Nacon is launching a new wireless Xbox Series X controller, and you'll be glad to know it's a lot more affordable than the brand's premier Revolution X Unlimited. While that flagship will set you back $199.99 / £199.99, the new Revolution Pro X will only cost $109.99/£109.99. Despite that, it'll give you wireless play, a charging stand, and some fancy features besides.

In a brilliant pat of its own back, Nacon has used the art design of one of its best-selling games to give the new RPX a distinct look. 2025's Hell is Us was published by Nacon, and its iconic patterning found all over its in-game world adorns this controller like it's something out of Hadea itself. I love this, because almost every controller is being marketed with palm trees and a GTA 6-reminiscent look at the moment (just look at the Turtle Beach Stealth Ultra 2), but Nacon is backing its own third-person action-adventure, which received a major update in recent weeks.

Admittedly, Nacon is calling this a "Special Edition", so it remains to be seen whether a non-Hell is Us colorway will arrive later. Personally, I think the design does an excellent minimalist job of being a nod for fans without plastering branding for a game all over it.

As a controller, the Revolution Pro X seems to be a rival to the GameSir G7 Pro, despite being a bit more expensive. It offers Xbox and PC play, a charging stand, and two back buttons, but it steers well clear of that $200 price point a lot of Xbox controllers land at.

It's got Hall effect thumbsticks, but what I'm really excited to see is that Nacon has emulated FlyDigi and 8BitDo by making their mechanical tension adjustable by spinning their gates in either direction.

I've tested this on the wired-only FlyDigi Vader 5S, and it's a truly brilliant way to bend your gamepad to different genres. The 8BitDo Ultimate 3 Lavender Dusk also has this feature in its repertoire and, although Nacon claims it's the first to bring this feature to the wireless Xbox controller market, 8BitDo did technically beat it to the punch.

"With the REVOLUTION PRO X – SE, we wanted to offer a full-featured precision controller at a competitive price,” said Yannick Allaert, Director of the Accessories Division at NACON.

“Its joystick tension adjustment, Hall Effect sensors, and micro-switch combine technologies designed to allow every player to tailor their controls to their playing style.”

Somewhat confusingly, this controller replaces an older Nacon Xbox controller called the Nacon Revolution X Pro (this is the Pro X), so be careful you get that right if you go shopping for it later. Right now, it seems to only be available at Nacon's own website.

I'm really excited for folks who are unable to invest $200 in a controller to experience the incredibly tactile and premium microswitch buttons that Nacon uses for its current suite of gamepads. The RPX sports the same, lovely, light-actuating, clicky buttons as its pricier siblings, and I'd argue the feeling of those is worth the $109 price tag on its own.

It's a shame there aren't TMR sticks here, but for a mid-range controller, this should sit really reasonably in the Xbox market. For reference, the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro TE and Scuf Valor Pro Wired are both $100, and while both of those have more buttons for you to play with, wireless play, comfort, and a charging stand could be a real boon for Nacon at this level of the market.

There's more where that came from, - take a peek at the best PS5 controllers and best TMR controllers.

Turtle Beach is launching a Stealth Ultra 2 controller for Xbox and PC, and it looks like it's making some sweeping improvements over the original model, which launched back in early 2024. The first Stealth Ultra was one of the first officially licensed third-party Xbox controllers to integrate a screen and menu system, as well as offer wireless play on the Xbox console.

That said, I've always felt bad for the Stealth Ultra. It was a really solid product, but it faded into obscurity very quickly thanks to a swarm of other third-party gamepads stealing its limelight with similar features. Since then, Turtle Beach acquired rival controller brand PDP, and although the results have mainly been a relaunch of so many of PDP's products under the Turtle Beach banner, it finally feels like innovation and collaboration are coming to fruition.

There seem to have been meaningful changes made to the Stealth Ultra 2. The screen size has been increased and its gimmicky social features removed; its thumbsticks are now TMR and have swappable gate shapes thanks to integrated switches - an Xbox first, but something you could do with PDP's Victrix Pro BFG for Xbox by manually swapping them out.

The metallic, flat D-pad has been exchanged for one with more shape to it; the grips seem to have been lengthened and slimmed down slightly for a more comfortable hold. To my delight, the layout of the back buttons has been swapped from horizontal to vertical, integrating them into the product's refined grips.

