New Xbox Elite controller leaked online

Leaked images show off a new high-end Xbox One controller coming soon

Microsoft introduced the first Xbox Elite Wireless Controller at the E3 gaming conference almost three years ago - and it could be about to announce a new version very soon.

The £149 controller became a hit among well-healed gamers, sporting four interchangeable paddles, a remappable button, hair-trigger locks and customisable components.

While the device was specifically designed for Xbox One owners, it's also popular amomg PC players looking for a decent controller. Now, Microsoft could be about to unveil a new model.

Images allegedly detailing the controller have made their way onto Chinese website Baidu, and they give a decent glimpse into what Microsoft has in store for the gadget.

According to the anonymous poster, the second-generation Elite controller will come with a USB-C charging port, three Hair trigger locks, improved key travel, Bluetooth support and a three-profile switch.

And the thumbsticks will get an adjustable tension mechanism, a feature Microsoft detailed in a patent last month. The latter introduces an adjustable lock design.

While the images don't replicate the patent completely, they're an indicator of what Microsoft is working on. There are also three LEDs, which are likely to be related to battery life.

An additional image has been uploaded on Reddit, and it actually shows off the whole controller. It details new grip sections, which are Microsoft's response to concerns that the current controller's grip sections wear down easily.

A source who understands these plans told The Verge that the images are genuine, but they're not sure when Microsoft will actually announce the controller. It could happen at the Games Developer Conference in March or E3 in June.

The spec' list, according to the Reddit leak, is as follows: