Scuf Gaming And Microsoft Ink Deal Over Xbox One Elite Wireless Controller IP

By Kevin Carbotte
published

You may recall that in June during E3, Microsoft announced that it would be releasing an advanced Xbox One controller with removable buttons, joysticks and some unique removable, replaceable rear paddles that can be mapped to any face button. You may not know this, but that idea isn't actually unique, and the company that came up with it is about to get a lot more famous.

Scuf Gaming, also known as SCUF, has been making customized console controllers for the last five years, and in that time the company has gained a fair bit of traction in professional console gaming circles. SCUF claims to hold 90 percent of the professional console gaming market, with partnership deals with many professional gaming leagues including MLG, ESL, EGL and more. The announced deal with Microsoft ensures that Scuf Gaming products are bound to be in the homes of many average gamers, as well.

It turns out that some of the technology behind Microsoft's Elite Wireless controller is actually intellectual property of Scuf Gaming and its patent subsidiary, Ironburg Inventions, Ltd. The company has 17 granted patents and 34 more pending patents that are specific to three key areas of the Elite Wireless Contoller's new features. Specifically, those are the rear paddles, trigger function and thumbstick control area. Rather than duke it out in court, it appears the two companies have found amicable ground and have struck a deal.

Scuf Gaming has been named the official and exclusive third party accessories partner for Xbox One Elite Wireless Controllers. In exchange for the exclusive deal, SCUF will grant Microsoft access and rights to use its intellectual property, patents and innovations.

The Xbox One Elite Wireless Controller is available for pre-order and will be released on October 27. Scuf Gaming has not announced any accessories yet.

Follow Kevin Carbotte @pumcypuhoy. Follow us @tomshardware, on Facebook and on Google+.

Kevin Carbotte

 Kevin Carbotte is a contributing writer for Tom's Hardware who primarily covers VR and AR hardware. He has been writing for us for more than four years. 

10 Comments Comment from the forums
  • jasonelmore
    wow that video doc gonna sell a lot of elite controllers
    Reply
  • Gam3r01
    When I first saw this controller I was wondering what Scuf would do about it, never really occurred to me that it could have been licensed though them and their own patents.
    Reply
  • Achoo22
    Meanwhile, XBOne has been out FOREVER and the wireless dongle promised to PC gamers since before release is still unavailable, with support for Win7 evidently being withheld. Microsoft, you can take your joystick and shove it.
    Reply
  • photonboy
    Achoo22,
    The XBOX ONE wireless USB stick for the PC is coming soon. That's been announced.

    As for W7 support, well sometimes it's just a good idea to drop legacy support. A lot of functionality is going into Windows 10 with some focus on the XBOX ONE integration (which explains in part the DELAY).

    Plus, you can upgrade to W10 for free. (I know it still has issues but they're being sorted out)

    Also, it's not a joystick.
    Reply
  • cwolf78
    As fancy as this controller is, it's not enough to make me want a Xbone. Is there going to be full Windows 10 support for this including mapping profiles to the controller?
    Reply
  • clonazepam
    To think, someday, I'll probably utter the words "Back in my day, we actually used our hands to perform tasks."

    This is a sweet looking piece of hardware, but there's no way I'm buying one. As a prank for the next graphics card for the money, insert this controller as an alternative for the price point. At the end of the day, its just a controller. Seed a few pros and famous youtubers/streamers with them though, and they'll fly off the shelves.
    Reply
  • Snipergod87
    Meanwhile, XBOne has been out FOREVER and the wireless dongle promised to PC gamers since before release is still unavailable, with support for Win7 evidently being withheld. Microsoft, you can take your joystick and shove it.

    The adapter is going to be released on the 27th (http://www.amazon.com/Microsoft-Xbox-Wireless-Adapter-Windows-one/dp/B00ZB7W4QU), I wouldn't be surprised if people find a way to get it to work with Windows 7. You can always plug your controller into your Windows 7 PC with a micro USB cable and play that way as well.
    Reply
  • alextheblue
    At the end of the day, its just a controller.

    The same could be said of mechanical keyboards and high-end gaming mice - a high-end KB+M combo could easily outstrip the cost of this controller, too. What is your point? Is it for everyone? Clearly not. But there are gamers out there that will get good use out of it.

    With that being said it's too rich for my blood and I think the standard XB1 controller is pretty damn good (which also works on PC with a cable and soon a wireless dongle if that floats your boat). Still haven't bought an XB1 yet but one of the 1TB bundles might get me to buy one this Christmas. They're getting almost impulse-buy priced when you look at the bundles.
    Reply
  • Achoo22
    I wouldn't be surprised if people find a way to get it to work with Windows 7.
    I have had nothing but trouble from homebrew XInput drivers and such in the past, so I won't hold my breath on this.

    You can always plug your controller into your Windows 7 PC with a micro USB cable and play that way as well.
    There is zero chance I will be going back to wired mice or controllers. And I certainly won't be buying a wireless controller that only works with a wire.
    Reply
  • Achoo22
    The XBOX ONE wireless USB stick for the PC is coming soon.
    Yes, but PC support for the controller has been promised since before Win10 was announced. This is NOT a timely release, especially after they used promises of controller/XInput compatibility to lure potential console buyers. The wired-only workaround absolutely does not suffice.

    As for W7 support, well sometimes it's just a good idea to drop legacy support.
    A good idea for Microsoft, perhaps. But if that's the best argument you can make for restricting the dongle's drivers to Win10 then you are not going to convince anyone.

    A lot of functionality is going into Windows 10 with some focus on the XBOX ONE integration (which explains in part the DELAY).
    One has absolutely nothing to do with the other. Steam says that over 45% of their users are currently running Windows 7. Every single PC gaming title on the market supports Windows 7. It is atrocious to bring a controller to market that doesn't support Windows 7. Full stop.

    Also, it's not a joystick.
    Sure, Mr. Pedantic Smartass, but it's hardly as much fun to tell someone to stuff a gamepad up their butt.

    Reply