontinued
Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 Core – White
Release date: September 21, 2022 · Launch price: $129.99 · Available
Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 Core – Red
Release date: April 11, 2023 · Launch price: $139.99 · Available
Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 Core – Blue
Release date: April 11, 2023 · Launch price: $139.99 · Available
Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 Core – The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 10th Anniversary Special Edition
Release date: May 23, 2025 · Launch price: $169.99 · Limited availability
Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 – Doom: The Dark Ages Limited Edition
Release date: 2025 · Launch price: $199.99 · Available
Standard Xbox controller colors
Carbon Black
Release date: November 10, 2020
Launch price: $59.99
Carbon Black is the standard Xbox Series X controller color. Now I know what you’re thinking: black isn’t a color, it’s an absence of light. How could the boffins at Microsoft make such an elementary mistake? I have no answer for you. Just accept that this is what most people will be holding when they’re playing on their Xbox.
Robot White
Release date: November 10, 2020
Launch price: $59.99
There can’t be black without white – the two sides of the controller colorway universe are forever locked in a battle for dominance. This is the controller color that comes with every Xbox Series S. Those who grew up in the age of the Xbox 360 and associate the Xbox brand with white over black might be drawn to this one.
Shock Blue
Release date: November 10, 2020
Launch price: $64.99
The third color to be released alongside the Xbox Series X|S at launch was Shock Blue. It costs a touch more than the black and white options, so weigh up whether that extra $5 is really worthwhile.
Pulse Red
Release date: February 12, 2021
Launch price: $64.99
The Pulse Red gamepad was the first non-launch Xbox Wireless Controller color scheme to be released in February 2021. It’s a bright, almost crimson color. And it’s named to evoke images of blood and high-octane racing, so you know it must be really, really cool.
Electric Volt
Release date: April 27, 2021
Launch price: $64.99
Electric Volt is so enigmatically alluring that its name doesn’t even indicate its color. It’s green. Although not the classic dark Xbox green. More like a Mediterranean lime green that makes it look closer to candy than a gamepad. PSA: don’t chew your controllers.
Deep Pink
Release date: May 3, 2022
Launch price: $64.99
Despite what its name suggests, this Xbox controller color is actually quite bright. A little gaudy, even. It’s the pink of roses or an unripe radish. If nothing else, it’s distinctive. You don’t often see pink controllers out in the wilds of brick-and-mortar shop shelves. Will it make you the talk of the town? I can’t say. Will it add a splash of color to your set-up? Most definitely.
Velocity Green
Release date: March 7, 2023
Launch price: $64.99
Back in March, Microsoft revealed yet another green Xbox controller. This one’s called Velocity Green, although Slime Green or Plutonium Rod Green might be more appropriate. It’s certainly bright and closer to the hue of the classic Xbox logo than the Electric Volt controller above.
Astral Purple
Release date: September 19, 2023
Launch price: $64.99
Love the color purple? Microsoft’s Astral Purple controller features a deep purple shell with a white back plate. It comes with all the bells and whistles we’ve come to expect from an Xbox pad, including textured triggers and bumper buttons, a dedicated Share button, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Special edition Xbox controllers
Daystrike Camo
Release date: May 4, 2021
Launch price: $69.99
The Daystrike Camo was the first special edition color scheme to be released after the launch of the Xbox Series X|S. It features a red and gray camouflage pattern.
Aqua Shift
Release date: August 31, 2021
Launch price: $69.99
Possibly the flashiest of all the Xbox Series X|S controllers, Aqua Shift features a shimmering blue finish. Add to that its rubberized grips with a two-tone swirl that catches the light, and it has a galactic, space-age quality. Fans were so happy with it that finding it in stock can be tricky.
Forza Horizon 5 Limited Edition
Release date: November 9, 2021
Launch price: $75
Released to coincide with Forza Horizon 5, this limited edition controller might just be the most striking gamepad Microsoft has released for the Xbox Series X|S. Its translucent yellow body is a first for an Xbox controller, and the pink and blue splatter looks halfway between paint and Sherbert. The controller sold out very soon after launch, so finding it for a reasonable price can be tricky.
20th Anniversary special edition
Release date: November 15, 2021
Launch price: $69.99
Released to celebrate 20 years of Xbox, this anniversary controller features a translucent black front, solid black grips and green back panels. It’s a hit of nostalgia, from the translucent plastic that mimics gaming merch of the 2000s, to the bright green Xbox button that riffs on the original Xbox logo. It received a very limited release, however, and is very difficult to find stocked today.
Mineral Camo
Release date: October 21, 2022
Launch price: $69.99
Think Daystrike Camo but in submarine blue. Mineral Camo was the second camo-themed controller Microsoft released.
