Topic: Bad quality of Xbox Series X Halo Infinite Limited Edition Controller - Gold paint already peeling off after 2,5 month!

Hello,
I preordered Xbox Series X Halo Infinite Limited Edition in September already to be sure I will get on the release day. Thanks to my early preorder I was able to get one on the release day in November, and I'm using this console with controller for my everyday gaming.

However it's not been even 3 full months and the gold paint is already peeling off from the controller, leading me to questions about build quality of the controller from limited edition:

This is not something I expected from a limited edition controller and not even a standard controller after about 2,5 months of usage. I have not used any alcohol-based cleaning solutions that could make the paint peel off. Places where it peeled are just the places where I often put my fingers, and I'm extremely disappointed it looks like that after that short usage time.

I fear the rest of the gold paint will also peel off after some time with start and back buttons included. I can only wonder how it will look after 6 months.

I'm not sure what can I do with this issue. By calling Microsoft for warranty I will probably end up with standard controller. I wonder if other owners of this edition have similar problems? Can someone give me advice what do with it? Thanks for any answers.

Well first thing I would do is stop using it. Maybe try hitting Microsoft up on Twitter or Facebook and post those pictures and see what they have to say about the issue.

Hey. Thanks for the answer. I'll try on Twitter as I don't have Facebook, but I'm afraid I will be ignored.

@GoDlike you never know, they might have the same controller available for a warranty replacement. It's worth contacting their support page and also hitting them up on Twitter as Tasuki suggested.

Don't be afraid of being ignored. It's worth getting this resolved to your satisfaction. Unfortunately I suspect that any replacement controller of the same design will have the same issue.

Best case scenario, you get a like for like replacement. Expect the same thing to happen though so if you want to keep it nice then stick it on a display stand and buy another normal controller to use as your main pad.

I hate that solution because it requires what should be a totally unnecessary second purchase but I really do think it will be the only way to keep your replacement pad as you want it.

I wrote to Twitter xbox support as you suggested. First by private message. If they ignore me I will openly tweet them.

I'm not sure if there's something wrong with just my controller or every limited edition controller. If the latter was the case then also other owners should report this but I couldn't find any information about similar paint problem on the internet.

On the other hand what could be wrong with just my controller? They use same paint on every model. It's highly unlikely it's individual case. Every other limited controller should be affected. I don't know what to think about this.

You know I have a second controller that i was using for years and it's also limited. It's halo 5 Locke limited Edition controller and after years it looks almost same as I just opened a box with new one. No quality issues at all - it looks amazing. However it's headphones port is damaged and I can't fix this. I replaced the jack but issue seems to be on the motherboard. That's why I'm mainly using the new one.

That's why I don't buy limited edition controllers anymore. I got the R2D2 Xbox 360 years ago with the C3PO controller and after awhile you could tell it was used as the gold started to wear off leaving black marks.. Controllers are meant to be used and if I get a limited edition controller I would be afraid to use and it would just end up on a shelf collecting dust.

All my 'limited' edition XB1 onwards controllers have never been used. I have the Gears 4 Elite (V1) and regular Ltd Edition controllers and the 'Project Scarlett' XB1X controller but none have been used because I have used an Elite since the day the V1 launched - now on V2.

Both my Gears controllers are on a shelf and the Project Scarlett controller is still in the box the console came in - un-opened.

At the end of the day, it may well depend on what's covered by warranty. That to me looks like wear and tear that probably wouldn't be covered. As long as its still doing the job it was designed to, then general wear and tear like that is not likely to be covered.

Well it all depends on the build quality. Controllers should be designed to last a long time without major wear issues. As I said I have Halo 5 Locke limited edition Xbox One controller and it looks almost exactly as new one while I used it for years. I also have PS4 Pro 500 Million LE controller and it looks same as new. If Halo Infinite controller paint is peeling off so fast it's just made with low quality materials.

@GoDlike Its a silkscreen print - a very thin layer of paint.

A controller is designed to 'control' the game - as long as its buttons, triggers and bumpers work, the Thumbsticks too without 'drift', then its 'functioning' as it was 'designed' to. Wearing some 'paint' off is hardly affecting its functionality.

@GoDlike you are right, you shelled out a premium price for a premium controller. No way it should deteriorate, even aesthetically in less than 3 months.

Try with the warranty, try with the retailer, try everything. Check out which? and moneysupermarket for guidance on what your rights are if the matter isn't solved to your satisfaction. I think MS will make it right though so you won't have to go that far. Just remain polite and courteous but firm in your standing.

Its NOT a Premium Controller. The 'Elite' controller of which MS also made a 'Halo' ltd edition Elite Controller is a PREMIUM controller with a premium price tag.

That Halo controller is the 'standard' controller, same as the one you got with the console, just with some 'cosmetic' print to 'commemorate' Halo & Xbox 20yrs of history. There is nothing that makes this a 'premium' controller. Its like buying a Tour T-shirt for a band you like and complaining that the 'print' of the art has 'faded' and/or started to come off in places from wear. You don't complain to the band about their tour-shirts and if it was 'special', you'd display it.

