Dell's Nyx Concept Controller makes me *almost* want one.

Alienware--Dell's perennial pre-built icon of PC gaming--has revealed their plans for the Nyx Game Controller. It's an interesting spin on the Steam Controller blended with a more traditional gaming controller.

While it retains the form factor of something like an Xbox Series controller, it has the dual analog layout of the DualSense and face buttons in their usual place on the right of the controller--defaced by a stereotypical "gamer" font. What's fascinating about this controller, though, is a touchpad (called the "Omnipad") on the left where an Xbox controller would have its left stick.

And while there are the typical bumpers, triggers, start and select buttons... there are even more interesting input choices. First, there's a fingerprint sensor where the "home" button usually sits. And the novelty doesn't end there.

There are dual thumb scroll wheels at the bottom on the device which are touch sensitive and a light ring that appears to surround it. And around back there are paddle buttons that work to mode-shift the other inputs on the device.

The triggers and analog are labeled as "adaptive," which apparently means they are able to provide some level of force feedback.

It also appears to have a built-in microphone, a mute button, and what seems to be a voice assistant button, however these go unlabeled in Dell's official graphics.

Gizmodo got some hands-on time with the Nyx concept controller and their review seemed to be a positive one.

Though I do have to say that a controller that lacks a good D-pad is a non-starter for me in 2023.