Technologies

Xbox Elite Wireless Controller 2 Is Overkill for Most People, but Still Delivers an Epic Gaming Experience

Review: The Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 still sets the bar for a pro-level controller.

The Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 (or Elite 2 for short) has arguably been the industry gold standard for a pro-level game controller for the past decade. Over the years dozens of competitors have cropped up, hoping to give Microsoft a run for its money. While the Elite 2 still isn’t perfect, it still sets the bar high.

What I like about the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2

One of the best things the Elite 2 has going for it is the layout — it’s almost identical to the standard Xbox controller that ships with every console. If you’ve used Microsoft’s Xbox controllers of the past few generations, you’ll feel right at home here. This is a good thing, as the design of the controller hasn’t changed significantly in well over a decade. It wasn’t broken, so they didn’t need to fix it.

The hardware of the controller is also top-notch. There’s nothing necessarily wrong with the buttons on the standard controller, but the moment you hold the Elite 2 in your hands, you can instantly feel a difference. The buttons feel more solid and the D-pad is noticeably improved as well.

Pro-grade customization

What really makes this controller, well, elite are the extra features and customization. In addition to the improved main buttons you get four extra buttons — paddles, technically. These sit right where your index and middle fingers rest on the back of the controller so they’re easy to hit without having to think much about it. They’re also attached magnetically, so you can quickly remove them if you don’t want them.

Each paddle can be customized to a specific button or button combo. This can be quite helpful for performing actions without having to take your finger off the joystick. For example, reloading weapons or activating secondary firing modes during FPS games, casting specific spells in RPGs, and so on. For most gamers this may not make a big difference in your play style, but for the more hardcore gamers, for whom every millisecond counts, it can come in quite handy.

To top it off, you can create custom profiles for each layout and assign up to three at a time to the controller. The memory button in the center allows for quick switching so you can hop between your favorite games without missing a beat.

Microsoft didn’t just stop at extra buttons. The triggers, joysticks and D-pad can also be customized. Included with the Elite 2 is a second D-pad with just the four directions (as opposed to the preinstalled octagonal one) if you prefer, as well as several different joystick heights. This latter aspect I didn’t think would make a big difference until I tried the tallest stick for my aiming controls. Instantly, I became a much better shot. There are also a few extra joystick covers that can give you a different grip for each one.

The coolest part, which is not something I’ve seen on another controller, is that you can customize the tension for each joystick. In the box is a small tool that lets you turn the joysticks to increase or decrease the tension to your preference. When I first got my controller, my fingers started hurting after a while, but after I adjusted the tension down, I didn’t have any more issues.

Read more: Meta Quest 3S Xbox Edition Hands-On: What $400 Buys

No more disposable batteries

Not everyone will appreciate the lack of AA batteries in the Elite Controller, but I prefer it. While it might be a bit more convenient to simply swap in new batteries when the controller dies, I’d often forget to order more. So when I ran out I’d just end up having to plug it in to play anyway. Now, with the wireless charging stand included, I can just drop it there between play sessions to recharge. Conveniently, it will also recharge when plugged in while you’re playing. Microsoft claims about 40 hours of playtime on a single charge, which is a bit low compared to other controllers. I hit closer to 30-35 hours in my testing, but that’s not terrible.

What I don’t like about the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2

Some people might prefer a heftier controller, but I don’t. The Elite 2 is certainly the heaviest controller I’ve used and it’s noticeable. It made my hands tired much more quickly than other controllers I’ve used. Also, the textured grip feels weird to me. I’m not sure why, and I can’t explain it, but the Elite controller is actually the slipperiest controller I’ve used. I don’t know if it’s because the grips wrap around fully or if my hands just produce too much oil or what, but I could never fully escape the feeling that I was going to drop it.

Read more: PDP’s Victrix Pro BFG Is Hands Down the Best Pro Controller I’ve Used

No easy device switching

The Elite 2 supports Xbox Wireless for connecting to Xbox consoles, along with USB-C and Bluetooth connectivity. However, while you can connect to almost any device that supports Bluetooth, including a PC, smartphone or tablet, the controller doesn’t remember which devices it’s been paired with. This means you’ll have to manually re-pair it every time you switch devices. It’s not the end of the world, but if you regularly play on multiple devices and want one controller to use between them, it can be annoying.

Should you buy the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2?

The Elite 2 controller is an incredible piece of hardware. The buttons are solid and clicky, and the customization options are among the best in the industry. However, it struggles with connecting to multiple devices, and the battery life isn’t great. It’s also probably overkill for most people. But if you’re looking for something more advanced than the standard Xbox controller and are willing to shell out for it, the Elite 2 is one of the best you can get.

