Microsoft is expanding its self-repair program to include Xbox controllers.
As The Verge reports, Microsoft has quietly rolled out the option to purchase parts for both the Xbox Wireless Controller and the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2. iFixit will also sell you the same parts (with a better warranty) as well as the tools required to carry out a repair.
To support self-repair, Microsoft also produced guides for installing the replacement components and well as videos demonstrating how to repair a controller on the Xbox Support YouTube channel.
Brad Rossetti, Xbox insider program lead, tweeted that the parts are now available in North America and requested feedback from anyone ordering them and attempting a repair.
The ability to repair these controllers could save consumers some money, but it also offers Microsoft an easy way to deal with a problem that affects a lot of modern controllers: joystick drift. Now if it happens, consumers can sort the problem out themselves by spending $15 on a replacement joystick rather than paying more for a repair or spending $60 on a new controller.
Microsoft started working with major US retailers last year to build an authorized repair network focused mainly on repairing Surface devices. Then in June, Microsoft started selling replacement parts for a range of Surface devices. iFixit has been selling official Surface repair tools since 2021. Hopefully the next step now that Xbox controllers are supported is Microsoft introducing the option to repair your own Xbox console.
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