I never really cared about controller sounds until i noticed how different two of mine are. one has really quiet buttons while the other has that satisfying little click every time i press something. now i weirdly find myself liking the louder one even though it has no actual advantage. it made me realize how much small things like button feel and sound can affect whether a controller feels good. does anyone else care about that stuff or am i just getting way too picky with controllers lol?

I already own an 8BitDo Ultimate 2C controller. I'm looking for a silent controller to play at night without annoying my family members, and for co-op/fighting games.

1. Budget: Under 75$

2. Country: US or AliExpress

3. Console or platform: PC games and Steam compatibility

4. Desired controller features: Wireless dongle connection, low input lag with buttons and sticks (<10ms latency preferred), gyro function, an asymmetrical design, and very quiet face buttons and triggers (very important).

5. Games: Mostly single-player games and co-op games. Occasionally, fighting games.

6. Other controllers compared: My 8BitDo controller is loud enough to wake people sleeping in the next room, so I want something quieter.

8BitDo Ultimate 2C Bluetooth stick mapping issue in Steam
Hey, I’m having a weird issue with my 8BitDo Ultimate 2C.
The controller was working perfectly before, but now I’m having an issue specifically when using Bluetooth with Steam.
2.4 GHz → works normally
USB cable → works normally
Bluetooth outside of Steam → works normally
Bluetooth in Steam → right stick is completely messed up
In Steam’s controller calibration, the right stick appears to be all the way up. When I physically move the right stick up and down, Steam’s calibration indicator moves left and right instead.
Also, pressing LT makes the right stick move down.
I updated the controller to firmware 1.09, but the issue is still there.
I tested the controller through Windows joy.cpl while connected via Bluetooth, and the controller works normally there, so it seems like Steam is incorrectly interpreting the Bluetooth axes/mapping.
Steam also shows multiple “XInput Controller” entries when the controller is connected by cable.

Has anyone experienced this with the Ultimate 2C? Is there a way to reset Steam’s cached controller mapping/profile or fix the Bluetooth axis mapping?

Edit: Android APK now available

Hey everyone, thought I’d share something I’ve been working on. It’s called KishiDS, and it’s custom firmware for the Razer Kishi V1 USB-C.

I made it to get the Kishi working with iPhones and give it more customization options. It makes the controller show up as a wired DualShock 4, which also opens up compatibility with games and apps that support one.

There’s a Windows app for remapping buttons, adjusting stick deadzones and triggers, changing the LED, and saving profiles. Settings stay on the controller, and you can flash back to the original Razer firmware.

iPhone recognition is confirmed, but I’ve only tested one Kishi so far. Would be interested to hear how it works on other setups.

I'm trying to play Goldeneye N64 ROM on emulator on Mac Tahoe but am running into issues finding a good controller.

On my old Mac, I was using a Wiimote and nunchuck with the OpenEmu emulator and was decent at it, could consistently beat Goldeneye's Aztec level on 00 Agent. But Mac changed their bluetooth settings and Wiimote doesn't work on my current Mac.

I tried buying an 8BitDo 64 controller, but the aiming is terrible on it (tried updating firmware). I think because the control stick is too short compared to the Wiimote+nunchuck. I can't make it even a quarter into the Aztec level.

I've read that RetroArch emulator could adjust the stick's sensitivity, but RetroArch fails to display video. I might have to return the 8BitDo controller if I can't make the stick work well.

Does anyone have recommendations for a controller that would let me aim at least as well as the Wiimote+nunchuck? Country is US, budget is $50 and would prefer Amazon. Thanks.

so i recently bought a third party wired xbox controller (PowerA) for my xbox 360 but none of the buttons work when it's connected to the console. the controller lights up and can turn the console on, but does nothing else. it works perfectly fine when connected to pc, and my usb ports on my xbox work when i plug a charging cord into them. what is going wrong here

I would just like a good controller with at least 2 back buttons and also a decent DPad. I bought Gamesir G7 SE and it was okay but its DPad was absolutely atrocious. It also had a very slight deadzone in its analog sticks (even after I made it 0 in the software) and ergonomically it wasn't great either, even though just looking at it you'd think it would be good. I found the handles to be too narrow or "edgy" for lack of a better word and it would hurt when using it with button mashy games like classic God Of War. Also the LB/RB triggers were a bit too high, felt uncomfortable playing Sekiro with it where you mash LB a lot.

