The new 8BitDo gamepad is the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller we’ve been waiting for
Controller manufacturer 8BitDo has revealed a new line of gamepads that look set to give Nintendo’s official Pro Controller a run for its money.
After releasing the 8BitDo Ultimate Wired Controller for Xbox Series X|S earlier this year, the third-party manufacturer has revamped the design for the Nintendo Switch. The 8BitDo Ultimate Controller is available in wired and wireless models, and packs a range of premium features that rival the official Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.
It’s a highly customizable gamepad. The sensitivity of its analog sticks and triggers can be tweaked, its buttons can be remapped, and even the intensity of its vibration can be altered. It also features two back paddles, and can be used to create macro shortcuts, letting you assign a long sequence of button taps to a single press.
All those sliders can be modified to taste through an Android and iOS app, as well as through your PC. You’ll be able to save your preferences across three custom profiles, switching between them on the fly with a single button press.
As with its previous gamepads, 8BitDo is pitching this new Ultimate Controller as an affordable option, despite its bevy of features. The wireless model – which can connect to Nintendo Switch, PC, Android and iOS devices – comes in at $69.99 (about £60 / AU$100), which is around the same retail price the official Nintendo Switch Pro Controller sells for.
If you just want to connect it to a PC, you can save some money by grabbing a $49.99 (about £43 / AU$73) model that comes packaged with a wireless adapter but doesn’t provide Bluetooth connectivity. Both wireless models include a charging dock, and are available in black, white, or pink. You can also pick up the wired version for $34.99 (about
Read more on techradar.com
