Innovation becomes museum piece as V&A snaps up Xbox game controller

THE VICTORIA & Albert Museum has announced the latest acquisition for its collection – a new type of Xbox controller.

Developed by Microsoft in consultation with players with limited mobility, the Xbox Adaptive Controller allows users with a range of abilities to play video games.

The acquisition coincides with the V&A’s new exhibition on video games, opening on Saturday.

Corinna Gardner, senior curator of design and digital at the V&A, said it was an important design.

She said: “Video games are part of our lived reality today, and the Xbox Adaptive Controller marks an important design moment.

“It is an example of a leading technology company embracing accessibility and collaborative design processes to create innovative and inclusive design for video game play.

“Developed to increase the options available to players with a range of abilities, it is an industry first and illustrates the power of design to affect change.”

The controller is now on display in the museum’s Rapid Response Collecting gallery – which explores how current global events, political changes and pop cultural phenomena impact, or are influenced by, design, art, architecture and technology.

Xbox is a video gaming brand which was created by Microsoft in 2001.

The brand was first introduced in the United States in November 2001, with the launch of the original Xbox console.

The acqusition follows the acquisition by the V&A of a hat from the 2017 Women’s March and a Jeremy Corbyn t-shirt.