All Xbox One Controllers Will Eventually Support Button-Mapping

Button-mapping won't be exclusive to the $150 Xbox One Elite controller that ships later this month. Microsoft's Mike Ybarra confirmed today on Twitter that the feature is coming to all Xbox One controllers sometime down the road through an update, though it's not immediately clear when that will happen. Asked why controller button reconfiguration is only available for the Elite controller, Ybarra said (via Polygon), "It's coming for all controllers soon."

He did not provide a specific timetable for when it will be available. It's also likely that the feature will roll out first for Preview Program members before its public debut. Button-mapping lets users assign functions to various buttons to their liking, beyond the developer-set control options. The Xbox One won't be the first new-generation console to support button-mapping, as the March 2015 PlayStation 4 update added a custom button assignment feature for the DualShock 4. The $150 Xbox One Elite controller launches on October 27, the same day that Halo 5: Guardians is released. In addition to button-mapping, the first-of-its-kind Xbox controller features interchangeable rear paddles and hair trigger locks. It also lets you adjust the trigger minimum and maximum values, as well as thumbstick sensitivity.