8BitDo launches $150 Ultimate 3E controller for Xbox and PC
Gaming accessory maker 8BitDo has released the Ultimate 3E, its first premium controller for Xbox and PC players. It costs $150, and The Verge's reviewer finds it highly customizable but expensive.
Gaming accessory maker 8BitDo has released the Ultimate 3E, a controller designed for Xbox console and PC players. It costs $150 and is the company's first premium controller. Brad Bourque, a reviewer at the technology site The Verge, tried it and concluded that the model offers a great deal of customization, but that its price limits its appeal.
What is included
The Ultimate 3E has TMR joysticks, which are not prone to drift, extra shoulder buttons, rear paddles, motion control support and a 3.5mm jack for chat or private listening. When connected to a PC, it reaches a 1,000Hz polling rate over a low-latency wireless link. The package includes a carrying case and a wireless charging dock in which the USB dongle can be stored.
The modular design lets users swap button modules (one with membrane buttons, another with clickier microswitch buttons), directional pads and joysticks. The reviewer notes that 8BitDo does not currently sell replacement accessories for this model and did not respond to The Verge's question on whether it will.
Drawbacks
The reviewer lists several relatively minor complaints: the clips holding the face button module are very tight, swapping joysticks takes a lot of force, the triggers feel slightly soft, and the soft-touch grips gather dust quickly.
How it compares
In the reviewer's view, Microsoft's Xbox Elite Series 2 is a poorer value because it uses potentiometer joysticks that are likely to drift over time. Owners of the 8BitDo Ultimate 2 are not advised to upgrade. A non-modular Ultimate 3 costs $99, while the GameSir G7 Pro, with a nearly identical feature set, costs $80. The reviewer also points to growing unofficial leaks about an Xbox Elite Series 3.
