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Xbox One Controller Problems Plague Gamers

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The Xbox One has been out for several months now, and it even received its first big update just recently. However, problems have yet to evade a lot of gamers as controller issues are ruining the experiencing for many.

Numerous threads on the Xbox Support Forums point to issues with the left thumbstick on the Xbox One controller. More specifically, many users report hearing an annoying clicking noise when guiding the thumbstick in a particular direction. And no, it’s not from pressing down on the thumbstick to activate the actual LS Click.

I too have experienced the same problem in the past, and it seems the only solution is to send the controller back to Microsoft for a replacement. That sounds all good and dandy, right? The trouble for gamers doesn’t end there, though.

Xbox One controller

When I let Microsoft know about my problem, they were happy to provide me a replacement controller, just as long as I send my defective controller in. However, the company said it would take 4-6 weeks for a replacement to arrive. Luckily for me, it was closer to the 4-week range, but that’s still a month without a controller.

And that’s where the other problem lies: An Xbox One console only comes with one controller, so if yours has issues and you need to send it in, you have to fork out another $60 for another controller while you wait on a replacement to arrive, not to mention that you have to pay for shipping to send the defective controller to Microsoft. Granted, you’ll have two controllers once you finally get your replacement, which is nice to have when you have a friend over, but for those who aren’t ready to spend an extra $60 for an extra controller, having issues with your only controller can be worse than you originally imagined.

We love the new design and features that Microsoft implemented on the Xbox One controller, but we can’t help but feel that it’s still a step backward.

24 Comments

24 Comments

  1. kenneth

    03/06/2014 at 12:07 pm

    NEWS FLASH – A piece of hardware broke and had to be replaced. Also in breaking news, Launch consoles only come with one controller and you may be forced to buy 2 to have a friend over to play. This is the dumbest article I’ve read in a while. A step backwards…….really?!?! Lol

    • Iztok Mravlja

      08/21/2015 at 5:44 am

      It’s a known problem that a bunch of people all over the world are having. This article called it out pretty early.

  2. Mike

    03/06/2014 at 5:51 pm

    I don’t get why anyone would support a company that requires you to pay return shipping on their defective item. That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve read in a while. That’s like taking partial responsibility for the controller being broken.

    • Mia

      05/16/2014 at 12:00 am

      Completely agree, feeling duped

  3. Boyan Friz

    03/06/2014 at 6:22 pm

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  4. Minster

    03/06/2014 at 11:01 pm

    I didn’t know this journalist goes trolling at MS support forum just write an article? Did you check Sony, Apple, HTC, Samsung support forum also?

  5. Lolo Bond

    03/07/2014 at 8:38 am

    And then he writes “plagues” as if its the worst thing in gaming history…….

  6. Jim

    03/29/2014 at 8:15 pm

    I have gone through 9 controllers in the 2 weeks I have owned my Xbox One and I now have to get yet another one, since this one only lasted 3 days before the left stick broke. This is ridiculous and extremely frustrating as well as a huge waste of time. I got them from several different stores and they all had issues.
    I already had to send back 12 Xbox 360’s over the years, for having the Red light problem, until they updated the hardware and I thought they would have worked out their issues, but now it seems the controllers are junk. The 360 controllers never gave me any problems, except for expected wear and tear eventually breaking them down, over the years.

    Half of the Xbox One controllers I returned because something was physically broken with it. A few I returned because of severe quality control issues, such as the left stick rubbing against plastic inside. I have seen more articles being written now starting to realize the problem and I have seen a fair amount of people posting about how many controllers they have had to replace and how horribly built they are, but unless someone actually has a few controllers in front of them to compare, they have no idea how great the controller is actually supposed to feel. Only 3 of them had triggers that felt how they should, the other ones would rattle the controller when pulled, even when they were turned off, would feel like they are hitting something hard, another one the trigger would pull back farther then it was supposed to, etc. Around 5 of them had bumpers that were great, but the others had one or more that were really mushy, I have had several ones where the pressure on the sticks where completely different than the other ones, many of them would rattle even if you just shook it in your hand, and most have more than one quality control problem. Since I have had so many to compare, including 5 at one point that I had next to each other, I can confirm that they are supposed to feel very solid, with great button and trigger and stick feel. But I have yet to find 1 that is put together properly.
    I have tried calling Microsoft support several times, went through their chat, etc. and they aren’t any help at all, as well as they said they don’t even have an email for support where I can detail the problems. They keep saying I need to pay for shipping and could be without a controller for over a month, all this with only having the controller for 2 weeks.

    Hopefully major sites can investigate the problem and write a story about it, as I am sure if they put all the controllers they have next to each other, they will see huge discrepancies between them.
    All I want is 1 working controller put together properly, for now, until they fix their quality issues, or a third part controller comes out, when I can then buy more for when friends are over.
    Alternatively, I am thinking of getting the device that lets me use an Xbox 360 controller with it, but you never know if an Xbox One update will prevent it from working, and the Xbox One controllers really feel better if they would only work.

    Hopefully people will post this email on other sites as if enough people realize how wide spread this problem is, Microsoft might actually do something about it. Microsoft spent $100M on the Xbox One controller yet they don’t even make sure they are put together properly.

