Modder and YouTuber Jon Bringus found an unusual prototype Xbox controller and began testing it to see what it could do.
Jon Bringus is best known for his YouTube channel Bringus Studios, where he takes great delight in trying to play games on unusual hardware. He was responsible for restoring an original Xbox development kit and discovering a prototype Steam Machine.
A fan of the channel sent Bringus a package from the Czech Republic. Inside was an unusual and confusing Xbox controller. A closer look revealed a bunch of contradictions.
The outer shell and triggers showed obvious signs of wear and use, but the analog sticks appeared to be brand new and the D-Pad even still had its protective film.
A closer look revealed a standard Micro USB port on the back, as well as a very large battery. Compared to the original Xbox and Xbox 360 controllers, it had some differences in shape and construction.
Bringus then tried testing the controller on different devices. It didn’t work on an Android phone or, surprisingly, an Xbox 360 console. Bringus then plugged it into a PC and saw something interesting in the Device Manager.
On a Windows PC, the device was displayed as “DC1 Controller, Copyright Microsoft 2012”.
Until now, Bringus thought the controller was an Xbox 360 prototype, but the copyright date suggests it was an Xbox One prototype.
A full teardown further confirmed this, as it featured haptic motors for the triggers, a feature the Xbox 360 controllers never had.
Although the controller does not appear to be functional on modern hardware, it remains a sought-after collector’s item.
