A wireless controller for Xbox, with Hall Effect tech for under $100? It’s a win — for Fortnite fans at least

PowerA is launching a new controller, which is the first that is both wireless and has hall effect sticks and triggers

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Are you an Xbox console gamer? Do you play Fortnite? Well, you are about to get a double whammy of good news. PowerA is releasing another Fortnite Special Edition in its controller range, and this one will bewireless. The PowerA Wireless Controller Fortnite Special Edition has dropped today for pre-order atAmazon for $99, ordirectly from PowerA, and will arrive in the hands of fans on October 1, 2024.

PowerA Wireless Controller for Xbox - Fortnite SE |$99.99 from AmazonThis Fortnite SE controller is the first reasonably priced wireless Hall Effect controller from a third-party brand to hit the market. It also comes with some in-game goodies. It is compatible with Xbox consoles and Windows 10/11, has a 30-hour battery life, and has rear buttons to customize your controls.Buy from:Amazon|PowerA

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What is so exciting about this controller?

The Fortnite design should go down well with fans of the Battle Royale

There are four remappable buttons on the rear

The PowerA Fortnite wireless controller has will use a 2.4GHz USB dongle to connect wirelessly to the Xbox

I’ll be honest—I don’t play Fortnite myself, but I knowmillions of people doand they’re going to love the new design and the bonus cosmetic item bundled with this controller: the Tooth Pick Pickaxe. While the Fortnite theme is sure to appeal to a specific audience, what excites me most is the growing availability of high-quality wireless options for Xbox from third-party manufacturers, especially at more affordable price points.For years, Xbox has tightly controlled permissions for wireless controllers, but over the past 12 months, we’ve seen that grip start to loosen. We’ve already seen theTurtle Beach Stealth Ultrafor theprincely sum of $199.99, and even theMOGA XP-Ultra, also from Power A at a moreaccessible $99.99(currently on sale for $79.99), However, those options either come at a steep price OR lack features like Hall Effect sticks and the simple design I prefer in budget-friendly controllers, such as the wiredGameSir G7 SE.But now, it seems PowerA has taken the lead by offering a wireless controller that combines quality and affordability with a similar promise of performance. Here’s a look at the full specs of the PowerA Wireless Fortnite Special Edition controller.

The term ‘Hall Effect’ has become quite the buzzword in the controller industry lately. While it’s gaining traction, it’s worth noting that this magnetic technology, which helps prevent stick drift, actually dates back to the Sega Dreamcast in 1998. It was once too costly to maintain widespread use but has recently seen a resurgence. Today, many wired controllers feature Hall Effect sticks, but it’s rare to find them in affordablewirelessoptions.

The PowerA Wireless Fortnite Special Edition controller is set to change that, offering Hall Effect technology for just $99.99. This could be a needle mover, potentially paving the way for more budget-friendly wireless controllers with this feature. I’m particularly hopeful that this might lead to more variety beyond Fortnite-themed designs. For example, I’d love to see a wireless version of thePowerA Advantage with Lumectraline including some of these fancy thumbsticks—a girl can dream, right?

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Jen is a News Writer for Windows Central, focused on all things gaming and Microsoft. Anything slaying monsters with magical weapons will get a thumbs up such as Dark Souls, Dragon Age, Diablo, and Monster Hunter. When not playing games, she’ll be watching a horror or trash reality TV show, she hasn’t decided which of those categories the Kardashians fit into. You can follow Jen on Twitter@Jenbox360for more Diablo fangirling and general moaning about British weather.