Are official 360 controllers just poor quality?

[votemarvel]

Other than the 'soft' part of the left analogue stick wearing down to the plastic, my original 360 controller operates as well today as it did when I bought it.

The shell on my second white controller is shattered on one side after I launched it at a wall but it still works, though the jagged edges are somewhat uncomfortable.

Overall I can't complain about the quality of the official Microsoft controllers.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

Both my 360 controllers from release still work. One hasn't seen much use but my wired one has been used extensively for PC and xbox both. Still works perfectly. Little dirty, but that's all.

After a few months of use, the left analog stick will start to become "off-center", where in the center idle slightly pulls to the left?always the left. This makes driving games or anything where you purposefully idle the left stick, impossible.

I've never had this happen within a few months of use of any official game pad i've owned, but it's been common throughout my life. Every pad with an analog sticks that has died on me has died because of the analog sticks clicking out of alignment or whatever happens when they break. That's not specific to 360 controllers at all, it's gotta be one of highest causes of controller death in the world, right up there with angry nerdrage. Everyone remembers getting stuck with the shitty pad with the fucked up analog sticks when they were younger, surely.

Honestly i can't help but feel you guys just got unlucky with these pads breaking within a year. Either that or you're just doing something to them you needn't be.

this.

(although I have two wired ones, fuck paying for batteries on those shits. I'm close enough that I dont need wireless)

I've played just about every game on the 360 and my pc (what I primarily use the controller(s) for) and they've held their own for at least 8 years now. Although one of the triggers on one of them (the most used one) is a bit squeaky now if I press it down just right, but that isn't a problem, just showing it's wear a bit since i've used it so damn much.

My ps2 and ps3 controllers have been hit and miss, one ps2 controller constantly had to be plugged/unplugged because the sticks would go "crazy eyes" (start looking everywhere on the screen even though i wasn't touching the controller), and then another one would constantly have the L2/R2 get stuck in the edge of the controller.

 

[SKBPinkie]

My one works perfectly fine even after around 3 years. Shit, the 360 controller is probably my favourite controller of all time.

Same here. Perfectly designed and probably the only controller out there that doesn't make my hands feel smushed together.

 

[lunavixen]

I can't vouch for Xbox controllers as i've never owned one, but I've had playstation consoles since they came out, and i've never had to replace a single controller, I've still got my original PS2 controller, and I think that's 9 or 10 years old, I've never had an issue with my PS3 controllers either. By the sound of it, and what i've read, i'd say the Xbox controllers are a generally lower quality than the playstation ones.

 

[KarmaTheAlligator]

I never had any problems with my 360 controllers, apart from running out of batteries at crucial times. I bought a wired ons for my PC and that one is working fine, too. Then again I guess it depends on how much use they see.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

I think the 360 controllers are decent. I've got thousands of hours of playtime on my 2 controllers and they only have a bit of stick drift(one stick on each controller) and worn grips. They still respond well and charge well.

 

[RedDeadFred]

Okay, I know you say you take care of your stuff but really? A new controller every 2 years? What the hell are you doing to them? I've had the same controllers for about 8 years. I got one new controller with my new 360 3 years ago because the system itself broke. My controllers are still showing almost no sign of ware. The little bumps on the sticks are just a little worn off. If anything, the 360 controller is one of the best ever...

 

[spartan231490]

I think that's probably more the type and time of play than the quality of controller. I've used more controllers than I can count in my time as a gamer, I don't find that I wear out 360 controllers any faster than I wore out N64 or playstation or PS2 controllers. Though I've never seen anything last as long as a NES controller.

Okay, I know you say you take care of your stuff but really? A new controller every 2 years? What the hell are you doing to them? I've had the same controllers for about 8 years. I got one new controller with my new 360 3 years ago because the system itself broke. My controllers are still showing almost no sign of ware. The little bumps on the sticks are just a little worn off. If anything, the 360 controller is one of the best ever...

It's called playing games a lot? I start to notice stick drift and unresponsive buttons in between 6 months and a year of heavy play. All I do to them is use them, I don't throw them or otherwise mistreat them in any way, I just game a lot.

 

[RedDeadFred]

I think that's probably more the type and time of play than the quality of controller. I've used more controllers than I can count in my time as a gamer, I don't find that I wear out 360 controllers any faster than I wore out N64 or playstation or PS2 controllers. Though I've never seen anything last as long as a NES controller.

Okay, I know you say you take care of your stuff but really? A new controller every 2 years? What the hell are you doing to them? I've had the same controllers for about 8 years. I got one new controller with my new 360 3 years ago because the system itself broke. My controllers are still showing almost no sign of ware. The little bumps on the sticks are just a little worn off. If anything, the 360 controller is one of the best ever...

It's called playing games a lot? I start to notice stick drift and unresponsive buttons in between 6 months and a year of heavy play. All I do to them is use them, I don't throw them or otherwise mistreat them in any way, I just game a lot.

I guess you're just unlucky. My 360 is my main system by quite a bit. Heck, I brought it to university and let my 3 other roommates use it. Still, my two original controllers work despite having years of use.

 

[Trippy Turtle]

I can assure you its not the controller. I have had mine since launch and its still perfectly fine.
I have got at least a few thousand hours on it and have never had a problem, although the headsets are a different story.

All I hear are horror stories of Xbox consoles and their attachments failing, breaking, or never working in the first place but I have never once had a problem except the one time my little cousin kicked the console off the table while I was playing. Even then only the disc screwed up.