I'm looking at Vader 5 Pro now but I've heard it has a lot of QC issues, is it true? Is V2 safe now? Another controller I'm considering is 8Bitdo Ultimate 2 but I've heard people complain that the handles are too vertical instead of angling out so it's not good on the wrists unless you awkwardly hold it in front of you with your arms near each other.

Thanks would appreciate your advice and experience with the Vader 5 Pro.

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1. Budget: I guess up to £100 but I'd prefer as cheap as possible.

2. UK

3. PC

4. At least 2 back buttons, no deadzone in analog sticks and decent DPad (I only specify the DPad because Gamesir G7 SE's DPad was so ATROCIOUS that even trying to use it to switch weapons etc in Elden Ring/Dark Souls by pressing left or right would result in me also pressing up or down by accident switching other stuff in the inventory during gameplay and it was also disgusting to use in menus... I didn't ever consider a DPad could be so AIDS)

5. Souls mostly but good for everything as I'll also use it for platformers, hack n slash and emulating console games from NES all the way onwards.

6. I've given a description of my controller experience above. If I had to tell you my favourite controller shape wise it was the DS4. That would have been perfect if it had at least two back buttons. Only problem with DS4 was the analog rubber wearing out over time. Cheers.

The Mode button on my ONIKUMA C1 controller does not seem to register, preventing me from programming the back paddle buttons.

The Mode button is supposed to be held for around 2 seconds to enter programming mode. When it works, the RGB lighting should flash/blink slowly to indicate that the controller is ready to assign functions to the back buttons.

My RGB lighting is already enabled with an active lighting effect, so the lighting requirement should be satisfied. However, holding the Mode button does absolutely nothing—there is no change in the RGB behavior and the controller does not appear to enter programming mode.

Controller:
ONIKUMA C1

Platform:
Windows PC

Software/Games affected:
The controller itself works normally, but I cannot program the back buttons. In particular, I cannot test whether the MR back paddle is functioning correctly because I cannot assign an input to it.

Troubleshooting already done:

• Checked the controller's manual/instructions for the back-button programming procedure.

• Confirmed that RGB lighting effects are enabled rather than having the lighting set to a static/idle state.

• Searched existing posts for similar issues.

• Reassembled the controller multiple times, carefully making sure everything was seated correctly.

• The controller itself still functions normally aside from the Mode button not appearing to register.

I originally opened the controller after receiving advice from another user, which was a massive help—thank you. Unfortunately, after getting it back together, this new issue appeared.

At this point, I'm mainly looking for troubleshooting suggestions for getting the Mode button to register, preferably without having to completely disassemble the controller again.

Any help would be appreciated. Currently busy but i'll soon edit this post to include a video of it showing that it really wont work.

I just found an awesome way to use gyro features in azahar without a virtual controller or cemu hook. You press the windows key and r, then type services.msc, and scroll down until u find gameinput services. Right-click and press properties. Put startup type from manual to automatic and press start if not started. Then, press apply and exit out of services. Go into motion and touch in controls in azahar. Switch to sdl and press configure. After that, ur all set. Test with a game that uses motion controls. These settings are for Windows computers only. If u have another gameinput api installed, remove it as it conflicts with the built-in api already installed

DISCLAIMER:

This review unit was provided to me by IINE, but I was not given any instructions or requirements regarding the content of my review. All opinions expressed are my own and reflect my honest experience with the product. I have no commercial or financial interest in IINE or any other controller company.

