Why would anyone want an Xbox controller with seven analog sticks and no buttons? It’s a valid question. And it’s one the person who made this all-analog Xbox controller is also asking. This maker replaced every trigger, bumper, and button. The ABXY and directional pad are straightforward enough, but even the menu is now part of an analog stick. The analog Xbox controller is meant as a prank gift, but we can’t help but wonder what it would be like to use it to play our favorite games. Based on the Skate 3 gameplay shown at the end of the video below, we think it would probably be very confusing, but also fun.
“It is so stupid, I just had to make it,” says YouTuber Solderking as he replaces all the usual buttons with analog sticks. In case you want to create this abomination for yourself, the steps are relatively straightforward. You’ll just need specialized equipment to drill, weld, and solder the monstrosity together. Parts of the video look and sound like a game of Operation. At the end, the final product includes seven of the raised, rotating controllers instead of the usual two.
After years or even decades of using analog sticks for some things and pushing buttons for others, it would be incredibly confusing to get used to this new controller. Not to mention the amount of stick drift that now threatens every action from shifting the camera angle to starting a game.
Solderking mails his creation to vCuda, another YouTuber, who reviews controllers. The video of that unboxing and review is below. It also contains a lot of “but why?” questions. These talented gamers can make do with the analog Xbox controller in skating and driving games, but others, like first-person shooter games, may just be too confusing.
The Solderking YouTube channel has a number of interesting videos where he repairs and restores video games and controllers. For other DIY controller projects, check out this Furby monstrosity and this joystick addition for flight simulators.
Melissa is Nerdist’s science & technology staff writer. She also moderates “science of” panels at conventions and co-hosts Star Warsologies, a podcast about science and Star Wars. Follow her on Twitter @melissatruth.