8BitDo’s Forza Horizon 6 Dock Exposes a Gap in Xbox’s Hardware Lineup

8BitDo’s new $34.99 charging dock matches Xbox’s $89.99 Forza Horizon 6 controller and ships with a rechargeable battery Microsoft still doesn’t build into its own hardware. The dock is officially licensed by Xbox and built with input from Forza Horizon 6’s own team. It reached shipping shelves on June 8, about three weeks after the controller it was designed to sit next to.

On its own, that’s a minor accessory story. But the dock sits on a fast-growing shelf of officially licensed 8BitDo hardware, retro keyboards, mice, numpads, and now a pro controller priced under Xbox’s own Elite line, that increasingly does the job Microsoft’s in-house accessory team doesn’t.

A $34.99 Accessory That Actually Matches

The dock works with Xbox Series X|S wireless controllers using magnetic contact charging. Set the controller down and it starts filling immediately, no cable required. 8BitDo says a full charge from empty takes about three hours.

It ships with everything needed to convert a controller from disposable AAs to rechargeable power. The box includes:

• One 1100mAh NiMH rechargeable battery pack
• A Forza-branded battery door sized for Xbox Series X|S controllers, replacing the standard AA cover
• The charging dock itself, with an LED indicator and adjustable ambient lighting

The dock’s design carries over the translucent shell details and color accents from the limited edition controller, built in collaboration with Forza Horizon 6 to match the official pad on matching Horizon Festival design language. The LED glows amber while charging and switches to white once the battery is full, with a button next to the USB-C port letting owners toggle brightness.

Three Weeks Behind the Controller It Was Built For

Xbox unveiled the Forza Horizon 6 controller and a matching headset for pre-order in late April, ahead of the game’s May 19 launch. The controller carries a transparent cyan-blue top case fading into a metallic gradient, accented in volt green, hot pink and silver, retailing at $89.99.

8BitDo announced its dock the same week on social media, describing a design built to match the official controller down to the finish. Forza Horizon 6 itself confirmed a May 19 launch on Xbox and PC, with the dock trailing that release by roughly three weeks once it began shipping on June 8.

That gap is small, but it’s part of a pattern. 8BitDo tends to land its themed hardware after the flagship product it’s built around, letting demand for the controller build first before the completionist accessory shows up.

How Did a Retro Controller Brand Become Xbox’s Hardware Partner?

8BitDo spent the past year turning one-off tie-ins into a full officially licensed Xbox catalogue, charging docks, retro keyboards, a mouse, a numpad, and a $149.99 pro controller that undercuts Microsoft’s own Elite line. The Forza Horizon 6 dock is simply the newest, smallest item on that shelf.

In June, Game Outlet Europe, an independent distributor of video games and gaming accessories, announced a new lineup of licensed Xbox accessories arriving across Europe after debuting in North America: a Retro 87 mechanical keyboard, a Retro R8 mouse, and a Retro 18 numpad, all styled after the original Xbox’s translucent green shell.

This summer, we’re delighted to be introducing this new line of officially licensed XBOX accessories to gamers in the EU, including localised keyboard layouts for the UK, Germany, Spain and France.

David Karlsson, chief executive of Game Outlet Europe, said that in the announcement, framing the rollout as part of 8BitDo’s continued push into Microsoft’s ecosystem.

Xbox’s own 2026 calendar leans hard on first-party exclusives alongside that hardware push. Playground Games’ Forza Horizon 6 sits next to a run of tentpole releases; the uncut Fable gameplay walkthrough drew fan attention this year despite some animation criticism, and Xbox has been busy pulling Gears of War: E-Day from a planned PS5 release. With software soaking up that much attention, hardware execution increasingly falls to partners like 8BitDo.

The Battery Xbox Still Won’t Build In

Xbox Series X|S controllers still ship with two AA batteries in the box by default. There’s no built-in rechargeable pack, no charging port doing double duty the way Sony’s DualSense has worked for years.

A GBAtemp review of an earlier 8BitDo Xbox dock put the gap bluntly: there’s still no standard Xbox controller with a built-in battery, the way Sony has handled it across three PlayStation generations. Third parties, 8BitDo among them, have been patching that hole since well before this Forza edition existed.

That’s the quiet subtext of a $34.99 dock. It’s not just merchandise. It’s a fix for something Microsoft’s own accessory lineup has left unresolved for years.

What the Matching Look Actually Costs

Buying the controller and the dock together runs $124.98 before tax, and that’s before anyone touches the matching $134.99 headset Xbox sells separately. 8BitDo’s own catalogue includes cheaper and pricier charging options depending on what a shopper actually needs.

The standard dock actually covers more ground than the limited edition one. It ships with battery doors for both Xbox One and Series X|S, while the Forza version only fits the newer controller shape.

Xbox One Owners Are Left Guessing

8BitDo lists the Forza dock as compatible with Xbox Series X|S wireless controllers. The included battery door is sized for that newer shape, and Xbox One support for this specific limited edition has not been confirmed.

That uncertainty tracks a bigger shift already underway across the franchise. Forza Horizon 6 is the first mainline Horizon game to skip Xbox One for the first time since the original Forza Horizon on Xbox 360.

What We Know

• The dock is officially licensed, priced at $34.99, and began shipping June 8
• It includes a 1100mAh battery pack and a Forza-branded door sized for Series X|S

What’s Unconfirmed

• Whether the dock works with Xbox One controllers at all
• Whether 8BitDo will restock once this limited run sells through

Buyers on older hardware are stuck reading between the lines until 8BitDo says otherwise.

8BitDo’s Next Controller Already Undercuts Xbox’s Own Elite Line

8BitDo isn’t stopping at docks and keyboards. In May, it revealed the Ultimate 3 and Ultimate 3E controllers, positioning the 3E as a pro-level pad aimed squarely at players who’d otherwise buy Microsoft’s own Elite Series 2.

The Ultimate 3E prices its pro controller at $149.99, roughly $50 under an Elite pad that usually retails around $200. A Lavender Dusk version of the standard Ultimate 3 runs $99.99, and the Ultimate 3E is due out August 31.

Shoppers hunting a bargain don’t have to wait for a Forza-specific sale, either. 8BitDo’s existing Ultimate 2 controller already dropped near $43 during Prime Day, down from its usual $60. Microsoft hasn’t announced a first-party dock of its own to compete with any of it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the 8BitDo Forza Horizon 6 dock work with Xbox One controllers?

8BitDo has not confirmed Xbox One compatibility for this limited edition. The included battery door is sized for the Series X|S controller shape, unlike 8BitDo’s standard Xbox dock, which ships with two separate doors covering both Xbox One and Series X|S controllers.

How does this compare with Microsoft’s own rechargeable battery kit?

Microsoft sells its own Xbox rechargeable battery pack bundled with a USB-C cable for $24.99, but that kit comes with no dock or cradle, just the battery and cable. 8BitDo’s $34.99 price covers the battery, a Forza-branded door, and the charging cradle together.

How long does the dock actually take to charge a controller?

About three hours from empty, though 8BitDo notes real-world time depends on how depleted the battery already is when it’s set down. The LED glows amber while charging and turns white once the controller is fully topped up.

Is there a matching Forza Horizon 6 headset too?

Yes. Xbox’s own Forza Horizon 6 accessory lineup includes a wireless headset at $134.99 MSRP, sold alongside the $89.99 controller. The headset comes from Xbox’s own accessory line rather than from 8BitDo.

Has 8BitDo made Forza-themed Xbox accessories before this one?

The two companies have a track record together. Coverage of 8BitDo’s newest controllers has noted that Xbox and 8BitDo have previously released Forza Horizon-themed charging docks, Rare-inspired controllers, and retro keyboards patterned after Microsoft’s original console.