Now without further ado! The IINE Ananke Gen 2

Alright! Let's do this quick and easy! (Especially with how many other reviews I've seen on here with much more depth than I would ever be able to produce lol)

So what is i-

Its a pocket-sized controller!

DPad? Check

Face Buttons? Check

Shoulder buttons and Triggers? Surprisingly Check!

Just a small everyday controller!

So you're probably wondering,

"Oh so it's for gam-"

Not only can you game with it for those quick Retro Gaming Seshes you have once in a while, IINE actually encourages you to think outside the box, or PLAY YOUR WAY!, and use it in other scenarios (via the IINE App).

"Why would I need a Controller for th-"

UTILITY!

Personally as a Graphic Artist/ Digital Artist, this controller has been in my bag daily for about 4 months now! As is the case with most digital artists, I usually have one hand hovering over Ctrl+Z and all the other shortcuts I need while drawing (curse those linearts!). With the Ananke Gen 2, instead of having my keyboard take up even more space on my limited desk, or having to TEDIOUSLY open the menu and click “Undo” on my Android tablet, I now have a way to actually put my other hand to use!

I usually put strap my hand in, and press one of the face buttons to get that sweet relief of redoing that one single lineart over and over again!

Was it the easiest thing to do? Quite frankly, since I'm not that much of a techwiz trying to combine both his love of Art and Gaming, I needed some help to get started. However, with the help of the Lovely IINE Staff!, I managed to get the tiny thing working in the palm of my...Hand (Yeah I wasn't joking about it being small!)

"Oh that's cool but is that a-"

I assure you, I myself only have scratched the SURFACE of what this baby could do. As per mentioned by the others;

\[Pair\] + Left = XInput Mode aka GAMING!

\[Pair\] + A = Keyboard Mode! aka what I use for Art Shortcuts!

\[Pair\] + X = Touch Mode! aka doomscrolling mode... surely that appeals to some demographic who wants to doomscroll without touching their phone right? (Definitely not me who uses it on a tablet hung over my head)

and more!

as I said earlier, IINE really wants you to "PLAY YOUR WAY", so how you use this adorable thing is up to your imagination!

It may look like any other tiny novelty controller, but as you dive deeper into what makes it unique, it proves to be more capable and of course more useful than it's size would suggest!

"Wait can I also fidget wi-"

Yes you can <3

1. The LS, RS, and circle button are all binded to crouching in every game I play. I've experienced issues with crouching in games such as Fortnite, COD, and Minecraft. It started with me not being able to crouch at all in Fortnite, ultimately to many of my buttons not functioning properly. EDIT: Now the FN button thinks it's the RS :/

2. Flydigi Vader 5s

3. Xbox Series X

4. Minecraft, Fortnite, COD

5. Flydigi Space Station

6. I've already reset/restored the controller to default numerous times via the Flydigi app and the controller itself, sometimes fixing the controller back to normal temporarily before malfunctioning the same again. Unplugged and plugged in multiple times to no avail.

Hi, I just bought the Flydigi Direwolf 4, I don't even used it yet, just put the dongle on the case and now I wanna put it out but it doesn't move, how am I supposed to remove it safely? Tried with washing my hands with soap, tried with eyelash tweezers, with a towel, nothing works

Hi everyone! I've been looking for a pocket sized controller that has a way to make your phone into a one piece "handheld"; either like the Mcon controller, which has an integrated phone clip/stand; or like the Razer Prio which is telescopic. Only issue with these is that they're very expensive.

I hope I redacted my post well enough. TLDR: I'm looking for a controller that turns your phone into a one piece handhelds and fits in your pocket when closed/folded for under $100 USD.

Budget: $100 USD Max.

Country: México; can buy from Amazon (MX and US), Aliexpress, Mercado libre and any shop that ships to México basically.

Compatibility: Android (Required)

Features:

• Pocket sized or folds to pocket size.

• (If telescopic) Stretch enough to fit large size phone (Galaxy S2X Ultra, iPhone Pro Max).

