The Xbox One nearly had smell-o-vision

Microsoft has revealed that it created a prototype Xbox One controller which emitted smells, in an attempt to create another layer of immersion for gamers.

In an interview with Kotaku about the design of the Xbox One controller, Microsoft’s head of Xbox accessories Zulfi Alam described how the prototype controller used smell cartridges to release smells, with scents including gunpowder, burning rubber, smoke and flowers.

So why doesn’t the final Xbox One secrete odours into your nostrils? The lingering smell, apparently.

According to Alam, while gamers might enjoy sniffing cordite and the smells of the jungle, the other members of the household might not like their living room smelling like the aftermath of a protracted gun battle, or the brig of the black Pearl.

Microsoft isn’t the only one to experiment with outlandish tech in its controllers – Sony nearly packed the PS4’s DualShock 4 controller with galvanic sensors to monitor gamers’ stress levels.

Check out our Xbox One vs PS4 controller showdown for all you need to know on Microsoft’s latest console controller.

And while you’re counting the days until the release of the next-gen consoles, pore over our in-depth Xbox One vs PS4 guide before deciding where your allegiances lie.

[Source: Kotaku]

Esat Dedezade Contributor

About

Esat has been a gadget fan ever since his tiny four-year-old brain was captivated by a sound-activated dancing sunflower. From there it was a natural progression to a Sega Mega Drive, a brief obsession with hedgehogs, and a love for all things tech. After 7 years as a writer and deputy editor for Stuff, Esat ventured out into the corporate world, spending three years as Editor of Microsoft's European News Centre. Now a freelance writer, his appetite for shiny gadgets has no bounds. Oh, and like all good human beings, he's very fond of cats.