There aren't any additional bumpers or side buttons, which might be a disappointment for some players when comparing to the Nacon Revolution X Unlimited or the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro, but you do get a charging stand and a carry case with the Stealth Ultra 2. Three-way trigger stop switches also appear, which feels generous considering these are usually limited to one or two levels as opposed to three.

With a now-larger touchscreen on board, it feels like there have been more refinements to Turtle Beach's menu system. Marketing images show button mapping, audio levels, connection, and power settings, but settings for the screen itself and ways to customize the controller's home widgets are also there. It'd be great to see more of an in-depth overview of how this will all work to compare it to other controller screen menus, but Turtle Beach is yet to publish a trailer for the gamepad on its social channels.

Competitive players will be happy to learn that, in wired mode on PC, the Stealth Ultra 2 will be able to achieve an 8,000Hz polling rate, which rivals some of the top-drawer PC controllers I've reviewed this year.

Despite the inclusion of a charging stand, Turtle Beach details that there are Full Power, Balanced, and Eco settings. On Eco mode, you'll get a quoted 34 hours of playtime, albeit without vibration and RGB lighting on. On Full Power, you'll get 10 hours of play with the full suite of features working and lights twinkling.

I look forward to hopefully testing the Stealth Ultra 2 to compare it with the original model, but also evaluating it against the increasing number of feature-rich pro controllers on Xbox's platform at this sort of price range. It feels as though Turtle Beach has used design and customization elements from its experience with the Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded to offer something a bit more distinct this time around, but thankfully it's held true to the first Stealth Ultra's price.

This week I published a review of the SteelSeries Aeon Pro which sits at a much higher $250 price range but despite its innovative charging stand hasn't really warranted its price. For that reason, I'm happy to see the Stealth Ultra stick to that established but still pricey $199.99 / £179.99 tag we've seen already.

You can also dive deeper into the rabbit hole by looking at the best TMR controllers, the best PS5 controllers, and the best Switch 2 controllers.

Did you forget that Gran Turismo 7 existed? Because the PS5's premier racing game is still alive and kicking, to the point where you can now buy a Limited Edition GT7 DualSense controller. Why is it launching four years after the game's release? Because other, bigger games had more popular licenses first, okay? And maybe because it's helping to mark 30 years of this in-depth racing game simulator franchise.

The Limited Edition DualSense is available pretty much wherever you would normally go to buy a PS5 controller - great news! A collectible bit of hardware like this might seem a bit niche, and so you may think it'll be an easy one to find, but remember that Gran Turismo is one of PlayStation's classic franchises that has a pretty quiet but cult-like following. If you're keen to get your hands on this colorway of the DualSense, don't underestimate its potential popularity.

The GT7 Edition of the PS5 controller isn't quite as flashy as some of the other designs for this gamepad we've seen, but it still has plenty of character to it, and a signature pop of color that fans of this franchise will appreciate. It actually looks more like a standard, white DualSense that's had some stickers slapped on it, going hand-in-hand with the game it represents, which sees you collect bits of motoring history in highly polished digital rooms.

Of course, all jokes and smooth Japanese jazz aside, the controller is here to celebrate the franchise's 30th anniversary, and there's an almost retro, nostalgic charm to the design here. It's available for pre-order ahead of its December 10 launch for $84.99 / £74.99, like all limited-edition DualSense controllers before it. It's now available in the US and UK, so let's see what retailers are stocking it.

Where to pre-order the Gran Turismo 7 Limited Edition DualSense in the US

US retailers have pulled up to the Grand Prix! What? Too much of a racing pun? I can't promise I won't keep them up for the rest of the article.

You can, of course, grab the new DualSense from PlayStation directly, and that would probably be the safest port of call. Best Buy and Target are also celebrating.

• ✅PlayStation Direct: $84 to Pre-order from Sony
• ✅Best Buy: Pre-order for $84.99
• ✅Target: $84.99 but no collection options

You might be surprised not to see Walmart, Amazon, or GameStop with stock, but I'd keep an eye on these retailers throughout the day, as they usually arrive at DualSense launches in their own time. Thankfully, stock seems to be plentiful, so there's no mad rush to find it.

