What Was Running the Titanic Submersible? It Could Be a $49.99 Videogame Controller

The missing submersible headed for the Titanic shipwreck may have been operated by a wireless video game controller that sells online for $49.99.

Stockton Rush, founder and chief executive of OceanGate Expeditions, which owns the Titan submersible, said in a 2022 segment with CBS News that the vessel was operated by a video game controller.

“We run the whole thing with this game controller,” Rush said during the news segment, holding what appeared to be a modified wireless gamepad made by computer-peripherals company Logitech International.

It’s unclear if OceanGate Expeditions was using a Logitech controller on the Titan when it started its mission on Sunday. A spokesperson for OceanGate declined to comment. Logitech didn’t respond to requests for comment.

The Titan lost contact with the ship monitoring it from the surface one hour and 45 minutes after it began its dive in the North Atlantic on Sunday morning. The Titanic sits about 13,000 feet below the ocean’s surface and about 900 miles off Massachusetts’ Cape Cod.

Rescuers are trying to find the submersible before its oxygen runs out, which officials say could happen Thursday morning. The Titan’s five-member crew includes Rush.

The controller the Titan used in the past appeared to be a modified Logitech F710 gamepad with extended joysticks.

An earlier version of OceanGate’s submersible vessels called the Cyclops was operated by a Sony PlayStation 3 controller, according to a 2014 promotional video released by OceanGate.

The Logitech F710 gamepad was first available in 2010. It’s compatible with computers running on the Windows and ChromeOS operating systems.

Such controllers can be adapted for piloting other machines, as long as the controller and the machine are using the same signal, said Michael Pachter, a managing director at Wedbush Securities.

Game controllers are commonly used in applications beyond video games, said Will McKeon-White, an analyst at technology research firm Forrester. The U.S. military and foreign militaries use them to control vehicles and in other applications because they are fairly intuitive and users often have an existing familiarity with them, he said. The Pentagon didn’t respond to a request for comment.

“The problem with the usage of a Logitech controller here isn’t the fact that a game controller was used,” McKeon-White said. “The issue is they chose a really, really cheap model.”

The military typically expects to have a backup when it uses video game controllers, McKeon-White said. That way “it’s not a situation of ‘your life only relies on a video game controller,’ ” he said.

OceanGate didn’t say if there were backup controlling devices available on the Titan.

Pachter said the Logitech gamepad is considered a durable device made of commonplace parts.

“Every single component of that thing is a commodity component that doesn’t break,” he said, though “they do wear out after a while.”

Mother’s Day has quietly evolved. It’s no longer about last-minute flowers or safe department store buys. Instead, there’s a noticeable shift towards gifts that feel considered, personal and, increasingly, lasting.

This year’s edit leans into that idea, bringing together pieces that balance design, purpose and a sense of story.

At the more elevated end of beauty, Australian-founded skincare label Bon Elliot offers a future-facing approach grounded in dermatology.

Its Hydrating Performance Serum, priced at $220, is designed to support the skin’s natural balance, working across the microbiome, barrier and repair response for a more refined, luminous finish.

It’s the kind of gift that feels indulgent, but also quietly practical.

For something less expected, there’s a playful turn in the form of Tinned Candle’s handcrafted pieces.

Inspired by tinned fish, the Atlanta-based studio has created candles that are as much design objects as they are functional.

Importantly, they smell nothing like sardines, leaning instead into ocean breeze or champagne notes, depending on the piece . It’s a small, clever way to bring personality into a space.

There’s also a growing appetite for gifts that give something back.

Coral adoption programs offer a more meaningful alternative, allowing you to adopt a coral in your mother’s name while supporting fragile marine ecosystems under threat from climate change.

It’s less about the object and more about the gesture, which, in many ways, feels more aligned with the moment.

Homewares continue to hold their place, particularly when craftsmanship is at the centre.

Tanora’s collection, handcrafted in Madagascar, blends traditional techniques with a modern coastal aesthetic, spanning everything from woven totes to placemats and cushions.

These are pieces that don’t just decorate a home, they add texture and narrative to it.

For something more personal, Australian lingerie label Cloud Blvd offers soft, wearable luxury in the form of robes and camisoles.

With options designed for comfort as much as elegance, they strike that rare balance between everyday use and quiet indulgence.

And for the mother who loves to host, Mesa Collections delivers a playful yet polished take on the table.

Think colourful linens, sculptural silverware and small details that turn a simple meal into something more considered.

What ties all of this together is a shift in mindset.

The best gifts this Mother’s Day aren’t necessarily the most expensive or the most obvious. They’re the ones that show thought, whether that’s through design, craftsmanship or meaning.

Which, if you think about it, is exactly the point.

What Was Running the Titanic Submersible? It Could Be a $49.99 Videogame Controller

Tech analysts say videogame controllers are often used in other applications

From elevated skincare to handcrafted home pieces, this year’s most thoughtful gifts go beyond the expected.