Microsoft Xbox One controller brought to life with 3D Printers from Objet
Microsoft’s new gaming apparatus, the Xbox One, got a splashy debut this week. It’s promising to be more interactive and capable than previous generations of the Xbox, but what caught our attention was the news that the Xbox One controller had been prototyped on Stratasys Objet 3D Printers!
Microsoft has been using 3D printing for several years, with the same technology available both at design headquarters in Redmond, Washington, and at a company production office in China. When the Verge got a glimpse into the design process behind the Microsoft Surface tablet, we took note of the Stratasys Objet 3D printer humming along in the video.
According to Michael Wolf of NextMarket Insights, the Xbox team kept the Microsoft stable of 3D printers very busy by cycling through up to two design iterations per day. Approximately 200 handheld controllers were prototyped in the quest to bring gamers the best possible design, layout and feel.
Wired Magazine gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the design process in their video below.
No word yet on the Xbox One’s delivery date (although it’s sometime in 2013); in the meantime, there is a highlight reel from its big unveiling.
