Classic microsoft. They’ll say they do it to combat cheating, but it’s just another step to lock people into their ecosystem and squeeze more money out of them.
Windows Central says they might be actually opening up a bit:
We’ve heard from sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans that this may be related to Microsoft expanding its program for approved third-party wireless Xbox controllers. Most Xbox third-party controllers right now are wired.
Approved means licensed in this case. This is a plot to sell those licenses by literally forcing third party manfacturers to buy them.
This is progress given that currently every third party controller has to be wired and everything else is rather clunky. I own a Brook adapter for fight sticks and let’s be real, it’s not a great solution.