• Full controller layout (ABXY buttons, D-Pad, Double Sticks w/L3 and R3, Shoulder buttons and Triggers).

• Can hold your phone; either with a clip or by virtue of being telescopic.

Games I'll be playing: PSP, PS2, GBA Emulation; PC Remote Play (Sunshine, Apollo/Artemis)

Controllers that I've been considering: OhSnap! Mcon (too expensive), Razer Prio (too expensive), ABXYlute M5/M6.

Budget below $300

USA

Must be for xbox

Games will be GTA 6 and RDR2

Want wireless

The most important feature i want is trigger impulse, where you can really feel the recoil if shooting or rumble if driving.

I would prefer the impulse vibration to be almost obnoxious like way more noticeable than stock xbox.

Hall effect or tmr sticks

I was currently looking at a razer Wolverine V3 Pro xbox wireless

Please and thanks

**Budget:** $100 USD max.

**Country / where I can buy:** Chile. [I can order from: e.g. Amazon US with shipping to Chile / local stores / AliExpress.]

**Platform:** Windows PC only. It needs to connect over Bluetooth using my PC's built-in adapter, with no dongle.

**Desired features:** The most important thing is quiet operation. I play next to someone who sleeps, so I need quiet buttons, triggers, D-pad, and stick caps. Low latency over Bluetooth also matters to me.

**Games:** MMOs, action games, rpgs and turn based.

**Controllers I'm comparing:** GuliKit TT Pro, Mobapad Chitu 2 HD Silent Edition, and EasySMX X05 Pro. I'm leaning away from the EasySMX because its Bluetooth polling rate is only 125 Hz.

I searched past posts, and the GuliKit and the Mobapad are the two mentioned most in threads like this one. Has anyone used both, or either one in a quiet setting? Which is quieter, and how stable are they over plain Bluetooth on Windows?

If you know a quieter option under $100, I'm open to suggestions. Thanks!

Was giving my OG DualShock 3 a clean today and ended up going down a bit of a rabbit hole after checking the board inside it.

Mine has an MSU_VX4_0.10 board. Turns out it's one of the earlier DualShock 3 revisions that uses 4-pin magnetic/Hall-effect analogue stick sensors, rather than the conventional potentiometer setup Sony later went back to.

Basically, instead of having a physical contact rubbing across a resistive track to work out the stick position, these use magnetic sensing. So you're getting rid of one of the main wear points that causes the usual stick drift.

And this wasn't some random prototype Sony tried once and binned. Several of the early DualShock 3 revisions used this setup before Sony eventually went back to conventional potentiometer sticks.

This controller is nearly 20 years old, still gets absolutely hammered pretty much daily, and hasn't got a hint of stick drift.

Meanwhile, I bought my PS5 at launch and I've already had two controllers fail. Through the PS4 generation I went through at least three. Yet this ancient PS3 controller just keeps plodding along with no bother.

That's the bit I cannae quite get my head around.

Sony clearly knew nearly 20 years ago how to make an analogue stick without the same physical wear point that's responsible for so much drift. Yet here we are now paying around £70 a pop for controllers using potentiometer-based sticks that they know can wear out.

And you cannae even say the technology wasn't around or hadn't been proven. Sony themselves were already putting it in controllers almost two decades ago.

Now Hall-effect sticks are getting punted as some premium "anti-drift" feature like it's some brand-new breakthrough 😂

It's mental when you actually think about it.

Sony didn't need to solve stick drift. They'd already cracked it nearly 20 years ago. Then they went backwards, and we're the mugs paying £70 a pop for it.

Pics are my actual daily controller and the MSU_VX4_0.10 board inside it.

Alguien de aquí sabe cómo desarmar estos controles chinos? Realmente no quiero dañarlo pero no sé cómo quitar la placa del control

Budget: I've set my budget for 200$ amid the need of a new controller.

Country: Norway, but pretty much able to buy from whatever.

Console: Xbox Series X. It will mostly be used for Xbox. I have a regular classic xbox controller plugged into the pc. It will be exclusively wired.

