I’m quite happy with my 8BitDo 2 Ultimate, which has many features of the Steam Controller like TMR sticks, 4 extra rear buttons and gyro and has a better polling rate at 1000 Hz and is cheaper (~$56). It does however lack the track pads and advanced haptic feedback of the Steam Controller.
Get the wireless version. Not the bluetooth version. Reason is because the 8bitdo ultimate 2 wireless got a firmware update so it supports dinput mode when you power it on while holding down the B button. That provides full Steam Input support to rebind the extra 2 bumpers and paddles to any input you want. Wireless version does have bluetooth support, but difference is just that the one with the bluetooth name is one that connects to the Switch console over bluetooth and the wireless one made more with PC support in mind. Which is the reason it got dinput update while the bluetooth version didn’t.
Depends on what you want from the controller. Very few have the track pads for example. But there are a lot of good controllers out there these days. I stuck with the Flydigi Vader 4. Gyro that can be mapped to right stick for motion controls in any game. 2 extra buttons, 4 extra back paddles (only 2 are particularly usable on the back). Great polling rate. Xbox ergonomics. Clicky mechanical face buttons. Analog triggers. Hall effect sticks. Customizable RGB but not too much of it. Has 2.4GHz dongle, works with xinput, dinput, and works on Switch.
I think Vader 5 is out now. I think it has TMR sticks but I’m not sure what else is different.
Gamesir Nova Lite 2 is a good budget controller with a lot of the same features for less than an official Xbox controller.
Gamesir G7 Pro is a good alternative to the Vader but I haven’t used it.
8BitDo makes some fun and unique controllers but their latency is not always great, and the ergonomics for the Ultimate feels off to me. I get a lot of use out of their Pro 2 controllers which are really nice for 2D games. They’re basically a Dual shock 4 + SNES controller. Also has gyro, paddles, xinput, dinput, and Switch modes. The Pro 3 is out now with a few more improvements but I’m good for now.
I recommend the GameSir Super Nova. Probably the best controller I’ve ever used. Not really expensive; costs a little less than standard Xbox/PS controllers in my country. Works on all platforms and comes with a very nice charging dock.
A note for any Windows users. The controller works flawlessly out of the box on Linux, but I’ve been running into issues when trying it on my Windows work machine. For some reason it doesn’t work with the wireless receiver plugged into the charging dock, only with the receiver directly in the PC. Their Windows app doesn’t seem to fix the issue, but offers quite a few customization options.
While we’re on the subject. Who can recommend me and better cheaper alternative?
I’m quite happy with my 8BitDo 2 Ultimate, which has many features of the Steam Controller like TMR sticks, 4 extra rear buttons and gyro and has a better polling rate at 1000 Hz and is cheaper (~$56). It does however lack the track pads and advanced haptic feedback of the Steam Controller.
Thanks!
Get the wireless version. Not the bluetooth version. Reason is because the 8bitdo ultimate 2 wireless got a firmware update so it supports dinput mode when you power it on while holding down the B button. That provides full Steam Input support to rebind the extra 2 bumpers and paddles to any input you want. Wireless version does have bluetooth support, but difference is just that the one with the bluetooth name is one that connects to the Switch console over bluetooth and the wireless one made more with PC support in mind. Which is the reason it got dinput update while the bluetooth version didn’t.
Depends on what you want from the controller. Very few have the track pads for example. But there are a lot of good controllers out there these days. I stuck with the Flydigi Vader 4. Gyro that can be mapped to right stick for motion controls in any game. 2 extra buttons, 4 extra back paddles (only 2 are particularly usable on the back). Great polling rate. Xbox ergonomics. Clicky mechanical face buttons. Analog triggers. Hall effect sticks. Customizable RGB but not too much of it. Has 2.4GHz dongle, works with xinput, dinput, and works on Switch.
I think Vader 5 is out now. I think it has TMR sticks but I’m not sure what else is different.
Gamesir Nova Lite 2 is a good budget controller with a lot of the same features for less than an official Xbox controller.
Gamesir G7 Pro is a good alternative to the Vader but I haven’t used it.
8BitDo makes some fun and unique controllers but their latency is not always great, and the ergonomics for the Ultimate feels off to me. I get a lot of use out of their Pro 2 controllers which are really nice for 2D games. They’re basically a Dual shock 4 + SNES controller. Also has gyro, paddles, xinput, dinput, and Switch modes. The Pro 3 is out now with a few more improvements but I’m good for now.
Happy with 8bitdo. Haptics are great.
I recommend the GameSir Super Nova. Probably the best controller I’ve ever used. Not really expensive; costs a little less than standard Xbox/PS controllers in my country. Works on all platforms and comes with a very nice charging dock.
A note for any Windows users. The controller works flawlessly out of the box on Linux, but I’ve been running into issues when trying it on my Windows work machine. For some reason it doesn’t work with the wireless receiver plugged into the charging dock, only with the receiver directly in the PC. Their Windows app doesn’t seem to fix the issue, but offers quite a few customization options.
No trackpads so not entirely better, but the Gulikit Es Pro are a lot cheaper.