Xbox Adaptive Controller

Released: September 4, 2018

Native Compatibility:

• • Xbox One consoles

  • Microsoft Windows 7, 8.1, 10, and 11 (there is reportedly limited functionality for Windows 7 and 8.1; investigation is ongoing)

  • Note: adapters can be purchased to extend compatibility to non-native consoles

Available Inputs:

• 2x USB 2.0 slots for joystick support (one per analog stick)

• 19x 3.5mm input jacks for accessibility switches.  These can be remapped (excluding the Xbox button), but by default correspond to:

• • • • 4x face buttons (A, B, X, Y)

      • 4x directional pad controls jacks (up, down, left, right)

      • 4x shoulder buttons (left bumper, left trigger, right bumper, right trigger)

      • 2x stick clicks (left analog stick click, right analog stick click)

      • 3x navigation buttons (menu, view, Xbox)

      • 2x extra buttons (X1, X2) for user assignment

  • 2x (On-controller) large face buttons (A,B)

• Note: the large buttons share assignments with their equivalent 3.5mm input jack.  Remapping the large A button will remap both inputs.

• • 4x (On-controller) directional pad controls (up, down, left, right)

• Note: see above, the directional pad controls also share assignments.

• • 3x (On-controller) navigation buttons (menu, view, Xbox)

• Note: see above, the menu and view buttons also share assignments.

• Note: the Xbox button cannot be remapped.

Other Details:

• 1x Headphone Jack for Audio Output

• USB and Bluetooth compatible

• Xbox Accessories App

• This controller can be remapped using the Xbox Accessories app, available from the Microsoft store, on your Windows 7, 8.1, 10, or 11 computer.

• Game Profiles

  • • The controller can store up to three user-created profiles (plus an extra for the controller's default state).  These profiles can be created using the Xbox Accessories app, where additional profiles may be saved and swapped out at any time.  These profiles are unable to be exported (unlike the HORI Flex).

• Shift Layer 

• This controller supports a "shift" system, like a keyboard.  Each input may have an additional assignment: one while shift is not engaged, and one while shift is held.

• Shift may be assigned to an input.  While held, shift mode engages, changing any switch presses to their secondary assignment.

• There is no toggle option (think "caps lock") provided for this controller-- a switch with shift assigned must be held when needed.  Peripherals, such as OneSwitch's Latch Box, can be paired to implement a "caps lock."

• Behavior Assignment

  • • Excluding shift assignment, input behavior is not configurable for the Xbox Adaptive Controller (unlike the HORI Flex).

• Joystick Control Assignment

  • • The Xbox Adaptive Controller supports assigning Left and Right analog directions to non-joystick inputs.

• Additional Specifications

  • • Available on Microsoft's Xbox Adaptive Controller page

MSRP: $100 USD

Shop: (US) Microsoft Official Store, can be purchased from other retailers (Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Target)

HORI Flex

Note: Nebula does not yet own a HORI Flex.
Details below been sourced from the HORI Flex Manual.

Released: November 4, 2020

Native Compatibility:

• • Nintendo Switch

    • • The HORI Flex can only be used in docked mode (as it requires a USB-A port).  It can't be used in handheld mode or with a Switch Lite.

      • Compatibility with the OLED Switch has not been tested.  It likely is supported, as the console may be played in docked mode.

  • Microsoft Windows 7, 8.1 (requires additional drivers)

  • Microsoft Windows 10 (does not require additional drivers) 

    • • Not tested on Windows 11

  • Note: adapters can be purchased to extend compatibility to non-native consoles

Available Inputs:

• 2x USB 2.0 slots for joystick support

• 18x 3.5mm input jacks for input switches.  These can be remapped, but by default correspond to:

• • • • 4x face buttons (A, B, X, Y)

      • 4x directional pad input jacks (up, down, left, right)

      • 4x shoulder buttons (L, ZL, R, ZR)

      • 2x stick clicks (L-stick click, R-Stick click)

      • 4x navigation buttons (plus, minus, home, capture)

  • 4x (On-controller) face buttons (A,B)

  • 4x (On-controller) directional pad controls (up, down, left, right)

  • 2x (On-controller) shoulder buttons (L, R)

• 4x (On-controller) navigation buttons (plus, minus, home capture)

  • • Face buttons do not appear to be affected by remapping. Requires confirmation.

Other Details:

• USB only, does not support bluetooth.

• Flex Controller Accessories App

• This controller can be remapped using the Flex Controller Accessories App, available from the HORI website, on your Windows 7/8.1/10 computer.

• Game Profiles

  • • The controller can store up to six user-created mapping profiles.  These profiles can be created using the Flex Controller app, where up to 12 profiles (six for the Nintendo Switch, six for Windows) may be saved and swapped out at any time.

• Shift Layer

  • • The HORI Flex does not feature shift capabilities (unlike the Xbox Adaptive Controller).  In certain cases, behaviors (see below) can fill that gap.

• Button Input Behavior (special thanks to Techno Tools for clarification)

  • • Input behaviors can be specified in the Flex Controller Accessories App.

    • Press: Default behavior.

    • Hold:  When a switch is pressed, but not held, it inputs the button assigned to "Press".  When a switch is held it inputs the button assigned to "Hold" at a set interval, specified by the user (range of 0.5 - 2.0 seconds).  This may be a different button than assigned to "Press".

    • Double Press: When a switch is pressed once, it inputs the button assigned to "Press".  If it is pressed two times in a row (within a user-specified window, between 0.1 - 0.5 seconds),  it inputs the button assigned to "Double Press".  This may be a different button than assigned to "Press".

    • Ignore Repeated Inputs: Adds a user-specified wait period before accepting the next button input (0.1 - 3.0 seconds).

    • Toggle: May be better considered as "cycle".  Allows a single switch to output one of five buttons based on a number of consecutive presses, followed by a hold.  For example, if toggle is assigned to a single switch and...

      • • A is assigned to toggle slot 1.  Pressing and holding the button will repeatedly give an A input (similar to the Hold behavior).

        • B is assigned to toggle slot 2.  Pressing the button twice then holding will repeatedly give a B input (similar to the Hold behavior).

        • X is assigned to toggle slot 3.  Pressing the button three times then holding will repeatedly output an X input (similar to the Hold behavior).

• Joystick Input Behavior

  • • The following behaviors can be assigned to a joystick input:

      • • Left/Right: Allows joystick assignment as a left or right analog stick.

        • Direction: Changes the joystick orientation in 90 degree increments.

        • Sensitivity: Reduces or increase the joystick's sensitivity (by 25% - 200%)

        • Deadzone: Designates a portion of the joystick as unresponsive from the center (5 - 50%) to avoid accidental inputs.

• No Joystick Control Assignment

  • • The HORI Flex does not support assigning Left and Right analog directions to non-joystick inputs.

• Additional Specifications

  • • Can be found in the HORI Flex manual.

MSRP: $175 USD ($250 USD through AbleGamers)

Shop: (US) HORI Official Store, (US) InclusiveTLC (manufacturer), AbleGamers Store