Pro Controller Weekly Roundup #4: Xbox 25th Anniversary Translucent Trend, GameSir Tarantula 8K Drops, and EasySMX Screen Teaser
GadgetHyper Team
June 11, 2026 · Industry News & Hardware Drops
Hey everyone, Ray from GadgetHyper here! Welcome back to our weekly roundup of everything happening in the peripheral world.
Credit note: today's news comes courtesy of an authorized collaboration with Bilibili tech creator 椒盐橘子桔子 (JiaoYanJuZiJuZi). We've translated and adapted their insights to keep the global community up to speed. Let's dive in.
The Translucent Green Craze: Xbox 25th Anniversary & 8BitDo's Counter-Attack
The biggest headline this week belongs to Microsoft. To celebrate the massive 25th-anniversary milestone, Xbox officially announced a special limited-edition console and controller bundle. The star of the show: a gorgeous, nostalgic translucent green shell that lets you peek directly into the inner circuitry.
Naturally, the moment the renders hit the web, the entire third-party controller industry went into a frenzy, with several brands immediately teasing their own green-machine mockups.
GadgetHyper Take · 8BitDo
While everyone else was busy posting Photoshop mockups, 8BitDo straight up dropped pictures of a fully manufactured, tangible piece of hardware. They are already playing an entire version ahead of the competition — and that matters a lot when the entire trend depends on credibility.
The GameSir Tarantula Series is Officially Here
The wait is finally over. GameSir has officially launched their highly anticipated Tarantula lineup — two distinct wired models targeting completely different types of players. Here is the full spec breakdown side by side.
| Spec | Tarantula 8K | Tarantula Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Connectivity | 1.8m Detachable 8K Type-C | 3m Detachable Type-C |
| Max Polling Rate | 8000Hz | 1000Hz |
| Latency | Full-link ≤ 0.25ms | Buttons ≤ 2ms / Sticks ≤ 3ms |
| Platforms | PC, Steam, Android, Switch 1 & 2 | Xbox, PC, Steam, Android |
| Joysticks | JS13 Pro TMR | JS16 TMR |
| Face Buttons | Omron Micro-switch (80g, 5M) | Omron Micro-switch (80g, 5M) |
| Triggers | Hall Effect Linear / Micro-switch Toggle | Hall Effect Linear / Micro-switch Toggle |
| Vibration | None — stripped for speed | 4 Motors (2 Grip + 2 Trigger) |
| Weight | ~180g (super light) | ~237g (solid heft) |
Pick Tarantula 8K if...
You play competitive shooters or fast-paced PC titles where every microsecond matters. Motor-less 180g = certified weapon.
Pick Tarantula Pro if...
You want native Xbox console compatibility and love the immersive feel of 4-motor trigger rumble during gameplay.
EasySMX D15 Teaser & Xbox × Where Wind Meets
EasySMX D15 — First Look
EasySMX teased their brand new controller, officially dubbed the D15. It sports an incredibly distinct shell design, features an integrated smart screen, and supports an 8K polling rate. No official pricing has been dropped yet — how much do you think this should retail for?
Xbox × Where Wind Meets — Minimalist Collab
Microsoft revealed a new limited collaboration controller themed after the open-world game Where Wind Meets. While the clean, eastern-inspired color palette looks elegant, it leans heavily into a minimalist approach. For players hoping for the deep, intricate molding we saw on the Black Myth: Wukong controllers, this one might feel a bit too plain.
Industry hardware releases are starting to slow down just a bit as we head deeper into summer — our weekly reports might pace out until the next wave of fresh tech accumulates. Stay tuned.
Join the Conversation
Pure 8K performance or rumble-heavy immersion?
What do you think of 8BitDo's translucent green drop — and are you leaning toward the pure performance of the Tarantula 8K or the Xbox-licensed Pro with four-motor rumble? Drop your take in the comments below.
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