The wireless gaming controller may feel like a modern convenience, but its roots go back further than many consumers realize. According to Engadget, game controllers have experimented with losing the cords for longer than you'd think, indicating that the idea is not new.
However, the source notes that early attempts didn't have much success. That suggests the road to today's wireless peripherals was not quick or smooth, with early versions failing to win over gamers or gain market traction.
For the gaming hardware business, this history is a reminder that even familiar technologies often require years of iteration and failed attempts before they become mainstream. The wireless controller's eventual success was likely the result of gradual improvements rather than a single breakthrough.