Xbox Design Lab temporarily unavailable; Microsoft details reason
In the world of gaming, Microsoft's Xbox brand continues to evolve, with exciting developments on the horizon. One such development is the potential launch of an official Xbox handheld, complete with translucent components reminiscent of the Xbox controller lineup.
Meanwhile, the Xbox Design Lab, first introduced in 2016, has been expanding its customisation options. The platform now supports controllers, Elite Series 2 models, and more accessories like carrying cases and thumbstick toppers.
Microsoft has been adding special shells to commemorate notable Xbox first-party games and events to the Xbox Design Lab. In 2024, Fallout-themed controller shells were added, and later in the year, designs for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 followed suit. The Xbox Design Lab has also expanded its offerings this year, with the addition of limited edition DOOM and Witcher designs.
Unique thumbstick toppers can be downloaded from the Xbox Design Lab for 3D printing and use with the Xbox Adaptive Controller. Players can save a particular design for later on the Xbox Design Lab, and they can still test different controller color combinations on the customisation suites, even though the Xbox Design Lab is currently down due to a switch to a new payment platform.
Rumours suggest that future Xbox hardware refreshes could lead to custom console colours or translucent components for official handheld devices. However, no official details have been confirmed yet. The relaunch of the Xbox Design Lab can be seen as a strategic platform to showcase and possibly expand these customisation opportunities in the future.
While direct custom console colourization and translucent parts for an official Xbox handheld have not been officially launched or detailed, the direction of Xbox Design Lab's expansion and hardware rumours strongly suggest these could be future improvements.
In addition to the potential for custom console colours, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer emphasised that the leaked plans for such features were outdated. The Xbox Design Lab has not yet implemented custom console colours, and no definite timeline for their implementation is available.
In conclusion, the Xbox Design Lab continues to offer exciting opportunities for gamers to personalise their gaming experience, with new premium customisation features like translucent shells and themed skins for popular games. While the future of custom console colours and translucent components for official Xbox handhelds remains uncertain, the direction of the Xbox Design Lab's expansion and hardware rumours suggest these could be exciting developments in the near future.
[1] Xbox Wire - https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2024/04/01/xbox-design-lab-expansion-announcement/ [2] Windows Central - https://www.windowscentral.com/xbox-design-lab-expands-customization-options-2024 [3] Gamespot - https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-design-lab-expands-customization-options-with-/1100-6501243/
- Microsoft, in its pursuit of gaming dominance, is reportedly considering launching an official Xbox handheld, and if so, it may feature translucent components similar to the Xbox controller lineup.
- The Xbox Design Lab, first introduced in 2016, offers various customisation options, including controllers, Elite Series 2 models, and accessories like carrying cases and thumbstick toppers, which can be 3D printed and used with the Xbox Adaptive Controller.
- In 2024, the Xbox Design Lab expanded its offerings to include limited edition DOOM and Witcher designs, with Fallout-themed controller shells and designs for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 introduced earlier in the year.
- Future Xbox hardware refreshes could potentialy include custom console colours or translucent components for official handheld devices, but no official details have been confirmed yet.
- In an interview, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer mentioned that the leaked plans for custom console colours were outdated and that there is no definitive timeline for their implementation in the Xbox Design Lab.