Where to pre-order the Gran Turismo 7 Limited Edition DualSense in the UK

The GT7 30th Anniversary DualSense is already available in the UK. Hop to the links below to grab one.

• ✅PlayStation Direct: £74.99, straight from the horse's mouth
• ✅Argos: Pre-order for £74.99
• ✅Very: In stock for £74.99
• ✅Currys: £74.99 with store collection options
• ✅Smyths Toys: Pre-order for £74.99

The other retailers to look out for are obviously going to be Amazon, as well as places like TheGameCollection, ShopTo, and even places like O2 and EE. Bizarrely, I've seen B&Q stocking a lot of gaming hardware and controllers lately, so that could be one to watch in a pinch too.

Amazon hasn't joined the launch yet, and that's pretty usual for this sort of thing. Often, its stock allocation will be bigger but will drop after the first batch of retailers. If you're waiting for that sweet, sweet Prime benefit of free delivery, fair dues. I'll update you when you earn your new racing stripes at Amazon. If you're not a Prime member, you're just as good buying from one of the available retailers now while there's plenty of stock.

My take: is it worth pre-ordering the new Limited Edition GT7 DualSense?

Like every limited edition PS5 controller drop, there's going to be two sides to the story. On one side, it's a celebration of a franchise you may be a big fan of, and that's great. If you're a long-term PlayStation gamer and you remember the good ol' days of the original GT games on the first PlayStation consoles, it might be one you're clambering over other shoppers to get - or maybe... racing them to the checkout to buy?

Still, the PlayStation controller reviewer in me feels obliged to tell you there isn't all that much you're going to gain in a practical sense from buying this GT7 one. It's like the other Limited Edition colorways in that it's a cosmetic, collectible timepiece that's going to set you back more money than a regular colorway would. You likely understand that already, but it bears repeating that if you'd rather put your money into more specs, buttons, and features in a controller, there are third-party licensed options that'll give you more bang for your buck.

Remember also that there's a plethora of sim racing wheels you could buy to enhance your enjoyment of the game more than a stock gamepad would allow.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but if I had to be honest, even with its roadster, flight case-adorned sticker aesthetic, the GT7 colorway is a bit of a plain Jane in the pantheon of DualSense colorways, so you could also get a flashier version if you want something bolder.

Again, though, this is a controller that's designed to appeal to long-term Gran Turismo fans, so if you want to celebrate the 30th anniversary of your favorite racing franchise, start your engines.

Hunting for a new gamepad? Seek out the best PC controllers, the best TMR controllers, or the best Xbox Series X controllers with our handy buying guides.

Xbox's 25th Anniversary has spawned a whole army of translucent green gaming gadgets, with brands from 8BitDo to GameSir and Razer getting involved with that iconic '90s aesthetic.

The best part is none of this stuff will cost you the $899.99 going rate of the full Xbox X25 limited edition console, with some special editions coming in cheaper than the X25 controller to boot. You can peer into the internal workings of a Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K gaming mouse, for example, or a simple controller charging dock. Everything carries that same see-through plastic throughout its design, with some kit nodding to those brightly colored face buttons for extra nostalgia.

Prices range from $39.99 for 8BitDo's Ultimate Charging Dock all the way through to $209.99 for Razer's hot-swappable mechanical keyboard. Each one comes with that official Xbox 25 stamp somewhere, so you know it's an officially licensed anniversary edition. What's more, while Xbox X25 console pre-orders continue to evade the shelves all this tech is readily available today. You'll be heading to Amazon for half of this collection, while Razer's gadgets are exclusive to its own store.

We're also rounding up all this year's best Xbox gifts ahead of the holiday season.

I'm probably going to get a lot of hate for this one, but tiny gaming controllers just don't cut it for me. If your algorithm is tuned well to you, you'll probably have heard about the new Xbox Nano controller that Microsoft is launching. I'll be the first to tell you this little thing is absolutely adorable; it's definitely more portable than your bog-standard Xbox Series X controller, and at only $49.99 / £44.99, it's pretty easy on your wallet too.

It's for those reasons that I hate to say it, but it's almost certainly going to suck.

Hi, I'm Duncan. I review controllers for a living, and I'm here to tell you that while cute, tiny gaming hardware is adorable, it's almost never usable for players like me. I love to look at the CRKD Atom+; I love the idea of carrying around the most portable mobile controller in my back pocket, and I love the cozy vibes of playing on a nostalgic handheld in bed at night, but they're all so uncomfortable for me I just struggle to see the point anymore.

