We stopped by Hyperkin at CES this year and we can say with full certainty that there def was hype from what they showed off. We got a first look at their latest product the X5 Alteron, a new portable controller, that was held in the air like the holy grail it is. This is also the first time two gaming accessory companies like this have worked together for a singular product.
Meet the X5 Alteron, a controller born from a collaboration between GameSir and Hyperkin, and heralded at the event as perhaps the most flexible gaming accessory seen so far in 2026. Instead of being a static pad with a single layout, the Alteron is engineered to be dismantled and rebuilt to suit whatever you’re playing, from modern shooters to classic titles.
Unlike traditional clip-on controllers that just add physical buttons to your phone or tablet, this unit uses a stretch to fit mechanism that expands to securely house devices from Android phones and iPads to the Nintendo Switch and the new Switch 2. But the real innovation lies in how it lets you change its identity by swapping out modules for sticks, buttons, and directional pads. Want vintage GameCube ergonomics while playing retro games? There’s a module for that. Yearning for the classic feel of a Nintendo 64 controller? Yep, that too. There are even specialty options like fight game layouts or a trackpad that can mimic mouse precision for shooters and PC titles.
This isn’t just cosmetic tinkering. The Alteron pairs tactile design with thoughtful engineering: it features drift resistant capacitive sticks to keep controls responsive, Hall effect triggers for consistent input, customizable stick height for personal comfort, and back buttons that add extra command options. Combined with rumble feedback and a build meant to sit comfortably in your hands for extended sessions, the device feels like something that could genuinely replace multiple controllers in your collection, especially if you bounce between game genres and platforms.
One of the most compelling things about the Alteron’s reveal wasn’t just the engineering itself, but how attendees around the booth reacted. Rather than a quick glance and move on, people were picking it up, trying out the modular attachments, and discussing how they’d personalize it for their own library of games. Even at this early prototype stage, there was enough buzz that it felt less like “another CES gadget” and more like a glimpse at where mobile and hybrid gaming controllers might be headed next.
Of course, not all details are locked in. GameSir and Hyperkin have yet to announce when the X5 Alteron will be released or how much it will cost, though seeing it front and center at one of the world’s biggest tech shows suggests they’re gearing up for a serious launch. For now, it stands as a bold example of what’s possible when flexibility meets thoughtful design in gaming hardware, and a reason why so many people paused, gathered, and talked at the GameSir booth at CES 2026.
