Arcade gaming has produced some of the most recognizable hardware in the gaming industry. The charm of an arcade machine with tactile buttons has remained strong. Even as arcade-style fighting games thrive in competitions, they are evolving into more customizable and portable versions designed for modern gamers. 8BitDo’s recent arcade controller range claims to advance that tradition.
These controllers are among the most sophisticated on the market, combining quality design with a variety of customizable features. Available in two versions—one for Xbox and Windows PC, and another for Switch and Windows PC—this arcade controller includes a hot-swappable PCB and 16 Kailh Wizard low-profile mechanical switches, allowing players to choose based on their personal preferences.
Key features include:
- Remapping options: Adjust settings according to your play style.
- Customizable RGB lighting: Especially on the Xbox version, enhancing the gaming experience.
- User-friendly control panel: Accessible mode configurations like SOCD and tournament setups.
The controller’s compact design makes it an excellent travel partner for tournaments, measuring about the size of an A4 paper sheet and featuring a slim profile. It supports connectivity through 2.4 wireless, Bluetooth, and wired methods, ensuring that players can easily connect it to multiple devices.
With the buttons replacing the traditional stick, many competitive players favor this design for its accuracy and reliability. Given its features and specs, this arcade controller is positioned to impact the competitive gaming scene significantly.
If you’re a button enthusiast, anticipate a mid-August release for prices starting at €89.99 / £74.99 for the Switch version and €99.99 / £84.99 for the Xbox variant. Keep an eye out for further updates on North American pricing.