The Nano controller Xbox is launching is in that category for me: adorable to look at, amazing and convenient on paper, but something I'd use once, remember the hand cramp it gave me, and then avoid using for the rest of time as it decayed in a drawer while laughing at my wallet.

To be clear, I'm not telling you Xbox will have made a bad gaming peripheral here, or that the new Nano controller won't be worth your time, but I am issuing a word of caution because if you're reading this and you're over the age of 12, you're probably not going to enjoy using it. This thing isn't being made for me or you; probably, it's most likely designed for kids to carry around, or for gaming households that want to be able to have Switch-like gaming sessions that involve the whole family without forking out hundreds on new controllers for each player.

For that reason, I love to see Microsoft coming out with this. Xbox is in a sorry state and has been for a while, and adding more charm, more brand loyalty, and just a bit more whimsy for fans to hold onto is exactly why new CEO Asha Sharma is doing a pretty decent job of turning the ship around - or at least steadying it. It's just a shame new releases like this come a week or two after mass workforce layoffs - those aren't quite so tiny, or cute as the new controller.

I've been testing portable controllers, full-sized gamepads, and everything in between for years, and I can tell you that while every new, tiny controller gets me slightly giddy and filled with childlike wonder, using them is always a different story. I have pretty big hands - nothing freaky or out of the ordinary, but I'm comfortably in the large-hand gang. Wrapping my hands around a Joy-Con controller, for example, is not a pleasant experience. Even holding a Switch or Asus ROG Ally X is a pretty uncomfortable and hand-cramp-inducing affair, so tiny controllers like the Nano Controller, the new VoidJoy GC-P01, the CRKD Atom, or anything that hasn't had a bit more ergonomic oomph thrown at it, actively take me out of whatever game I'm trying to play.

Hell, even Razer's new genius foldable mobile controller, the Prio, which is a feat of engineering, had me so excited. Then I tried using it, and even though it wasn't designed to be the ELO Vagabond, it was still pretty hard to enjoy playing with. These things are not made to be amazing ways to play, and I try to grant them that leeway; they're built to be convenient. But I think there's a line that's crossed with each of them that can be seen even back with the original Backbone One.

In trying to be portable, convenient, and a "quick fix" for gaming on the go, ergonomics, comfort, and usability fly out the window. One of the reasons controllers are either good or bad is that they can be so comfortable they make you forget you're holding one, or so bad they prevent you from enjoying whatever virtual game you're running and jumping around in.

Where this changes, and the new Xbox Nano controller will likely find a market of its own, is with younger players, and that's great! Younger kids will be catered for with the opposite perspective. Expecting a 7-year-old to hold a heavy-duty pro pad like the Nacon Revolution X Unlimited is asking for it to get broken, and it's way too big for them to wrap their wee hands around, so something like the Nano controller is ideal. This is the year 2026; it's okay for us to have Mama bear, Papa bear, and Baby bear controller sizes.

Similarly, I have plenty of guy friends who are trying to get their female partners interested in gaming for the first time, and bigger controllers with tonnes of buttons can be downright intimidating for them. Coordination around a gamepad is already difficult enough to develop at first if you've not been used to it from an early age, so a smaller controller with fewer buttons is probably a much better jumping-off point, or will at least be a more accessible option should people want it. I'll let the hosts of our G+RLS podcast (which you should definitely listen to; be the judge, though).

So if I'm aware of all this, why am I bothering to tell you that the Xbox Nano controller will suck?

Because something happens when we adult gamers get a hit of nostalgia from seeing cutesy gaming memorabilia, and it's our wallets that pay the price. Essentially, I'm giving you tough love here. The Xbox Nano controller isn't for you or me, and that's alright. Just don't go buying it expecting it to be a revolutionary or enjoyable way for any adult to play games because it probably won't be. On the other hand, if you have younger gamers in your life, it's definitely one to keep around.

Want more controller buying tips? Check out the best PC controller, the best PS5 controller, and the best TMR controllers.