When the Elite 2 first launched it was $180. That’s a lot for a controller, regardless of how good it is. However, the Elite 2 can currently be had for $159 at most retailers. You can find refurbished ones for less. There are also numerous sales throughout the year — Prime Day is coming soon — where you can probably snag one for even less. There are rumors of a Series 3 coming, but no definitive info yet as to when.

Technologies

The Witcher 3, Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Bring the Heat to Xbox Game Pass

Two amazing games will be available soon for Xbox Game Pass subscribers.

The second half of February and early March could be considered one of the best stretches in recent memory for Xbox Game Pass subscribers. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, widely regarded as one of the best games of the past decade, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 headline a lineup that leans heavily into sprawling, choice-driven adventures but does throw in some football to mix things up a bit.

Xbox Game Pass offers hundreds of games you can play on your Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Amazon Fire TV, smart TV, PC or mobile device, with prices starting at $10 a month. While all Game Pass tiers offer you a library of games, Game Pass Ultimate ($30 a month) gives you access to the most games, as well as Day 1 games, meaning they hit Game Pass the day they go on sale.

Here are all the latest games subscribers can play on Game Pass. You can also check out other games the company added to the service in early February, including Madden NFL 26.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt – Complete Edition

Available on Feb. 19 for Game Pass Ultimate and Premium Game Pass subscribers.

The Witcher 3 came out 10 years ago, and it’s still being praised as one of the best games ever made. To celebrate, developer CD Projekt Red is bringing over The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Complete Edition to Xbox Game Pass. Subscribers will be able to play The Witcher 3 and its expansions, Hearts of Stone and Blood and Wine. Players once more take on the role of monster-slayer Geralt, who goes on an epic search for his daughter, Ciri. As he pieces together what happened to her, he comes across vicious monsters, devious spirits, and the most evil of humans who seek to end his quest.

Death Howl

Available on Feb. 19 for Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass subscribers.

Death Howl is a dark fantasy tactical roguelike that blends turn-based grid combat with deck-building mechanics. Players move across compact battlefield maps, weighing positioning and card synergies to survive increasingly difficult encounters. Progression comes through incremental upgrades that reshape each run. Battles reward careful planning, as overextending or mismanaging your hand can quickly end a run.

EA Sports College Football 26

Available on Feb. 19 for Game Pass Ultimate subscribers.

EA Sports College Football 26 delivers a new take on college football gameplay with enhanced offensive and defensive mechanics, smarter AI and dynamic play-calling that reflects real strategic football systems. Featuring over 2,800 plays and more than 300 real-world coaches with distinct schemes, it offers expanded Dynasty and Road to Glory modes where team building and personnel decisions matter. On the field, dynamic substitutions, improved blocking and coverage logic make matches feel more fluid and tactical.

Dice A Million

Available on Feb. 25 for Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers.

Dice A Million centers on rolling and managing dice to build toward increasingly higher scores. Each round asks players to weigh risk against reward, deciding when to bank points and when to push for bigger combinations. Progression introduces modifiers and new rules that subtly shift probabilities, making runs feel distinct while keeping the core loop focused on calculated gambling.

Towerborne

Available on Feb. 26 for Game Pass Ultimate, PC, and Premium Game Pass subscribers.

After months in preview, Towerborne will get its full release on Xbox Game Pass. The fast-paced action game blends procedural dungeons and light RPG progression, with players fighting through waves of enemies. You’ll unlock permanent upgrades between runs and equip weapons, spells and talents that change how combat feels each time. The core loop pushes risk versus reward as you dive deeper into tougher floors, adapting builds on the fly, and mastering movement and timing to survive increasingly chaotic battles.

Final Fantasy 3

Available on March 3 for Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and PC Game Pass subscribers.

Another Final Fantasy game is coming to Xbox Game Pass. This time, it’s Final Fantasy 3, originally released on the Famicom (the Japanese version of the NES) back in 1990. Since then, Final Fantasy 3 has been ported to a slew of devices and operating systems, including the Nintendo Wii, iOS and Android. Now, you’ll be able to play on your Xbox or PC with a Game Pass subscription. A new group of heroes is once again tasked with saving the world before it’s covered in darkness. Four orphans from the village of Ur find a Crystal of Light in a secret cave, which tasks them as the new Warriors of Light. They’ll have to stop Xande, an evil wizard looking to use the power of darkness to become immortal.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

Available on March 3 for Game Pass Ultimate, Premium and PC Game Pass subscribers.

