I’ll be honest: I was a PlayStation kid. But even as a youth, it was clear to me that any of my friends with an Xbox had way comfier controllers. When I finally ended up building my own PC, it was a no-brainer which controller I’d pick to pair with it.
Xbox may be facing some challenges, but making a genuinely comfortable and well-designed controller has never been one of them. The Xbox Core controller has unsurprisingly retained its spot on our lists of both the best Xbox and best PC controllers, and some fresh discounts in Amazon’s Spring Sale make it a worthy investment for console or PC gaming.
Xbox Controller Deals at Best Buy and Amazon
The best discount is only available on the standard Carbon Black controller, which comes with a USB-C cable in case you want to switch to wired mode. The $20 price drop brings the controller just $5 shy of its lowest price ever. This deal actually sold out at Amazon, but still happens to be available at Best Buy. Amazon has also knocked around 25% off other color variants like Deep Pink and Shock Blue.
While not exactly a revolutionary controller, our 2025 Xbox controller review notes that “subtle changes to the D-pad and the new share button have improved it in minor ways that will resonate with every game you play.” The wireless controller is compatible with Xbox consoles as well as Windows 10 and 11, supports customizable D-Pad mapping, and features a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Ever since pairing a controller to my PC, I’ve become deeply frustrated whenever I do need to go back to mouse and keyboard. And I mostly plays MOBAs. There’s something about getting to lean back in your chair, sitting in whatever awkward way you so desire, that truly elevates the gaming experience. In my opinion, it’s a must-have for any RPG or Souls-like.
If you’re already set with a controller, well, there’s no harm in making room for a Player 2. There’s also never any harm in having a back-up. If you know you know.
The Spring Sale Runs Through Next Week
Amazon's Spring Sale runs until Tuesday, March 31, and we'll be rounding up the best deals each day. Highlights so far include a massive '3 for 2' deal on books and movies as well big discounts on Apple products and Magic: The Gathering sets.
Blythe (she/her) is an Audience Development Coordinator at IGN who spends way too much time in character customization screens and tracking down collectibles.
Continue reading...