The SteelSeries Aeon Pro is the most expensive controller I've come across in my four years of reviewing them professionally. At a cost of $249.99/£229.99, it's about $50/£30 more expensive than a DualSense Edge, Nacon Revolution X Unlimited, and Razer Wolverine V3 and V4 Pro. That means it's about $70 more than the Victrix Pro BFG pads, and a staggering $170 more expensive than the popular GameSir G7 Pro. Even against the most expensive and most recent PS5 controllers like the Scuf Omega and Razer Raiju V3 Pro, SteelSeries is still coming in about $40 higher up the price scale.

I'll be honest, I like the SteelSeries Aeon Pro, but when an Xbox Series X controller is this expensive, it better not miss and hit the wall. SteelSeries has definitely shot its shot with the Aeon Pro. This thing feels distinct; it has a unique identity because it's not afraid to take big swings or just do some things a bit differently. Its charging stand cancels out the need for a carry case because it holds all its parts together. Its removable battery ensures you never run out of charge. Its screen has a bold interface that flies in the face of most on-board gamepad menu systems. All of these things are impressive, but are they $250 impressive? I'm not so sure.

For context, I think even a $200 controller is still way more expensive than it needs to be. That much is clear when brands like GameSir, Gulikit, FlyDigi, and PowerA are charging far, far less than the licensed brands for much the same features on PC. $250 is a lot of money for you to spend on a controller, so let me tell you why you should probably wait for a price drop on this one.

Design

I'd love to say the design of the Aeon Pro feels original since we haven't seen an officially licensed Xbox controller from SteelSeries before, but it's very reminiscent of the GameSir G7 Pro. That is hardly a bad thing, and SteelSeries, whether intentionally or not, has managed to recreate some of the best parts of that popular controller. Particularly in the white colorway, its grey, textured grips are grabby, contrasting beautifully with its eggshell body that feels really sturdy.

The G7 Pro and the OG Xbox Series X pad from Microsoft itself feel like inspirations here, but SteelSeries has absolutely souped up some of its parts in ways that feel unique to this product.

For starters, there are four large, metallic back buttons on the rear of the Aeon Pro. These aren't your average GameSir back buttons that hide away in the grips of the controller, camouflaging themselves into the shape of the handles. These are loud, brushed silver paddles that don't try to blend in neatly in any way, shape, or form. They understand that largesse is easier for your fingers to find when they're wrapping around a controller, and they click in with absolute delight. They draw a lovely line between back buttons and back paddles. They're not quite the magnetic ones found on the Elite Series 2 or the Gulikit KK3 Max; they're non-removable and a signature part of the Aeon Pro's identity, but they're longer levers that actuate with more flexibility, feeling more premium than your average pro controller's back buttons.

That element of metallic design flourish is present elsewhere on the Aeon Pro too. The D-pad, triggers, and bumpers are all a brushed steel vibe, even if they're actually just a different type of plastic and not the real thing. It all offers a temperature contrast to the Aeon Pro's plastic and rubberized textures you find for the most part. If this were a cheaper controller, I'd be applauding the trickery this plays on your brain to make you think more expensive materials have been used, but when this thing costs $250, I end up raising an eyebrow in the same way I would when an unfamiliar charge appears on a bill I need to pay.

Thankfully, the microswitch buttons, which click with a deep, almost "thocc" sound like premium keyboard switches do, feel luxurious. Again, I don't know if I'd argue they feel and sound more premium than the ones on the Nacon Revolution X Unlimited priced at $200, and that's really the crux of the issue with the Aeon's design. It's got top-shelf features, but they're not worth $50 more than its competition.

Unfortunately, there's a design flaw staring you in the face here, and it's the options and in-game menu buttons being at the bottom of the controller's body, not on either side of the integrated screen. I don't care who you are, how expensive your controller is, or how many fancy features you give it. Those buttons should be at the top of the controller, not the bottom.

Yes, I can adjust to this, and have had to for a few controllers that I've reviewed, but it is always, always, objectively wrong to place them here. Twisting the knife is the fact that there is so much space at the top of the body for these buttons to fit.

The Aeon Pro has a deep and long face, which I enjoy the look of. I suspect this was to give the screen a bit more room to glow, but when it isn't actually that large, it feels like there's a lot of dead space bordering it where functionality could have been squeezed in.

Some pause buttons would happily border the OLED display without ruining the Aeon Pro's look.

