Current Events > Figuring out which 8bitdo controller to buy is so confusing

(+) Yeah! (+)

Most of their controllers use the same branding and name, they're constantly releasing new models that look identical to previous ones, and they have separate models for bluetooth, 2.4GHz and wired variants.

I just want the best, most feature-rich PC-compatible controller they have.

If you can read reviews and see which one is the most popular, you could help narrow it down.

Get the Retro 18 Mechanical Numpad.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CSPGMGBT

I got this one for my Switch and really enjoy it

Kaldrenthebold posted...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CSPGMGBT

I got this one for my Switch and really enjoy it

How's the d-pad? I thought about buying one of those for emulation purposes.

Rob_the_Ninja posted...

How's the d-pad? I thought about buying one of those for emulation purposes.

I know 8bitdo d-pads are considered the best, but coming from an Xbox Series controller I'm concerned how noisy and clicky they are. The Xbox controller is loud as fuck.

Kaldrenthebold posted...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CSPGMGBT

I got this one for my Switch and really enjoy it

I've also used this one for a handheld emulator machine (Android based) and on my PC in both bluetooth mode and wired mode.

Rob_the_Ninja posted...

How's the d-pad? I thought about buying one of those for emulation purposes.

Good! I like using it for side scrollers like Blasphemous 2. It's quiet and doesn't really click but I'll go poke it in an hour or so to be sure.

CRON posted...

I know 8bitdo d-pads are considered the best, but coming from an Xbox Series controller I'm concerned how noisy and clicky they are. The Xbox controller is loud as fuck.

I don't recall having any clicky noises on it but like I said above I'll go poke it when I'm out of a work meeting later.

Kaldrenthebold posted...

Good! I like using it for side scrollers like Blasphemous 2. It's quiet and doesn't really click but I'll go poke it in an hour or so to be sure.

I don't recall having any clicky noises on it but like I said above I'll go poke it when I'm out of a work meeting later.

If you could do that I'd appreciate it. I like the standard Xbox controller but the d-pad is loud as fuck and the face buttons are annoyingly loud if you're doing a lot of mashing. I'm using a (defective) DualSense right now and I like how relatively quiet it is.

Kaldrenthebold posted...

Good! I like using it for side scrollers like Blasphemous 2. It's quiet and doesn't really click but I'll go poke it in an hour or so to be sure.

Good to hear, do the face buttons feel fine too?

CRON posted...

If you could do that I'd appreciate it. I like the standard Xbox controller but the d-pad is loud as fuck and the face buttons are annoyingly loud if you're doing a lot of mashing. I'm using a (defective) DualSense right now and I like how relatively quiet it is.

I suppose it's not like a mushy d-pad, it is clearly a button press, but it is silent and feels good. I like it, it is responsive and feels like a quality d-pad. I like the R2 and L2 triggers as well. Overall I am glad I got it, since the Switch Pro controllers are a bit hit or miss with quality. One of mine has a completely effed joystick which sucks.

Rob_the_Ninja posted...

Good to hear, do the face buttons feel fine too?

They do, they kind of remind me of the face buttons from the og Xbox controller. They feel like quality buttons. They do sound a bit clicky though.

Here's a review on Amazon I can agree with:

TLDR: This is probably the controller to buy right now if you're interested in emulation or PC gaming in general. It works great in Xinput mode for PS layout, gamecube, and modern PC games, and works great in pro controller mode for modern systems with gyro support. The d-pad first layout is really nice for retro games as well. Even fighting games like Street Fighter III and Melee both felt right on this controller. Additionally, the back buttons and the two front utility buttons are great for shortcuts, macros, and functions in emulators, like pause, rewind, and save state loading.

Kaldrenthebold posted...

I suppose it's not like a mushy d-pad, it is clearly a button press, but it is silent and feels good. I like it, it is responsive and feels like a quality d-pad. I like the R2 and L2 triggers as well. Overall I am glad I got it, since the Switch Pro controllers are a bit hit or miss with quality. One of mine has a completely effed joystick which sucks

Thanks for the response. I'm looking at getting the Ultimate wired Xbox controller with hall effect sticks and the LED rings but I'm wondering if metal sticks clacking against the anti-friction ring would be noisy.

Which model do you have?

CRON posted...

Thanks for the response. I'm looking at getting the Ultimate wired Xbox controller with hall effect sticks and the LED rings but I'm wondering if metal sticks clacking against the anti-friction ring would be noisy.

Which model do you have?

I got the exact one I linked, the 8Bitdo Pro 2 Bluetooth Controller. The one that looks like a classic-y Nintendo controller. I like the sticks being in the PS controller position since I figured I would use this mostly for my Switch and retro games. I should really use this for my Raspberry Pi as well for my emulation station. The handles are textured which makes it feel overall nice to just hold.

Here's a review of the one I got so you can at least see it more in action instead of just hearing about it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUvlwIFEkPk

I watched it and agree with what they said. Can use it wired or wireless, but I have only used it on the Switch at the moment.

Kaldrenthebold posted...

I got the exact one I linked, the 8Bitdo Pro 2 Bluetooth Controller.

They released a revision recently that has hall effect sticks and there's even an Xbox branded variant with back buttons. I'm tempted to get that one but I've heard extra buttons on 8bitdo controllers are kind of pointless since they don't support SteamInput and they can only be programmed as macros.

CRON posted...

They released a revision recently that has hall effect sticks and there's even an Xbox branded variant with back buttons. I'm tempted to get that one but I've heard extra buttons on 8bitdo controllers are kind of pointless since they don't support SteamInput and they can only be programmed as macros.

This one also has the hall effect sticks FYI, you can choose which one you want on Amazon, but I went with hall effect (idk what that even means tbqh). But yeah the back buttons can be programmed via an app for macros which would be nice for stuff like emulation (speed up, quick save, quick load, etc).

Kaldrenthebold posted...

I got the exact one I linked, the 8Bitdo Pro 2 Bluetooth Controller. The one that looks like a classic-y Nintendo controller. I like the sticks being in the PS controller position since I figured I would use this mostly for my Switch and retro games. I should really use this for my Raspberry Pi as well for my emulation station. The handles are textured which makes it feel overall nice to just hold.

Here's a review of the one I got so you can at least see it more in action instead of just hearing about it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUvlwIFEkPk

I watched it and agree with what they said. Can use it wired or wireless, but I have only used it on the Switch at the moment.

i have this and it's great. the switch on the back lets you use it with pc, switch, apple and android. only used it on my pc and android tablet and worked great with both. works great with steam and other games. just get a bluetooth one.

i have a 2.4ghz of one of the snes controllers and that worked great as well. was nice buying some new and working easily with a 30+ year old console.

but yea on pc i'd definitely go with the ps1 style with the side grips.

Yeah this is my first 8Bitdo controller and I am very impressed. And for a cheap price to boot!

CRON posted...

They released a revision recently that has hall effect sticks and there's even an Xbox branded variant with back buttons. I'm tempted to get that one but I've heard extra buttons on 8bitdo controllers are kind of pointless since they don't support SteamInput and they can only be programmed as macros.

this has back buttons and you can program them. just depends on what you're using and if it registers all the buttons. not sure about steam cause i haven't bothered using them because i'll accidently hit them and most pc gaming i've done doesn't even use all the other buttons.