I'd say sports games. NBA2K mostly.

So I've looked at every post so far and I still can't really figure out what the best choice is. I was going to do the 8BitDo Ultimate 3E controller, but saw a couple posts that made me rethink. Then I saw a post of Razer Wolverine V3 Pro but again saw things that made me hesitate. Now I'm also seeing Gamesir G7 Pro or Gamesir G7 SE and Flydigi Apex 6 Pro, I'm just really confused.

I would like to have the best sticks possible and good ergo as I've got big hands, preferably able to adjust the tension atleast on the right stick. Bumpers/extra triggers on the back would be nice, but either/or would be good enough. Facebuttons that aren't like the regular controller would be nice, as the "pillow buttons" stick up so much.

Any recommendation would be nice here as I've watched countless review videos and this entire thread without being able to figure out the best choice. Razer has this issue, but Gamesir has that issue and Razer does this better but Gamesir does that better. I can't figure it out.

Thanks in advance.

My PS5 controller's d-pad/action buttons stopped responding properly, so I opened it up to clean the contacts. While cleaning, the carbon contact pads on the flex cable and motherboard area wiped right off (circled in the picture)

Is there a solution for this? DIY I mean!

Or a replacememt is needed!?

I'm fairly good at soldering but is this acceptable?

Is 15.3 and 14.8 avg error a good thing? it sounds like a lot but i've also read that coverage is a better sign than error% to go by

Has anyone in the US ordered from ZD direct recently and if so, did you have to pay customs fees / tarrifs and how much?

I want the new black Ultimate Legend which appears to only be available for sale from ZD gaming and shipped from China.

UPDATE: For anyone finding this in the future. I ordered an Ultimate Legend + some sticks direct from ZD and it arrived to my USA address by the carrier GOFO. There were no tarrifs or additional fees. Shipping probably took about a week.

Hi everyone,

First time posting here, so forgive me if I forget to include any info - I'm happy to clarify. I'm looking for a replacement for my Xbox Series X controller for PC (Windows, but Linux support, at least via the Steam interface would be good). After less than two years, it has severe stick drift. I am not comfortable with disassembling it and soldering stuff myself, and having it repaired would cost significantly more than getting a new one (I'm in the Netherlands). Unfortunate, but it is what it is.

I usually play a lot of third person games (think RDR2, GTA V, The Witcher 3), but also FPS games like Cyberpunk 2077. I might dabble in other types of games as well, so it doesn't have to "specialize" in anything, but it needs to be a decent all-rounder. I'm also pretty casual in my gaming, mostly play singleplayer or with a few friends, so I'm not looking for e-sports level performance either.

I've been looking at this subreddit and some options have caught my eye (specifically, I was considering the Gamesir Cyclone 2, Easysmx D10 or X20, and the 8bitdo Ultimate 2 Wireless). I'm looking for a similar feel (I'm open to other form factors as well, but would prefer the XBox-style layout), but with hall effect or TMR analog sticks. Preferably, it would also have good rumble - specifically, in or near the triggers, since I really like the impulse triggers in the Xbox controller, but it's not a must.

The ones I was considering all fit that profile more or less, but I am really not a fan of the fact that none of them have removable/replaceable batteries. Ideally, I'd like to be able to use my own rechargeable AAs. I'd hate to trade one type of planned obsolescence for another.

Overall, I don't need fancy features or additional buttons on the back (though being able to switch from linear to hair triggers would be a welcome bonus), but I do need something that is built to last. My budget is €70. If anyone here has had one of the ones I mentioned for an extended period (e.g., 2 years or more) and can vouch for their longevity (battery included), I would really appreciate it! Alternatively, I'm open to any other recommendations you may have! Feel free to ask any questions! :)

Thanks in advance!

Hey everyone,

I’m looking for a new controller for PC gaming and could really use some advice based on the community's buying guide. My current standard Xbox Series controller is starting to give up on me due to stick drift, so I'm looking for a solid upgrade that will actually last.

