Back in the day, shopping for a PC gamepad was like walking into a wild west saloon. You could go for a $30 gamepad from Logitech that was probably pretty good, but there were countless other options to choose from too. More than anything, there wasn’t really a gold standard. That all changed when Microsoft started selling the Xbox 360 gamepad with a USB wireless receiver specifically to PC gamers.
The Xbox 360 Controller Needed A Wireless Receiver
The 360 gamepad was pretty much beloved in its own right, so being able to use it on your PC was just an added bonus (especially because so many people had a 360 back in the day). However, if you had your own 360 controller, you had to buy your own wireless receiver. Microsoft didn’t sell these without a controller, so you had to rely on third-party solutions from overseas. These worked after a lot of troubleshooting, but were pretty shoddy overall. It wasn’t a great experience, except for when it was working.
The Xbox One Controller Originally Still Needed A Wireless Receiver
When the Xbox One came out, its controller was very similar to the 360 gamepad, but just a little better. However, a lot of gamers held on to their 360 gamepads because they were still good enough. Even those who did have an Xbox One controller still had to buy a wireless receiver, so the same problem remained. Well, that is no longer the case, as all new Xbox One controllers now run through bluetooth.
The New Xbox One Controller Does Not Need Any Accessories
In other words, you no longer need any extra accessories to use your wireless Xbox One gamepad with your PC. You can connect it straight to your PC using bluetooth! Once you connect it, there’s zero hassle, because any PC game with controller support considers the Xbox One controller to be the standard. In addition, because they use bluetooth, you can also use Xbox One gamepads with your Android phone without any extra accessories. That means that you can buy a single Xbox One gamepad to use on your Xbox One, your PC, and your phone.
At the end of the day, if you want a gamepad to have on your desk for PC gaming, there really is no reason to look beyond an Xbox One gamepad. It’s reasonably priced, it won’t require any extra accessories because it runs on bluetooth, and you can even use it on your phone. You can also spring for an Xbox One Elite controller if you’re feeling rich, but it’s not necessary for most gamers. Happy gaming!
Buy an Xbox One gamepad at Amazon for $39.99