Lunar Shift
Release date: November 11, 2022
Launch price: $69.99
The Lunar Shift is essentially a pearlescent version of the Aqua Shift. Its silver-gold finish shimmers in light, and its all-white buttons and bumpers look pretty slick.
Stellar Shift
Release date: February 7, 2023
Launch price: $69.99
You thought Microsoft had run out of ways to repackage subtle variations of what is essentially the same controller? Think again. Blue is passé and mother-of-pearl is so last season. What’s in right now is purple.
Xbox Remix
Release date: April 18, 2023
Launch price: $84.99
The Xbox Remix controller is a little different from the other special edition gamepads Microsoft has put out. Released to coincide with Earth Day, one-third of the controller’s components are made from recycled and reclaimed materials, including leftover Xbox One controllers.
Starfield Xbox controller
Release date: June 11, 2023
Launch price : $79.99
To celebrate the launch of Starfield, Microsoft and Bethesda released a special edition Starfield Xbox controller – and it’s absolutely gorgeous. It’s intricately detailed and features some unique aspects that we haven’t seen before, like transparent triggers.
Stormcloud Vapor
Release date: August 8, 2023
Launch price: $69.99
The Stormcloud Vapor Special Edition features a dynamic dark navy swirl, inspired by clouds and storming skies. The controller also comes with an exclusive dynamic theme, rubberized grips, and the usual bells and whistles like Bluetooth support, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a dedicated share button.
Gold Shadow
Release date: October 17, 2023
Launch price: $69.99
With a striking gold-to-black metallic finish, the Gold Shadow Special Edition Xbox controller is another gorgeous design that collectors won’t be able to resist. It’s a little reminiscent of the Xbox 360 C-3PO gold controller, which may tug at the heartstrings of nostalgic fans.
Dream Vapor
Release date: January 31, 2024
Launch price: $69.99
The Dream Vapor controller features a pink and purple top case, soft pink thumbsticks, bumpers, triggers, and a hybrid D-Pad. The rubberized side grips are purple, and the soft pink ABXY buttons have purple accents. You also get an exclusive dynamic background for your Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S.
Arctic Camo
Release date: June 11, 2023
Launch price: $79.99
A stealthy, covert option, the Arctic Camo Xbox controller blends into its surroundings and into the comfort of your hands.
Nocturnal Vapor
Release date: April 9, 2024
Launch price: $69.99
Inspired by nature at night, the Nocturnal Vapor Xbox controller is the third release in Microsoft’s Vapor series. Like the Dream Vapor and Stormcloud Vapor, you get the usual bells and whistles like Bluetooth support, a 3.5mm audio jack, a rubberized, green diamond-pattern grip, and a dedicated share button.
Fire Vapor
Release date: May 7, 2024
Launch price: $69.99
Microsoft’s Fire Vapor Xbox Wireless Controller is inspired by flames. Every red and orange color swirl is an expression of blazing fire. The controller comes with rubberized, red diamond-pattern grips on the back case. You also get an exclusive dynamic background.
Sky Cipher
Release date: August 13, 2024
Launch price: $69.99
The Xbox Sky Cipher Special Edition controller features a transparent shell, letting you see the inner workings of your Xbox gamepad. Along with a striking, retro look, the Sky Cipher controller was the first to ship in a newly designed package that removes all single-use plastics and is now 22% smaller and 21% lighter, reducing its environmental footprint. The paper manual has been replaced with a QR code for a digital quick-start guide.
Ghost Cipher
Release date: October 8, 2024
Launch price: $69.99
Joining the Sky Cipher in Microsoft’s line of transparent controllers is the Ghost Cipher Special Edition. It features all the perks we’re used to, like Bluetooth, a 3.5mm audio jack, and rubberized back grips, and means those who love transparent tech will have another controller to collect.
Pulse Cipher
Release date: February 4, 2025
Launch price: $69.99
Continuing with the Cipher theme, the Pulse Cipher features the same translucent plastic but in a fiery red color. As expected, it comes with Bluetooth support, so you can use it on PC or mobile, and it works with Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Xbox One consoles.
Doom: The Dark Ages Limited Edition
Release date: April 18, 2025
Launch price: $79.99
The Doom: The Dark Ages Limited Edition controller is designed for those who are ready to rip and tear their way through the gates of Hell. It features runes instead of the usual ABXY buttons and is styled like Doom Guy’s suit.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 10th Anniversary Special
Release date: May 22, 2025
Launch price: $79.99
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Xbox Wireless controller was designed in collaboration with CD Projekt Red and features key iconography from The Witcher’s world, like Geralt’s wolf medallion. The controller also features Glagolitic script and the iconic red claw mark from The Witcher 3’s logo.
Ice Breaker
Release date: September 3, 2025
Launch price: $79.99
The Ice Breaker Xbox controller is the very definition of cool. Its glacier-blue design almost makes it seem cold to the touch, with a frosted, translucent finish. The Ice Breaker will look great all year round.
