Five years after its withdrawal, Microsoft has revived its PC gaming peripheral brand – Sidewinder – with the announcement of a new mouse that it claims redefines customisation.

Sidewinder, which for many years was a byword for PC gaming hardware, was retired by Microsoft back in 2002. Before that the range had included joysticks, mice, keyboards and various other accessories aimed at PC gamers.

The new Sidewinder Mouse comes with several features designed to make it easier for gamers to use. The mouse includes one touch access to Windows Vista's Games Explorer feature, Quick Turn – allowing gamers to quickly check all around them, the first ever LCD on a gaming mouse as well as a cable anchor that doubles up as an accessories storage box.

"We're taking gaming mice to a new level with a mouse created in direct response to gamer feedback from all over the world; it offers superior customisation and performance handling," said Bill Jukes, product marketing manager for Microsoft Hardware.

"We found that gamers are a lot like performance car enthusiasts. They like to tweak and tune their mouse to get it just right, and today we are giving them the tools to create a personalised experience that lets them focus on what’s important: being at the top of their game," he added.