The Xbox Series X is getting closer to its launch in November. By now, we know pretty much what everything about the console looks like- the console itself, the box the console will ship in, and the controller. The Xbox Series X controller is very similar to the design of the controller of the Xbox One. At first glance, it almost looks exactly the same! The Xbox One controller was praised for how well it worked, but did Microsoft drop the ball in making the Series X so similar?

The Xbox Series X Controller features an updated D-Pad, a more pronounced Xbox Home Button, slightly different dimensions with the left and right bumpers, and the triggers on the back have a grip which makes them easier to hold. The Series X controller also features a share button, allowing you to instantly share game clips to social media.

The share button is the most unique feature to the controller, but not new to controllers in general. The PS4’s Dualshock controller and the Nintendo Switch’s Joy-Cons also feature share buttons. All the other updates to the controller are nothing that makes the controller really stand out from last gen. The biggest issue with the Series X controller is that it’s still primarily charged with AA batteries, while controllers for the PS4, PS5, and Nintendo Switch are charged using built-in rechargeable batteries.

For comparison, here’s the difference between the PS4 and PS5 controller.

Very different, indeed.

So why didn’t Microsoft reinvent the wheel with the Series X controller? Well, it’s because the controller didn’t need to change. The controller, along with the console itself, were designed to be similar to the Xbox One to make transitioning to next gen much easier. If you’re not a fan of using AA batteries for your controller, Microsoft also sells rechargeable batteries. While the PS5 looks and probably feels different than the PS4 controller, it’ll operate mainly the same way.

To some, the similarity of the Series X controller to the Xbox One might be disappointing, but the reality is that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The Xbox One controller design is similar to the Xbox 360 controller, which is still considered one of the best controllers ever made. The Xbox Series X controller won’t determine sales for the console. As always, what sways sales of consoles will always be the games first, features later.