Storm Breaker
Release date: September 3, 2025
Launch price: $79.99
A refined Xbox controller based on a black, white, gray, and silver color palette, Storm Breaker is an eye-catching gamepad. It sports a metallic D-pad and an opaque top to complete the look.
Heart Breaker
Release date: September 3, 2025
Launch price: $79.99
A loud, vibrant design that combines pinks and purples with strokes of blue, the Heart Breaker controller is unapologetically bold. The translucent top case adds depth and makes this unique Xbox controller stand out even more.
Forza Horizon 6 Limited Edition
Release date: May 19, 2026
Launch price: $79.99
Another bright and bold design, the Forza Horizon 6 Limited Edition controller launched alongside the game and features the winding Touge roads of Japan.
Gears of War: E-Day Limited Edition
Release date: August 30, 2026
Launch price: $79.99
The Gears of War: E-Day Limited Edition controller features a striking design and a tactile, cracked leather-like material on the grips.
X25 Special Edition
Release date: November 26
Launch price: TBC
A gorgeous throwback to the original Xbox, the X25 Special Edition controller features the same translucent green plastic shell, colorful buttons, and an Xbox 25 logo.
Xbox Elite Series 2 controller colors
Xbox Elite Series 2 Black
Release date: November 4, 2019
Launch price: $179.99
The original color of the Xbox Elite Series 2 controller was – you guessed it – black! And it’s stayed a firm favorite ever since. Well, perhaps not so much a favorite as the default option for every gamepad manufacturer the world over. Handy if you want some consistency across your hardware.
Xbox Elite Series 2 Halo Infinite Limited Edition
Release date: November 25, 2021
Launch price: $199.99
Another tie-in controller for Xbox’s favorite green power-armored super soldier, this Elite Series 2 controller was released to coincide with Halo Infinite. Aside from its paneled front, it includes adjustable-tension thumbsticks, shorter hair trigger locks, and a wrap-around rubberized grip. As you’d expect, it was in pretty high demand at launch and very quickly sold out at retailers.
Xbox Elite Series 2 Core – White
Release date: September 21, 2022
Launch price: $129.99
In September 2022, the Xbox Elite Series 2 controller got a makeover. Its drab black shell was swapped out for white. Is it a big change? Absolutely not. But those playing on an Xbox Series S might prefer to pick up a pro controller that matches the color of their console. It comes with fewer accessories than the black Elite Series 2, however, hence the price cut.
Xbox Elite Series 2 Core – Red
Release date: April 11, 2023
Launch price: $139.99
Since releasing the white Xbox Elite Series 2 Core, Microsoft has put out a red version to join it. It’s identical from a hardware perspective but has a snazzy crimson coat.
Xbox Elite Series 2 Core – Blue
Release date: April 11, 2023
Launch price: $139.99
Like the red gamepad above, this blue version of the Xbox Elite Series 2 Core is also effectively the same controller.
Xbox Elite Series 2 Core – The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 10th Anniversary Special
Release date: May 23, 2025
Launch price: $169.99
Inspired by Geralt’s steel and silver swords, the Xbox Elite Series 2 Core – The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 10th Anniversary Special is a standout collector’s item for fans of the series.
Xbox Elite Series 2 Wireless Controller – Doom: The Dark Ages Limited Edition
Release date: 2025
Launch price: $199.99
(Credit: Microsoft)
Alongside a Limited Edition controller, Microsoft also celebrated the launch of Doom: The Dark Ages with a custom Xbox Elite Series 2 Wireless Controller.
Xbox controller colors FAQ
How many Xbox controller colors are there?
Microsoft has released dozens of Xbox controller colors and special editions since the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S launched. There are eight standard colors available – Carbon Black, Robot White, Shock Blue, Pulse Red, Electric Volt, Deep Pink, Velocity Green and Astral Purple – along with numerous limited editions and Xbox Design Lab designs.
What is the newest Xbox controller color?
Microsoft regularly releases new Xbox controller colors and limited editions, and we’ll update this page whenever a new design is announced. You can find the latest Xbox controllers at the top of our special edition section.
Do Xbox Series X controllers work with Xbox Series S?
Yes. Xbox Wireless Controllers work with both Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. They’re also compatible with Xbox One consoles and Windows PCs, along with supported Android and iOS devices via Bluetooth.
Do Xbox Series X controllers work on PC?
Yes. You can connect an Xbox Wireless Controller to a Windows PC using Bluetooth, Xbox Wireless or a compatible USB-C cable.
Can you customize an Xbox controller?
Yes. Xbox Design Lab lets you customize an Xbox Wireless Controller with different colors for the body, buttons, thumbsticks, D-pad and other components. Microsoft also offers special Xbox Design Lab designs based on games and other franchises.
Last updated: August 14, 2026