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.
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