Last year was stacked with amazing games, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 was one of the best. Developer Warhorse Studios’ RPG series takes place in the real medieval kingdom of Bohemia, which is now the Czech Republic, and tasks players with a somewhat realistic gaming experience where you have to use the weapons, armor and items from those times. The sequel picks up right after the first game (also on Xbox Game Pass) as Henry of Skalitz is attacked by bandits, which starts a series of events that disrupts the entire country.

Games leaving Game Pass in February

For February, Microsoft is removing four games. If you’re still playing them, now’s a good time to finish up what you can before they’re gone for good on Feb. 28.

For more on Xbox, discover other games available on Game Pass now, and check out our hands-on review of the gaming service. You can also learn about recent changes to Game Pass.

Technologies

Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt Trade Blows in Latest AI Slop Video, and Hollywood Won’t Stand for It

While some Hollywood icons are feeling doom and gloom over the AI-generated clip, labor unions are fighting back with legal threats.

Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise are trading blows in a viral AI-generated clip on social media, sparking backlash from the film industry. Chinese company ByteDance’s new video generation model, Seedance 2.0, allowed people to create fictional videos of real likenesses with short prompts. Irish filmmaker Ruairi Robinson used two lines to generate the clip of Pitt and Cruise fighting.

If ByteDance sounds familiar to you, it’s because the company also owns TikTok internationally, though it recently sold its US ownership of the social media and video-sharing platform to US companies. Oracle, MGX and Silver Lake each hold a 15% stake.

The actors in this latest viral AI slop video still don’t look like perfect re-creations — close-up shots of the fake Brad Pitt’s face, especially, have an «uncanny valley,» dreamlike AI look where the cuts blend into his flesh a little too smoothly. However, a CNET survey from earlier Tuesday showed that while 94% of US adults believe they encounter AI slop on social media, just 44% say they’re confident they can tell real videos from AI-generated ones.

One of the most inflammatory parts of the Pitt-Cruise video is the dialogue, as the computerized facsimiles of the actors fight over a supposed assassination plot regarding Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender who maintained ties to rich and powerful people worldwide. The two actors’ likenesses became a vehicle to push conspiracy theories that have been picking up steam as the millions of pages of redacted emails, receipts and other documents that make up the Epstein files continue to trickle out of the US Department of Justice.

Hollywood is fighting back as AI-generated content consumes and spits out actor likenesses and copyrighted content alike. Major studios and their labor forces alike have united to push back against the precedent set by the viral AI video.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Motion Picture Association demanded that ByteDance «immediately cease its infringing activity» through Seedance. SAG-AFTRA, the labor union that represents Hollywood performers, released a statement on Friday saying it «stands with the studios» in condemning the Seedance video generation model.

The Screen Actors Guild specifically pointed to Seedance’s unauthorized use of members’ faces, likenesses and voices as a threat that could put actors out of work.

«Seedance 2.0 disregards law, ethics, industry standards and basic principles of consent,» the actors’ guild said in its statement.

Representatives for the MPA and SAG-AFTRA didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Similar videos generated by Seedance have depicted Star Wars characters dueling with lightsabers as well as Marvel superheroes Spider-Man and Captain America brawling. Disney issued a cease-and-desist order to ByteDance on Friday in response to these videos, which it alleges constitute copyright infringement, according to the BBC.

A representative for ByteDance didn’t immediately respond to CNET’s request for comment, but issued a statement to the BBC saying it is «taking steps to strengthen current safeguards as we work to prevent the unauthorized use of intellectual property and likeness by users.»

Following the viral incident, ByteDance updated its tool to prevent people from uploading images of real people for AI-generated content, but it remains to be seen how effective that policy will be. Certainly, it won’t curb the output of videos depicting fictional masked or anthropomorphic characters like Spider-Man or Mickey Mouse.

As AI models continue to create mediocre copies of cultural icons, this won’t be the first — or last — legal battleground for AI video generation.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for Feb. 18, #983

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for Feb. 18 #983.

Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s NYT Connections puzzle was great fun for me, as I’m the co-author of two pop-culture encyclopedias, one about the 1970s, and 1980s and the other about the 1990s. Two of the categories are retro-themed! Read on for clues and today’s Connections answers.

The Times has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including the number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.

Read more: Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every Time

Hints for today’s Connections groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Farrah hair.

Green group hint: Totally tubular!

Blue group hint: Bock-bock!

Purple group hint: Can refer to a dairy product or a cosmetic.