Gaming News: New Xbox One Controller Spotted

[UPDATE] Following the publication of this story, a Microsoft represenative offered the following statement:

"We're gearing up for an exciting E3 where we'll showcase more games and experiences. We have nothing further to share at this time."

One of Microsoft's E3 surprises may have been spoiled. The company's own Xbox Support website reveals a new version of the Xbox One controller that features a 3.5mm headphone port at its base.

A line from the description explains that this port will "only available on controllers released after June 2015." This timing would suggest an announcement at Microsoft's E3 briefing next month, though this has not been confirmed. It's also unclear if a 3.5mm port is just one of the rumored controller's new features.

#16 is the new 3.5mm port

As you can see in the image above, the new controller design, in terms of form factor, is identical to the existing controller. We've contacted Microsoft, asking for more information.

This would be the first change to the Xbox One controller since launch in November 2013. Controller revisions are somewhat rare in console gaming, though Microsoft does have a history of making tweaks.

Back in 2010, Microsoft announced a new version of its Xbox 360 controller that featured a transforming d-pad. This decision came in response to complaints about the standard d-pad, which players felt yielded insufficiently precise inputs for some games.

Microsoft's E3 2015 briefing is set for Monday, June 15, starting at 9:30 AM PDT. GameSpot will bring you all the news as it's announced. For more on E3 2015, check out our roundup of all the dates and times for every E3 briefing.