You are either unlucky or someone is secretly sabotaging Microsoft on a customer by customer basis by destroying their things.

 

[regalphantom]

I have never broken a first party controller through regular use (I have played video games since the days of the Super Nintendo). I have had to replace them before, but every time it was because of either irregular damage (was stepped on/destroyed by animals/damaged during a move/etc.). I haven't had any quality issues with my 360 controller, so as long as your controllers aren't taking any atypical abuse, they should last the life of the console.

 

[mrdude2010]

I will admit, my 360 controllers have worn thin very quickly. I remember the original xbox controllers lasting a lot longer.

 

[Altorin]

The older ones are really good, and if you can get an official wired controller, that's good as well - it took a lot of Soul Caliber to wear down those thumb sticks, and even then, if I really cared, thumb sticks are easy enough to replace.

The Controller that came with the Slim however.... I won't say it's bad... it's just... lighter. And doesn't seem to be made of as sturdy a design or material. I've not had actual issues with it though

 

[Creator002]

I find the left bumper on the 360 controllers becomes squishy or unresponsive after a year or so of play. I'm currently on a wired once since it's fairly close to where I sit to play and it's only a month or so old, so there's nothing wrong with it. My friend got a wired one a few months before that and the bumpers are already becoming as I said above.

 

[MrDumpkins]

I love my wired xbox 360 controller for everything except halo, halo is the game that really makes the "slow turn" problem on those controllers apparent. Once I fixed it I could play halo again, but now that nobody plays 4 anymore and 3 just has too much lag from getting matched with worldwide players too often makes me not play my xbox anymore.

 

[mitchell271]

One of my wireless 360 controllers, I think from 2010, doesn't work anymore. It connects, but disconnects everytime I pull the right trigger. All of my other ones work fine though. I love my wired one to death, still works after 8 years too.

 

[neonsword13-ops]

360 controllers are the worst.

Although, my experience with them hasn't been all that grand, to be honest.

Ever since my main controller slipped out of my hand during a session and hit the corner of a wall, it disconnects automatically if you ever get too 'into it' while playing, like during a really sarcastically serious match-up with friends while playing Mortal Kombat. Heck, sometimes it even disconnects if you drop it to the floor lightly when you have to get up and do something. It's bonkers.

My PS3 controllers, on the other hand, work perfectly. They have some serious wear-and-tear (second controller's left thumbstick cover is gone), but they still work like they did back when I took them out of the box. Playstation controllers have always been good to me, and I've never managed to break on in my life.

I'm glad Sony has kept the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mantra throughout the years; It's kept the controllers sturdy and strong.

 

[Kingjackl]

I've been using a wired Xbox 360 console for a good 3 years now and I don't think I've ever had a problem with it. They feel solidly built, something I've heard the new Xbox One and PS4 controllers are as well.

 

[Something Amyss]

After a few months of use, the left analog stick will start to become "off-center", where in the center idle slightly pulls to the left?always the left. This makes driving games or anything where you purposefully idle the left stick, impossible.

One of the things that really bugs me right now is my right stick has drift due to being "off-center" as you describe.

Mine still works fine after 3-4 years and even my Logic tech PS pad still works. Not quite too sure what you're doing with yours.

Nothing I haven't been doing with other controllers. That was...that was kind of the point, dude.

I don't know about the controllers, as none of mine have died on me, but the official rechargeable battery packs are terrible. They frequently die and outright refuse to charge. I've tried all the paperclip tricks described online in years past but to little avail. It's like a £10/£20 annual tax in many ways.

see, that one I've never heard of. I've got battery packs that have worked for years. I've had to replace a charge station, though.

I've had to replace many PS3 controllers though.
Way too many. I find them to be too fragile and am hoping that the PS4 controllers are sturdier.

Oddly enough, while the PS3 controllers feel cheaper to me, I'm yet to break one.

I would at least like the PS4 pads to feel more solid, and possibly be more solid. But I'm yet to have an issue.

My one works perfectly fine even after around 3 years. Shit, the 360 controller is probably my favourite controller of all time.

And see, that second part's true for me as well. It's part of why I have 360 controllers for my PC. The other part is the whole standardisation thing where a lot of games recognise them. That definitely helps. I really like the 360 controller, and I've never liked Dualshock controllers. Which makes this all the more annoying to me.

 

[spartan231490]

I think that's probably more the type and time of play than the quality of controller. I've used more controllers than I can count in my time as a gamer, I don't find that I wear out 360 controllers any faster than I wore out N64 or playstation or PS2 controllers. Though I've never seen anything last as long as a NES controller.

Okay, I know you say you take care of your stuff but really? A new controller every 2 years? What the hell are you doing to them? I've had the same controllers for about 8 years. I got one new controller with my new 360 3 years ago because the system itself broke. My controllers are still showing almost no sign of ware. The little bumps on the sticks are just a little worn off. If anything, the 360 controller is one of the best ever...

It's called playing games a lot? I start to notice stick drift and unresponsive buttons in between 6 months and a year of heavy play. All I do to them is use them, I don't throw them or otherwise mistreat them in any way, I just game a lot.

I guess you're just unlucky. My 360 is my main system by quite a bit. Heck, I brought it to university and let my 3 other roommates use it. Still, my two original controllers work despite having years of use.

I am unlucky, but I've burned through about half-a-dozen 360 controllers, and all my friends who play burn through them just as fast.