Highlights
- Xbox has introduced a new experimental initiative alongside a compact controller.
- Xbox Labs will explore ideas that could shape the company's future gaming experiences.
- The Nano Controller adds a smaller option to Xbox's hardware lineup.
Xbox announced Xbox Labs, an experimental initiative focused on emerging gaming technologies, and introduced the Nano Controller on Oct 14, 2026. The announcements cover two areas of the company's strategy: exploring new ways to develop and access games and expanding controller options for players using different devices.
Xbox CEO, Asha Sharma, announced the formation of Xbox Labs in a message to employees published on the initiative's website. The company separately revealed the Nano Controller through its official X account, with preorders available through the Microsoft Store.
Xbox Labs Explores New Ways to Develop and Run Games
Xbox Labs will bring together engineers, game makers, and scientists to turn emerging ideas into experiences that players and developers can use. Sharma stated that the team would “build in the open” and assess its work by whether more people play and create games.
The initiative follows experiments that challenge conventional boundaries between game software and hardware. Sharma highlighted several developments:
- Games adapted for different hardware: Windows PC builds have been ported to run on Apple Silicon, letting games run on hardware they weren't originally designed for.
- Browser-based gaming: Games have been ported to browsers using WebAssembly and WebGPU. Sharma said WebGPU was approaching 90% global browser support.
- Cross-game experiments: Developers have remixed some major games into the source code of other titles, exploring new ways to combine existing game content.
Xbox Labs will investigate how these approaches could make games easier to access, give older titles new life, and allow more players to participate in game creation. The company intends to share tools developed through the initiative with developers across the industry.
Sharma cited more than 72B hours spent playing Xbox games annually, approximately five times the estimated time spent writing code worldwide. She argued that games share characteristics with software development, making the gaming industry a relevant space for exploring emerging technologies.
The initiative's website, labs.xbox.com, currently invites users to enter their email addresses for updates.
Its interface displays the labels “LABS.EXE,” “V0.1.0,” “REALTIME 60 FPS,” “1024 EXPERIMENTS,” and “PLAYGROUND: ONLINE,” alongside a sample interface identifying Gears of War: E-Day. However, the website states that the first experiments are still being developed and that registered users will receive an email when something becomes available to play.
Xbox has not announced a public release schedule for these experiments.
Sharma also reaffirmed that Xbox's existing priorities remain unchanged. These include its games, intellectual property (IP), hardware, and the communities built around its franchises. The initiative is intended to explore new technology alongside the company's ongoing work rather than replace it.
Xbox Nano Controller Brings Portable Gaming Across Devices
The Xbox Nano Controller costs $49.99 USD in the United States (U.S.) and is available for preorder through the Microsoft Store.
Designed to fit into a pocket, the rechargeable controller offers a compact alternative to Microsoft's standard Xbox Wireless Controller. It targets portable gaming and is designed for new players and people with smaller hands.
Its key features include:
- Connectivity: Xbox Wireless for compatible Xbox consoles and Bluetooth for supported PCs, tablets, mobile devices, and smart TVs.
- Compatibility: Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Windows 10 and 11 PCs, Android, iOS, and compatible smart TVs.
- Custom controls: Button mapping through the Xbox Accessories app and a programmable action button for quick access to selected functions.
- Battery and charging: An internal rechargeable battery with USB-C charging. The cable is sold separately.
The controller supports wireless pairing and switching between compatible devices, although functionality varies by platform and game.
Microsoft highlights Forza Horizon 6, Grounded 2, Minecraft Dungeons II, Roblox, Bluey's Happy Snaps, and LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga among its featured games. The company also promotes access to titles spanning four generations of Xbox, with games sold separately unless covered by a subscription or offer.
Likewise, Xbox Game Pass offers access to a library of hundreds of games, with new titles added regularly. Its featured selection includes Minecraft Dungeons II, Forza Horizon 6, EA SPORTS FC 26, and Bluey's Happy Snaps. Catalogue availability depends on the subscription and platform.
The page also directs customers to Xbox Design Lab for customized controllers and features the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 Core and Xbox Rechargeable Battery + USB-C accessory. These products provide alternatives within Microsoft's controller lineup, while the Nano Controller focuses on a smaller design, rechargeable power, and cross-device compatibility.
Prices and availability may vary by retailer, and compatibility depends on the device and game.
