There’s a new contender for the ugliest video game controller ever made

Forza Horizon 6 is getting an accompanying controller and headset that fans can already pre-order ahead of the game’s launch next month.

Almost exactly one year ago today, we came across what we thought was the ugliest video game controller ever made: a third party Bluetooth controller themed around the Cap’n Crunch breakfast cereal.

Perhaps Microsoft sensed a challenge, because it intends to sell its own incredibly garish limited edition controller to tie in with the upcoming Forza Horizon 6.

You’d never know that at first glance, though, since it sports an incredibly garish design that’s more reminiscent of postmodern Memphis art from the 90s than anything to do with Forza Horizon.

In an Xbox Wire post, the controller is accurately described as ‘one of the most vibrant controllers Xbox has ever released,’ though it says the ‘core design inspiration’ comes from the Touge roads of Japan.

‘Touge – winding, narrow roads found across Japanese mountainsides – are hailed as the birthplace of drifting, so a top-down view of these exhilarating routes was the perfect homage to Japanese street racing,’ reads the post.

Forza Horizon 6 is set in Japan so there is some logic there, but it’s the colour usage that confuses us. No explanation is given for the clash of blue, pink, green, and silver, and it took us a moment to realise the green lines on the controller are meant to resemble roads.

The post adds that the ‘bright cyan and lime colourways celebrate the Horizon Festival’s recognition of iconic cars and hit music.’ The Horizon Festival is the in-game event the Forza Horizon games are based around, so perhaps this is a hint at an in-game aesthetic – although the Memphis art style originated in Italy, not Japan.

None of the gameplay footage thus far features you driving through strongly neon lit areas and the 90s vibes are no doubt unintentional since Forza Horizon 6 isn’t even set during that time period.

A simpler white colour adorned with pink cherry blossoms or black calligraphy might have been preferable and matched up with Forza Horizon 6’s box art, though perhaps it would’ve been too similar to Sony’s Ghost Of Yōtei controllers.

Microsoft is also selling an equally garish wireless headset that plays custom sound effects for certain actions, such as pairing it to your console or muting your mic, which the blog post says is for ‘total immersion.’

Pre-orders are available on Microsoft’s US website, with both the controller and headset launching on May 19, the same day as Forza Horizon 6’s release.

They’ve yet to receive UK prices, though, but the controller is $89.99 and the headset is $134.99, which would make them about £66.50 and £99.60 respectively.

Surprisingly, despite Microsoft’s commitment to multiformat releases, the PlayStation 5 version doesn’t currently have a date, but it is meant to be out this year. Considering Forza Horizon has proven by far the most popular Xbox game on PlayStation it’s peculiar that Microsoft hasn’t waited to release them both at the same time.

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