Summary
Transparent consoles and accessories were once the height of gaming fashion, andXboxbegan a push to bring the fad back around earlier this year whenit released the Sky Cipher controller. Clearly sales must have gone well as not only has Xbox addeda special edition Ghost Cipher controllerto its growing transparent collection, but there are now transparent options to choose from when creating your own controllers through Design Lab.
Xbox has really leaned into transparent accessoris being something gaming left behind via this latest reveal by showing off its new options in a retro-style trailer you can check out below. If you like your controllers transparent, or you just like the look of the Ghost Cipher SE, pre-orders are already open.Priced at $69.99, the controller has a clear transparent top case, gray grips, and a metallic bronze d-pad with matching triggers.It will be released on Jul 26, 2025.
The new additions to Design Lab are where Xbox has really shown it’s going all in on transparent tech, something that enjoyed its heyday shortly after the launch of the original Xbox.The transparent options in Design Labare for Xbox’s Elite controllerwhich does bump the price up quite a bit.An Elite controller is $149.99, and choosing to add a transparent top case, of which there are six colors to choose from,adds $9.99 to that price.
Transparent Gaming Is Back Thanks To Xbox
I Never Knew How Much I Missed It Until Right Now
There are more retro-style options included with the transparent top cases that bump the price up even more if you choose them. Adding a Chroma d-pad, which comes in two color options, willbump the cost of your controller up by another $3.99. You can also add matching paddles to the back of the controller, however, that’s going to bring the price of the controller to nearly $200. Adding paddles of any description to the Elite model costs $26.99, and giving them a Chrome makeover costs an additional $3.99.
Xbox Wireless Controller - Ghost Cipher Special Edition
Xbox’s Ghost Cipher Special Edition controller is the second addition to Xbox’s series of transparent accessories. The controller has a clear top case, gray grips, and metallic bronze triggers with a matching d-pad.
That’s a total of $194.95for those of you who haven’t been keeping track. An expensive controller, but a high-tech, good-looking one if you’ve made wise design choices. It also doesn’t need to be that expensive, of course. Xbox’s Elite Design Lab controllers with a transparent top case start from $159.99 if you don’t add paddles or the Chroma options. Or you can just stick with the Ghost Cipher SE and get a transparent controller for $69.99.
