Xbox 360: No Xbox Controller Support For 360

"Microsoft has no plans for backwards compatibility for current generation controllers.

One of the big unanswered questions about Xbox 360 regards Microsoft's plans for current generation peripherals. While one look at the Xbox 360's beautiful dedicated controller (known in some circles as Type Sex) will make you swear off the Type S forever, it's conceivable that gamers have built up a collection of Xbox controllers that they'd like to continue using on the next generation system. So will Microsoft provide the chance?

The answer seems to be no, at least currently. Interviewed in the latest issue of Famitsu Xbox, Microsoft Product Development Limited Xbox Chief Shinichi Manaka reveals that Microsoft won't offer a USB converter to let players use their current controllers on the 360. Microsoft isn't even looking into the possibility. The company wants to offer a fully wireless environment and believes that once players get used to wireless, they won't want to go back.

We presume 3rd party peripheral developers will come to the rescue here.

Manaka is also asked for details on the wireless technology that powers the 360. While the PS3 uses generic Bluetooth technology, Microsoft has only stated that it's using its own wireless technology for 360. Many insiders believe that, at the hardware level at least, the system uses Bluetooth, with some Microsoft layers operating on that. Manaka seems to deny this, stating that Microsoft developed the technology almost from scratch. The company did at one point consider using outside technology, but decided to go with its own method when issues of time lag and battery power came under consideration."

This isn't a huge surprise. I will be surprised if PS3 will support older controllers. I didn't see any ports for older controllers.