    • Soccer Fanatics

      05/14/2014 at 9:48 pm

      I totally concur with you. I have faced similar problem with the controller and am currently on prob. 15th one (stopped counting the no. of replacements). I normally play FIFA 14 and the controller lasts hardly a season (10 games max). I could feel the lag while controlling and shooting the ball, even sprinting slows down. First I thought may be I play rough, but 15 or more controller with the same fate proves otherwise; its definitely the controller itself.

    • DJ

      08/02/2014 at 7:16 pm

      What is wrong with you people. I have used the same controller for years, playing way more than I should and my wife would like, and the only time I did anything to a controller was when the top of the left joystick was worn out. They are extremely easy to take apart, clean, replace anything needed, and you can always find a controlled that someone smashed to use for pieces. I think you are the problem if you are breaking that many controllers.

    • Iztok Mravlja

      08/21/2015 at 5:31 am

      I have the same problem with my left stick and it’s really annoying. Never had any issues with any pad even as far back as the SNES era, and I still have all my original pads. This thing broke in a few months.

  7. Greg Eid (@GregEid)

    03/30/2014 at 8:57 pm

    Hey man, I’m now on controller number 4 because of how big of pieces of junk they are. My biggest problems have been the panels underneath getting loose and triggers sticking. My solution has been to buy a new one and put the old one in the box of the new one since it’s still within the return period of the store I bought it at. Screw paying return shipping and waiting 4 weeks. Not my fault they are making junk. Plus, on the one I did send in Microsoft lost it so not doing that again.

  8. M

    04/25/2014 at 11:25 pm

    Yep agree the panels get loose that’s a massive problem. I’m so dissapointed I might get a ps4 and give up on xbox. Shame on you microsoft for treating your customers like this.

  9. B

    05/22/2014 at 4:24 pm

    What a joke. I have gone through 5 controllers and all the controllers left stick grinds and sticks. So frustrating… How do they put out a product that is so bad. With any minimal trial and testing they would see this as a clear issue. Maybe just a shitty money grab. I am going to try SONY before I go spend any more money on broken products.

  10. Matt

    05/22/2014 at 6:41 pm

    Wow these comments are very disappointing to read. My controller decided to stop working about 20 minutes ago and it happened as I was trying to hook up my old $300 turtle beach headset to the new adapter xbox has for the controller. I don’t know if that has happened to anyone else like that but it’s potential progress to something….

  11. James

    06/03/2014 at 11:18 pm

    Im on my 4th controller now all of which broke the same. This new one still isn’t right. They one Ive just sent in has no been lost and “theres nothing we can do” attitude came from Microsoft even though i lost it because there customer service rep forgot to raise the job for it. How are they even getting away with this? Wondering if this has gone to Watchdog or anything like that?

  12. kennyprfc

    06/06/2014 at 12:46 pm

    Im on my fourth pad all because of the left stick becoming rough and a grinding feeling. It seems theres a flimsy plastic around the stick which cant handle the abuse a controller should handle from normal gaming. How this got past qc i will never know

  13. TRu WAZZU Coug

    06/06/2014 at 1:32 pm

    I play a lot, and I do mean a LOT. Just to quantify, I’m 10th prestige on COD Ghosts and maxed out on Titanfall. Was still using my Day One controller without problems until I downloaded Madden and started playing that, which caused me to push harder on the left stick at times. Now I have issues with my players not moving or responding to the left stick movements so I have to click down on it and roll it, then it works for a bit. I’m going to have to get a new one and see if MSFT will do anything about this one. Frustrating!

  14. Mike

    07/18/2014 at 9:26 pm

    I?’ve been through over 20 controllers. The left stick breaks when playing Fifa or Madden.

    I
    I

  15. Xfail

    12/24/2014 at 3:37 am

    Got an xbox one controller for my PC.
    The LB button felt worn out, as if somebody slammed in on the floor repetitively. The right trigger also clicked.
    Got a replacement, both problems are still present, only worse. The left trigger also clicks, the entire controller feels loosely put together and the LB button barely clicks, and this is right out of the box. Going in for a third return later on today. If it doesn’t work, I guess I’ll fix up my old 360 controller.

  16. Vyas

    03/06/2015 at 3:07 am

    I bought the Xbox One COD AW edition, so its only a few months old, the first broke within the first month, sent it back and got a replacement after 5 weeks, so I decided to be extra gentle with it, even then being very gentle it broke too after a few week, this time I could not wait another 5 weeks, so I sent it in and bought a new controller while waiting to the replacement, guess what, I am still waiting for the replacement to come and the new one is breaking as well, I can already feel it and its annoying the heck out of my gaming experience. Microsoft needs to do something about that, it ruins the whole system if the controller doesn’t function as desired. Before the Xbox one I had the 360 and a ps3, still have them, I have been using the same controller on the 360 for 6 years no issues, and it does not feel like its going to break either. You can feel it, its very different.

  17. 4 DOWN

    05/14/2015 at 2:41 pm

    I have also gone through 4 controllers, unfortunately I no longer have the boxes. They have to sort this out.

  18. jon

    06/28/2015 at 9:55 am

    same issues here. highly disappointed with Microsoft customer service. why should I pay and wait for their defective equipment? need class action and mass BBB complaints. This is obviously a known issue they are refusing to acknowledge.

  19. Linda Stone

    03/01/2017 at 11:03 am

    B button does not connect sometimes with game being played. Xbox 1 and game is a backsaved 360 gears 2.it will not work.

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