For a long time it was possible to get around compatibility problems between Xbox and controllers with one trick or another. This will end in November. Because Microsoft completely excludes certain products from use.
November brings bad news for all bargain hunters among Xbox gamers: From November 12, 2023, only official accessories – that is, those authorized by Microsoft – will be compatible with the Xbox. The time of significantly cheaper no-name controllers and the like would be over for now.
No compatibility with unauthorized controllers
Some players are already experiencing problems when they try to connect their unauthorized products to the Xbox console. This no longer accepts the respective controller and instead brings the error message “0x82d60002”. This appears Notice: “Using unapproved Xbox accessories will impact your gaming experience. The accessory will be blocked for use on November 12, 2023.”
Of course, Microsoft doesn’t care about its users’ gaming comfort out of pure altruism. In this case, the company would rather work on broad device support than reducing compatibility and closing the Xbox system. This approach is likely to be at the expense of all hobbyists and those gamers who cannot or do not want to afford the more expensive Xbox products. One company that could benefit – at least marginally – from Microsoft’s new strategies is Amazon, with Black Friday approaching on November 24th.
Who is affected?
The affected manufacturers of frequently used but unauthorized devices include, among others Brook Gaming. In a statement, the provider writes about the recently occurring problems: “The Brook development team is working hard to develop a solution to maintain product quality and functionality.” The compatibility problems apparently occurred since Xbox firmware versions 10.0 .25398.2266.
The solution that Brook Gaming promises is likely to be licensing from Microsoft. So the good news is: Not every unauthorized product has to be disposed of immediately. The bad news, however, is that such a certification process can take time, meaning gamers would have to forego their gaming fun for an uncertain period of time.
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How to identify authorized Xbox products
If you’re now wondering whether your controller could be affected by the upcoming ban, you can easily check. Microsoft and authorized third-party devices feature a small Xbox logo or green “Designed for Xbox” label.
Also interesting: Microsoft is discontinuing games subscriptions for Xbox! What this means for gamers
Since Microsoft only restructured its subscription structure in September, this innovation is likely to be much less well received. The only – albeit narrow – glimmer of hope in the whole campaign is that by limiting the supply, Microsoft could simultaneously bring more wireless controllers onto the market. There is still quite a shortage here.