Xbox has opened pre-orders for the Xbox Nano Controller at $49.99, its smallest pad, with availability beginning in November, the company said on 14 October 2026. The controller is a little over 5 inches long, weighs 3.5 ounces and keeps all 18 standard gameplay inputs found on the standard Xbox layout.
Xbox says the Nano is lighter and shorter than most modern smartphones.
James Hunter, general manager of Xbox Accessories, wrote in the announcement that the controller is “designed to fit nearly every pocket and budget”. He added: “Its compact design offers a great option for younger players, smaller hands, or anyone seeking something portable for play on the go.”
What the $49.99 buys
The Nano has a rechargeable battery and supports both Xbox Wireless and Bluetooth, so it pairs with a range of compatible devices. It also carries a programmable Action Button, which can be set to shortcuts such as taking screenshots or starting gameplay capture.
Xbox pitched the pad for games the whole family can play together, such as Minecraft Dungeons II, where up to four players can team up in local co-op or online.
The post also names Forza Horizon 6 as a game to take “beyond the living room”, and says the controller can slip into a bag for travel or visits to friends and family.
TechRadar ran its report on 15 October 2026 under a headline calling the pad a compact “entry-level, rechargeable controller”, and listed Grounded among the games it suits.
Pre-orders and a November launch
Pre-orders opened on 14 October 2026 at $49.99 in the US. Xbox says only that the controller will be available beginning in November, while TechRadar reports 4 November as the launch date and gives a UK price of £44.99.
The first wave of markets runs from Argentina, Australia and Austria through to the United Kingdom and the United States. It includes Brazil, Canada, China, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Taiwan and a set of European countries, among them France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and Switzerland.
Xbox says pricing and availability vary by country, with more markets to follow.
Two bundles are planned for the US holiday season. Xbox is working with Samsung on an offer that pairs the Nano Controller with two months of Game Pass Ultimate for new members who buy select Samsung TVs, and with Meta on a similar offer tied to the purchase of a Meta Quest.
Both offers give the two months of Game Pass Ultimate to new members only.
The Samsung deal is built around the Xbox app in the Gaming Hub on Samsung TVs, where players in select regions can use their monthly cloud playtime to play hundreds of Game Pass titles by connecting a controller. For local pricing and availability, Xbox’s post points buyers to their local Microsoft Store or authorised retailer.
- Xbox Wire: https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/10/14/xbox-nano-controller/
- TechRadar: https://www.techradar.com/gaming/the-xbox-nano-controller-is-a-compact-entry-level-rechargeable-controller-launching-next-month-heres-where-to-pre-order-yours
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