Press start: How controllers shaped video game design—and where interfaces may go next

This article explores how game controllers have shaped video game interface design over the past 50 years, written by a UX designer working on Fortnite at Epic Games.

• •Controllers use focus-based navigation (D-pad/stick to move highlight, face button to select), which directly dictates how game UIs are structured as lists and grids
• •Starting position placement is a key design lever—placing default focus near the most important actions reduces button presses and friction
• •Global navigation shortcuts like the back button reduce interaction cost in focus-based interfaces
• •Emerging AR/VR hardware is beginning to blur the line between 2D interface navigation and 3D physical space interaction
• •Principles from game controller UX (focus navigation, directional layout, reachability) parallel mobile design patterns like bottom nav bars and FABs