Ah, the SideWinder brand. How Gamersquad marvelled at its peculiarly designed game pads, steering wheels and joysticks – not to mention said add-ons' hefty price tags.

After a break to compose itself and study a growth in the market that has seen the joystick shoved from the limelight by the control accuracy of the mighty mouse and keyboard combo - particularly in PC first-person shooters - Microsoft has now announced the SideWinder Mouse for hardcore PC gamers at this year's Games Conference in Leipzig, Germany.

The Redmond-based firm’s tagline for the new accessory is "Nearly 5000 Mice in One," boasting the fact that its adjustable weight tray, changeable mice feet, custom DPI, and other options help transform the product into (potentially) thousands of different set-ups.

The device also includes: Quick Turn, a performance-enhancing macro that lets users check their perimeter from wherever they are in-game; the first-ever LCD to be built into a gaming mouse (a counter that helps users track any important gaming preferences and decisions); and a cable anchor that doubles as an accessories box.

Microsoft explains that players "like to tweak and tune their mouse to get it just right," and that they are duly "giving them the tools to create a personalised experience that lets them focus on what's important: being at the top of their game."

There's no release date just yet, but we do know that the SideWinder mouse will set you back $79 USD. Does this mean Logitech will have to ramp up its efforts once again?