SteelSeries’ New Aeon Pro Xbox & PC Controller Looks Impressive, Until You See the Price

SteelSeries has entered the Xbox and PC controller market with the Aeon Pro, and it is bringing a serious list of features. However, the biggest catch of the new controller is the price. At $259.99 / £229.99, this Xbox controller is entering a market where even premium controllers are already pushing the limits of what players are willing to pay.

SteelSeries Aeon Pro packs a lot into one controller

The Aeon Pro comes with an onboard OLED display and menu system, four tactile microswitch back paddles, microswitch buttons, and a charging dock. It also uses a hot-swappable battery system, with two batteries included so players can keep one charging while using the other.

The charging stand is more than just a place to drop the controller. It can charge the controller and spare battery at the same time, while also holding the magnetic thumbstick tops that come with the pad.

SteelSeries is also making the Aeon Pro a little more convenient for people who switch between Xbox and PC. The controller has separate USB-C ports for Xbox and PC, so users do not have to keep moving a receiver between systems.

Around the back, the four metal back paddles use microswitches that give them a pronounced click when pressed. The controller also features Hall Effect thumbsticks, although that is slightly surprising for a product at this price, especially as some competing premium controllers have started moving toward TMR sticks.

Image credit: SteelSeries

The price could be the Aeon Pro’s biggest problem

The controller can also be customized through SteelSeries GG, including thumbstick deadzones and other settings. Its onboard system includes prebuilt profiles aimed at different types of games, giving players another way to adjust the pad without relying entirely on PC software.

There is clearly a lot going on here, but the $259.99 / £229.99 price tag puts the Aeon Pro in difficult territory. SteelSeries is asking players to pay considerably more than many high-end Xbox controllers, so the real test will be whether those extra features make a noticeable difference in everyday use.

The Aeon Pro is available in black and a white-and-gray finish, with its design borrowing some familiar Xbox controller cues. It looks well equipped on paper, but at this price, it may need to do considerably more than simply offer a long feature list.