Gears of War E-Day Controllers Are Already Reselling for $150

The Gears of War E-Day Limited Edition controller is built on the standard Xbox Wireless Controller shell, but the theming is heavy. Blacked out ABY buttons, a transparent red X button, red triggers and D-pad, and a leather like grip finish are paired with 3D molded, laser etched cracks meant to look like an erupting E-hole. A metallic COG tag sits on the battery door. It ships in time for Gears of War E-Day’s October 6 release, and Xbox is also opening a fully customizable Design Lab version on September 30 with artwork from illustrator Luke Preece.

Xbox has historically lagged behind PlayStation on limited edition hardware, but the reception here has actually been strong, even with some pushback on price since a standard controller runs $64.99. Xbox’s recent limited edition Gears and Halo merch has sold out quickly after going up for preorder, so a similarly tight run on this one wouldn’t be surprising.

Presale listings on eBay are already asking as much as $150, and buyers are paying before the controller has shipped, a sign of real demand rather than hype alone. Run the math on a $150 sale and you’re looking at roughly $20 in eBay fees, which puts profit in the $35 to $40 range after the $89.99 retail cost. That’s a solid flip for a controller, not a life changing one, and it could grow if Xbox’s limited run theory holds and supply stays tight into October.

Buying direct from Microsoft Store comes with free returns, so there’s a safety net if resale demand doesn’t materialize. It’s not clear how long the preorder window will be open or how many controllers Xbox will produce.

In related news, we recently covered the story of how a prototype Series 3 Xbox elite controller was sold on OfferUp. It just goes to show that you really never know what you’re going to find out there.