Features

For years, some of the higher-end wireless Xbox controllers have been shipping with charging stands, but SteelSeries has well and truly broken the mold. The charging stand here is the most robust offering I've seen, acting not only as a place to holster your peripheral between sessions, but a connection hub for your gaming platforms, and as a hold-all for the swappable parts the Aeon Pro has at its disposal.

The Aeon Pro features extremely convenient magnetic thumbstick tops, which are fantastic. I hate swapping out controller thumbsticks because it's such an anxiety-inducing process. You feel like you're going to break something when you pull it off, and putting a new one on takes such a faffy angling process that you're never confident it's on correctly. SteelSeries clearly understands this, and using magnets is absolutely genius to snap on and snap off to your liking. According to Razer and its new Wolverine V4 Pro, however, using magnets so close to the Hall effect thumbstick sensors could cause issues with calibration. I haven't encountered any.

These swappable thumbsticks slot right into the top of the charging stand - a convenient and simple way to keep them safe without warranting the need for a carrying case.

Like a lot of the SteelSeries gaming hardware you might come across on PC, the brand has provided a "limitless" battery life system, which essentially means that you're supplied with all of the capability and means of never running out of battery life, and if you do, it's your fault and not SteelSeries'.

That includes a swappable battery, and a spare that slots into the charging stand too. If you somehow run out of charge in a session and don't use the stand itself to refill, you can remove your battery, replace it with the one in the stand, and hot-swap as you need to. It's a genius system that's hard to fault, but it's another small innovation that I'm not sure warrants the extra $50 SteelSeries is demanding since one or the other (a charging cradle or a spare battery) would have sufficed for a lower cost.

Offer me a "limitless battery life" claim if you want, but when it's on me to make that happen, don't also charge me $50 extra for it.

The charging stand does double as a USB dongle as well, since there's no separate receiver supplied in the Aeon Pro's box. Around the back you'll find an Xbox and PC USB-C port so you can connect to two platforms at once and switch out on the controller's menu depending on which you want to game on. That's a really nice touch for folks who do play across Xbox and PC at the same setup, and could be a reason to buy this particular controller if you find yourself in that section of the gaming Venn diagram. Personally, I haven't found this all too useful and would have much preferred the ability to connect to two different PCs at once. Bluetooth does work great, however.

The thumbsticks here are Hall effect. I'm fine with that, since Hall effect still feels great to play with. Again though, if you're going to charge this much for a controller, I expect to see the gold standard of TMR sticks included, thank you very much.

Like many other gamepads these days, there's an integrated screen and menu system. I do like this; it uses bold lettering and clever haptic feedback to help you navigate, which goes against the norm of tiny text and janky but navigable menu systems on most of these controllers. It feels like it has a purpose by easily helping you connect via Bluetooth, Xbox, or PC, but it's nothing revolutionary, which again, for a product of this price, maybe should be. The Manba One's menu still did it better, even if the haptics and navigability on the Aeon Pro are among the clearer and more satisfying controller settings menus I've tested. When the Genki Manta eventually launches, I fear both might become irrelevant anyway.

Rounding up the rest of the features, there's wireless charging, a 3.5mm headphone jack, USB charging, and two trigger stop switches.

Performance

The Aeon Pro is a very comfortable and usable controller across the board. I played about 4 hours of Big Walk with two friends using this controller in my hands, and time melted away without me realizing. That's the sort of experience you can have with it; it'll provide plenty of functionality and decent comfort for general gaming needs, and you won't complain about a thing. I think sometimes, the best controllers are the ones you don't notice or even have to think about; they work and let you immerse yourself in the game you're playing, and the Aeon Pro does that.

As a controller that's trying to be an all-rounder for console and PC play, the Aeon Pro succeeds. Its swappable thumbstick tops are super easy to use and feel like a breath of fresh air. Its microswitch buttons are well cushioned and feel responsive. Its grips wick moisture well and help you hold it securely. It looks nice on a desk, adding a touch of class to your setup. Platformers, exploration games, driving games- they all work really well with this controller, and for anything you're looking to casually kick back and enjoy alone or with friends, the haptics are precise and add a good layer of feel to the mix.

