Welp, looks like there is a shortage of Xbox controllers

Xbox Controller

Oh noes! We are living in interesting time. Supply chain issues coupled with chip shortages make for a potent mix, and it is remarkable how the technology world continues to power through this.

Well, for the most part.

That’s because there is news of Microsoft suddenly getting hit by Xbox Wireless Controller supply issues.

Redmond is not new to all this, as the company has been struggling to meet the demand of its latest Xbox consoles. But now, numerous retailers across Europe and the UK are currently out of stock of these controllers, including the Microsoft Store.

In a statement to VGC, a company spokesperson confirmed issues with restocking these controllers:

“We know it may be hard finding Xbox Wireless Controllers right now due to supply disruptions. We’re working as fast as possible with our manufacturing and retail partners to improve this. Please check with your local retailer for availability.”

While the UK is also affected, it appears that the US is unaffected by these problems. The standard Xbox Wireless Controller is widely available in the country. In fact, Microsoft right now has a neat discount on the gamepad on its official store if you want in.

But the price situation is rather dire in the Old Continent, where third-party retailers have nearly doubled their prices for Microsoft controllers these past couple of years.

That’s all got to do with the demand outweighing the supply in countries like the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, even Australia.

It could well be that the success Microsoft is experiencing with its cloud gaming service may also be playing a part in this increased demand for the controller.

Tens of millions of gamers have tried the service, and many would have opted to get the original gamepad to play and try out these games on alternate devices like their computers, smartphones, and whatnot.

Worth a mention that it is still possible to order custom made controllers from the Xbox Design Lab, but the cost of a customized controller is higher than the standard one. Plus, it will take 28 days for Microsoft to ship your gamepad, unless it too is affected by supply disruption.