Microsoft's Xbox controller refresh kills its underused accessory port
Source: Engadget
Expansion port disappears
Xbox controllers will no longer come with the proprietary expansion port—often called the Chatpad port—if the recent signs are any indication.
Evidence of removal
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Forza Horizon 6 controller – Social‑media reports note that the new gamepad lacks a connection point for Xbox accessories, and the space where the port used to be is visibly plugged up.
Source: Reddit thread -
Xbox Elite Controller Series 3 – Leaked images from last week show no expansion port.
Source: Engadget leak article -
Xbox Wireless Controller store page – In April, a line of text was added: “Not all versions of this controller include an expansion port.” This note was absent from the page’s March 31, 2026 archive.
Source: Xbox store page
Engadget also reached out to Xbox for clarification.
History of the Chatpad
The expansion port’s most notable accessory was the Chatpad, introduced with the Xbox 360 and popularized during the Xbox One era. It functioned as a quick‑access keyboard with programmable buttons, fit snugly into the controller’s bottom, and added noticeable weight. Many users preferred the feel of a controller with the Chatpad attached.
The Chatpad helped differentiate Xbox One gamepads, reinforcing Microsoft’s leadership in the controller market throughout the 2010s. Microsoft also released a Stereo Headset Adapter and experimented with charging accessories that used the same proprietary port.
Shift away from the port
By 2019, the Chatpad had been quietly discontinued, though no official announcement was made. The Xbox Series X and Series S (launched November 2020) shipped with controllers that still featured the expansion port, but marketing materials omitted any mention of it, and no new accessories for the port have appeared.
Microsoft’s broader hardware strategy has shown a willingness to experiment—e.g., Kinect, the Adaptive Controller, and various accessibility tools—yet the expansion port has been largely ignored in recent years.
Implications
- Built‑in 3.5 mm jack: Modern controllers include a headphone jack, removing the need for a separate headset adapter.
- Keyboard support via the Xbox app: Players can type in‑game without hardware.
From a business perspective, the port represented a niche for exclusive accessories that could generate additional revenue. With its apparent removal, Xbox may be closing that avenue, potentially limiting future innovation in controller add‑ons.