An unconfirmed report indicates that an Xbox fan has managed to buy what appears to be a prototype of the unreleased Xbox Elite Series 3 controller. Following an earlier leak via a Brazilian regulator earlier this year, images of the hardware surfaced on Reddit after the buyer purchased the device on OfferUp.
Quick Facts
- Source Material: A deleted Reddit post and images shared by journalist Tom Warren on X in August 2026.
- Origin: The buyer reportedly acquired the prototype via the local marketplace app OfferUp.
- Previous Leaks: The design shares broad similarities with regulatory filings that surfaced in May 2026, though with minor cosmetic differences.
Available Evidence and Differences
The newly leaked images show a device bearing a strong resemblance to the hardware details that emerged earlier this year. However, close observers have noted a few distinct variations from the May regulatory leak. Notably, this version features a different style for the D-pad, and the earlier regulatory images distinctly displayed two scroll wheels on the bottom of the casing, which are less apparent or altered in the latest photos.
According to the original poster's now-deleted comments, the buyer was unable to get the hardware to function in any capacity and appeared uncertain about the nature of the device they had acquired.
Credibility Limits and Official Status
While social media users have debated the authenticity of the device, the physical shell closely aligns with prior leaks tied to Microsoft's hardware pipeline. However, without an official confirmation or functional demonstration, it remains unconfirmed whether this specific prototype represents the final retail configuration of the Elite Series 3 or an discarded iteration.
Microsoft has not yet acknowledged the leaks or provided a release window for a successor to the Xbox Elite Series 2.