Microsoft may be preparing its first major Xbox Elite controller refresh in years. Images published through Brazil's Anatel regulator appear to show an unannounced Xbox Elite Series 3 controller with extra controls near the headset jack, a removable rechargeable battery and a button tied to switching between local console play and cloud use.
The leak is not an announcement. Microsoft has not confirmed the controller, its final design, its price or a release window. But regulatory images tend to appear late enough in the hardware process that Xbox players will be watching the company's June showcase more closely than usual.
According to The Verge, which cited images posted by Tecnoblog after the Anatel listing surfaced, the controller keeps the familiar Elite layout with an interchangeable D-pad and rear paddles. The most visible change is a pair of small scroll-wheel-style controls at the bottom of the pad, positioned on either side of the 3.5mm headset jack.
The filing also appears to show a removable battery. That would be a notable shift for the Elite line, which has used built-in rechargeable batteries in recent years. The reported battery capacity is 1,528 mAh, lower than the 2,050 mAh battery listed for the Elite Series 2 in the leak coverage. A smaller capacity does not automatically tell players how long the controller will last, since power draw and final hardware can change, but a swappable pack would change how owners handle long sessions and battery wear.
Cloud switching may be part of Xbox's next controller push
The other new control may say more about Microsoft's wider hardware direction than the Elite line itself. The leaked documentation describes a button that can switch between a local console connection and cloud mode. The Verge reports that a smaller Xbox Cloud Gaming controller also appeared through Anatel earlier the same day, suggesting Microsoft may be preparing more than one controller with cloud-focused connection features.
That tracks with where Xbox has been putting its platform energy. Xbox Cloud Gaming is already a major part of Game Pass Ultimate, and controller latency remains one of the most obvious friction points for cloud play. If Microsoft is building dedicated cloud switching into new first-party hardware, the feature could become a practical quality-of-life upgrade rather than a niche streaming experiment.
The Elite Series 2 is still Microsoft's premium controller. On Xbox's official product page, the current model is pitched around adjustable-tension thumbsticks, shorter hair trigger locks, interchangeable components, profile switching and play across Xbox consoles, Windows PC and mobile devices. An Elite Series 3 would need to do more than add buttons to feel like a full generational step, especially for players who already bought into the expensive pro-controller tier.
There is also a reputation issue to overcome. Elite controllers have long been praised for customization, but many owners have also complained about stick drift, shoulder button problems and wear on grips. The leak does not answer whether Microsoft has changed the underlying build quality, which may be the detail existing Elite owners care about most.
Xbox has already confirmed that the Xbox Games Showcase 2026 will air on June 7, followed by a Gears of War: E-Day Direct. Microsoft has not said accessories will be part of the show, but a controller leak appearing weeks before the event gives the company an obvious place to turn rumor into official hardware news if the Elite Series 3 is ready.