Surprise! The Xbox Design Lab is back, after being mysteriously offline for six months.

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Well, that was unexpected.

Previously, I penned a piece lamenting the absence of Xbox Design Lab for more than six months without a clear reason. However, now, Microsoft has made an exciting announcement through X, complete with a polished trailer, indicating that the service is back in operation.

If you’re unaware, Xbox Design Lab serves as an online store where you can personalize your Xbox controllers. You have the freedom to choose from various features, textures, colors, and even skins to make it uniquely yours.

As a researcher, I’ve had the pleasure of utilizing the Xbox Design Lab extensively throughout the years, particularly when searching for thoughtful gifts for friends and family within the Xbox community. Now, this innovative platform has resumed operation across all its originally accessible regions, offering not only the familiar design options but also introducing some fresh color schemes to add a touch of uniqueness.

With the help of the Xbox Design Lab, you can craft personalized versions of standard Xbox Series X|S controllers, as well as the advanced Xbox Elite Controller Series 2 models. Currently, custom skins for Fallout and Call of Duty are available, but there’s also an array of stylish transparent shells that give a stunning visual effect.

Once you finish designing your controller, the total cost is calculated by the store, allowing you to proceed with the buying process.

Previously, the Xbox Design Lab had been inactive for a few months due to Microsoft switching its payment processing system. This change sparked speculations among users suggesting that the lab could be temporarily shut down, or maybe it was being readied for the launch of new Xbox controllers, as I had earlier mentioned.

It seems like moving a payment processor might actually require multiple months, that is, nearly half a year. However, I’m unsure about the exact timeline, but what’s important is that it’s fully operational again. As a controller enthusiast, this is particularly exciting news.

Will the Xbox Gear Shop return next?

This morning, it was observed that the Xbox Gear Store is down. The Xbox Gear Store offers merchandise related to the Xbox brand and other Microsoft products, such as Minecraft and State of Decay. It’s uncertain for how long it has been offline, but let’s hope it won’t last as long as the Xbox Design Lab’s extended six-month hiatus.

As an analyst, I’ve observed a steady expansion in Microsoft’s merchandising ventures, primarily through Xbox since its acquisition spree started. Brands such as Bethesda, Blizzard, Minecraft, and even Microsoft itself each run distinct retail arms, catering to a variety of merchandise possibilities – from accessories and clothing to gifts and premium collectibles. The Blizzard Store, in particular, has gained considerable popularity and boasts warehouses strategically located worldwide for the global distribution of games like Diablo, World of Warcraft, and Overwatch merchandise.

It appears that I had considered the possibility that Microsoft might merge some of its retail operations under one umbrella, but this could also be a change as minor as switching payment processors. However, we don’t have any official information about the status of the Xbox Gear Store or when it will come back online. There’s no estimated time of return available at this point.

Regardless of perspective, it’s fantastic news that the Xbox Design Lab is back! With the approaching holiday season, personalized Xbox controllers featuring unique colors and engravings make an excellent gift choice for the gaming enthusiast you know.

It’s rumored that Microsoft is developing various new controllers for its upcoming Xbox hardware lineup, which may consist of a successor to the Xbox Series X flagship console and other OEM devices such as the future Xbox Ally. Additionally, it’s possible that more devices could be added to the Xbox Design Lab in the future. I wouldn’t mind if Xbox consoles themselves were included in the Xbox Design Lab down the line.

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2025-08-06 18:10