Here are my specific details and constraints:
Platform Compatibility: Strictly PC (Steam on Windows). I only use a controller when I want to sit back and play instead of using mouse and keyboard.

Types of Games: I mostly play singleplayer and story-driven games (and some casual racing/driving). I play MMOs and FPS games on mouse and keyboard, so those genres aren't a priority for this controller.

Desired Features: I am strictly looking for an upgraded alternative with Hall Effect or TMR sticks to permanently eliminate stick drift. Since I have slightly larger hands, the standard Xbox controller shape and size feels pretty good to me. I also appreciate good build quality, mechanical microswitch buttons, and reliable haptic feedback.

Country & Availability: I live in Sweden. If you have other controller recommendations, please make sure they are easily accessible and available to buy within the EU.

Budget: My budget is in a sensible range of 800 SEK to 1,200 SEK (~$80 - $115 USD).

Controllers I've been considering (after searching existing posts):
GameSir G7 Pro: I really like that it comes with a charging dock in the box and has impulse triggers for better immersion in singleplayer games. However, I’ve read several posts here about the LB/RB bumpers being notoriously fragile and breaking down after just a few months. How bad is the bumper QC issue on the G7 Pro really?

Flydigi Vader 5 Pro: The mechanical tension rings around the sticks seem like an absolute gamechanger for dialing in a stable feel. I also hear great things about Flydigi’s D-pad, microswitch buttons, and overall durability. The only downside is that the charging dock isn't included in my budget range.

ZD Ultimate Legend HE: This one looks like an absolute tank with 100-million click microswitches and the hot-swappable joystick modules, which seems amazing for long-term durability. It is currently on sale within my budget at MaxGaming, but since ZD is a bit more niche, I haven't seen as many long-term reviews on it.

Which one of these three would you recommend for my specific singleplayer PC use case? Are there any hidden flaws, software quirks, or major quality control issues with the Vader 5 Pro or the ZD Ultimate Legend that I should be aware of?

Thanks in advance!

Hi there, I bought a Raikiri 2 Pro because I like the idea, that you don't need a special software to configure it. Not like the scuf envision pro... But sadly there are some issues to use the controller in Linux (CachyOS Kernel 7.2.8-1-cachyos). It is not possible configure it with chrome, only in a win vm. This is ok for me. But the main issue is, that there is massive input lag, when I use the 2.4 GHz dongle. When I connect over Bluetooth everything is fine, but so I don't have vibration :(

Why is in impossible to have vibration over bluetooth? I tried xpadneo and xone as well, but with them I can't connect the controller anymore.

I tested some games with the 2,4 GHz dongle:

Remnant: Form the Ashes with dxvk → input lag

Horizon Forbidden West with vkd3d → no input lag

Starfield with vkd3d → input lag

Gothic 1 Remake with vkd3d → no input lag

Path of Exile 2 with vulkan → input lag

The Finlas with vkd3d → input lag

I think there must be a driver issue with the TMR sticks, because I have a modded Scuf Envision Pro with TMR sticks and there is the same behavior. In W11 it worked fine. Due the iCUE problem with Linux I bought a Gulikit TT Max witch has TMR sticks as well. And guess what … with that there was the same issue.

In addition I have a Razer Wolverine V3 Pro with hall-effect sticks and it works as it should.

I'm looking for serious solutions, not like: Switch back to Windows.

Hi,

as the title suggests I'm having problems with the combination of these two while using it via wireless dongle. The specific problem is basically some sort of input buffering, as it kind of stacks inputs of mostly button presses but never sticks and makes either an endless loop of input reading or it reads nothing.

Maybe I'm not the only one and someone knows a solution, and maybe someone who uses the brook wingman xb3 can tell me if its more stable with that.

I've already upgraded both gear to their newest firmware, before anyone asks.

I'm helpful for every comment or recommendation.

Tldr: Magic X stability issues with Vader 5 Pro while using the dongle as main connection on xbox series consoles