These are 'regular' standard controllers that have regular standard parts that should hold up to the 'rigours' of gaming that any standard controller should be expected to stand up to and remain 'functional'. That controller is 'STILL' functional as a Controller.

I understand how 'disappointing' it maybe that some elements have worn, especially the 20th logo on the battery compartment cover which generally doesn't get much 'contact' to wear off. However, its not a 'premium' controller but a 'standard' controller that has a 'ltd edition' design to commemorate Halo's 20th anniversary. Limited Edition doesn't mean 'PREMIUM', it just means that the 'aesthetic' look of the controller is 'limited' to a set number of controllers. These are a bit like those commemorative 'plates' that get sold to celebrate royal weddings etc. Regular, standard plates, nothing 'fancy' made in 'limited numbers' with a 'print' on them that would wear if you used them to eat your dinner off or to 'display' if you want...

Okay if you think so, but Elite V2 controller also had serious build quality issues for a time, so it seems it doesn't matter if it's "Premium" product or limited "standard". I also said before I have other limited editions controller, and they don't have problems like these, so yes I'm disappointed with this one as its quality does not match quality of other products on the market. Limited or not - controllers are meant to be used for playing and manufacturer should use materials that are fit for constant usage. In this case, manufacturer used a low quality gold paint.

If I bought a special t-shirt from my favorite band's shop, and it started to peel off its paint after 2 months then yes I would have serious complaints because even chinese T-shirts can be used for years without aesthetic problems.

Paint coming off in the first 3 months isn't good enough and you've got ever right to complain. Hopefully they'll offer a replacement or store credit if you don't want a replacement.

Okay so here's how it is:

Messaged Xbox Support on Twitter: They were happy to talk until I sent the photos and described the issue. Then they ignored me. It's probably a known issue then.
Messaged Xbox on Twitter: No response.
Called Microsoft support: Agent was honest and helpful. He felt sorry for me, but he can only send a warranty report to the support, and he said I will probably end up with standard controller then. Once I send the controller for warranty I won't get this one back even if they have no spares and if they won't, they will send a standard one, so I didn't agree for that.
Called retailer: I can send this to them, but they don't fix things. They will use Microsoft's warranty and that equals standard controller back.

Looks like I'm out of luck then. I'm disappointed on how the controller is made and also because I got ignored on Twitter.

@GoDlike I wouldn't PM them on Twitter I would make a full post with pictures and see if others have the same problem. I am sure MS won't ignore it then. Best bet though is to put the controller up and get yourself a regular controller to use.

@GoDlike ah lame that sucks but it was worth trying though. Unfortunately that is just the case with these limited time things. I guess your options are to return the controller for a normal one, return both the console and the controller for a normal set, or return the lot for a refund. I know the latter two options weren't specified but they may well be within your rights under the consumer contracts regulations (that regulates your contract of sale with the retailer only, not the manufacturer) but I suspect you'd have to do a lot of convincing to get those resolutions. scratch all that, I thought you were in the UK. Not sure what the EU laws are at the moment

I guess it's up to you really, whether you want to stick with it and possibly repair it yourself once it has got really bad (a stencil and a gold pen will do the trick) or return it for a less than satisfactory but overall adequate resolution.

I know I've had this in the past (pre consumer contracts regulations and even before the prior distance selling regulations that the CCR replaced) and I came to resent the item I had purchased which had arrived aesthetically damaged. I still have the item in question but every time I look at it, it makes me sad and I try to keep it out of sight as much as possible for that reason.

Anyway, I hope whatever you decide gives you a modicum of satisfaction. Even having the limited edition Series X is pretty cool and you may get some satisfaction from a guerilla repair job on your controller at a later date. I know I have from repairing certain things in creative ways 😅

Edit 2: I do agree with Tasuki though, a proper and visible Twitter post may go a bit further than a DM. Either just post it by itself or post it as a reply to one of their fresh posts that has very few if any replies on it already. Just so more people see it

I will try that, thanks for the ideas guys. I don't use social media often, but they can come in handy in this case.

I'm from Poland, and we have a lot of pro-consumer regulations here, but they all give you right to replace the faulty item and I can already replace it, but with a standard controller, so it's not a real solution then.

I still have the item in question but every time I look at it, it makes me sad and I try to keep it out of sight as much as possible for that reason.

Yeah I will probably feel the same if I just leave it on the shelf, so I would like to either replace it or repair it.

If I get ignored, or they refuse to replace it with a proper controller, I can also do one more thing - write an article about how bad the quality of this controller actually is. I'm a game reviewer and I even reviewed Xbox Series X sent to me by Microsoft Poland before. I'm employed on a site with thousands of readers, but I would like to avoid making a big fuss like that unless I'm forced to.

@ralphdibny @Tasuki Thanks for the tips guys. Microsoft is now processing the case. They are offering exchange to the same limited edition controller.

@GoDlike That's great to hear. Once you get it, now you can put it up in your collection so that doest happen again.