As for anything more? I think the Aeon Pro falls flat, and with its aforementioned price tag, it should be offering you more. As a controller for FPS games like Hunt: Showdown or Titanfall 2, I don't think the back buttons/paddles help as much as they should. I even found this in challenging singleplayer games like TowerFall Ascension and Control Resonant. Despite their clicky actuation and bold design, the lower back buttons especially take a bit too much force for my ring fingers to press in an instant. That leaves me feeling like I'm lacking the twitchy speed a controller like this should give me, and it feels like my gameplay suffers as a result.

The Aeon Pro doesn't feel as responsive in Control Resonant as the FlyDigi Apex 5 or the Nacon Revolution X Unlimited do, and both are more affordable. Perhaps more telling is that both of those alternatives have two additional bumper buttons as well as four back buttons, so they outclass the Aeon Pro for less money. For a bit of context on how I come to that judgment, let me explain.

In Control Resonant, you use the dodge button a lot. I map my "B" button to the right-hand additional bumper on these sorts of pro controllers, with the back buttons filling in UI and other combat or movement abilities. I can do that on cheaper alternatives to the Aeon Pro, but I can't do that here because there aren't additional bumpers, and yet it costs more. Combat gets significantly more difficult and feels clunkier, then, because my right thumb is going to have to come off its stick all the time to press dodge.

Then, I need to pause the game, and my thumb hits absolutely nothing on the top right of the gamepad. Remembering the awkward button placement, I clumsily bump my thumb on the right stick on its way down to the bottom of the controller, and I remember that price tag again. If I had paid for this controller and not been supplied with it by SteelSeries, I'd feel a bit like a clown putting on his makeup for throwing so much money at it.

There are lots of more affordable options that are an objectively better bargain than the Aeon Pro if you're after absolute speed and responsiveness. It seems to have misplaced priorities that are invested in comfort and connection convenience, not functionality.

That just about sums up my experience with the Aeon Pro; for anything relaxed, like driving in GTA, Cyberpunk, or Forza, you'll have a great time. For light platforming, exploring a big open world, playing a sports game like Tennis Elbow 4, or narrative-driven first-person games, it offers a premium feel and good comfort. The issue is that a $40 gaming peripheral can offer you great experiences across those sorts of genres too, so why should I recommend this to you for $210 more?

For players who want to top leaderboards, improve KD ratios, and best their time trial records, there are so many more affordable controllers I'd recommend over this one, and that's the problem with SteelSeries pricing this thing so high. There's a great controller to be had here, and if it were even $200, this review would be very different. But it doesn't give you enough to warrant its expense. Yes, the charging stand is excellent; it's cool having a swappable battery, and magnetic thumbstick tops honestly rule. But they don't feel like they warrant the extra expense when the gamepad itself isn't as good as the cheaper competition.

Should you buy the SteelSeries Aeon Pro?

If you're going to charge significantly more than the competition, it better be for a good reason.

That's the golden rule with any product, but in a competitive market like that of Xbox and PC controllers, it's especially true. Having tested the Aeon Pro for a few weeks now, I find it hard to pinpoint why it costs so substantially more than its rivals, and that's an issue.

While the SteelSeries Aeon Pro has a lot going for it, I feel as though SteelSeries has slightly misjudged where its priorities should be. It might demand a higher cost because of its innovative charging stand/accessories hub and spare battery, but I would have been more open to paying a premium if there were more additional buttons and TMR thumbsticks on top of the clever innovations the brand has made. If it were like the Steam Controller and offered some funky PC navigation, or extra ways to use it and make life easier, sure, charge more, but the Aeon Pro doesn't do any of that.

As it stands, the Aeon Pro is an great, truly comfortable controller, but it's not the best controller. Being the priciest, that makes it difficult to recommend. Once the price inevitably drops because no one can afford it, or when it hits the discount shelf, it'll be a better investment, but until then, shop for something else.

How I tested the SteelSeries Aeon Pro

I used the Aeon Pro for all of my gaming for about two weeks before writing this review. I tested it across PC and VR platforms, using it in all sorts of gaming genres to see how it fared. While I compared it closely to other premium Xbox controllers in how it performed, I also used my knowledge of the controller market to evaluate it and drew from my four years of experience as a gamepad reviewer.

For more on how we test controllers, take a look at the GamesRadar+ hardware policy.

You can see some more alternatives by looking at the best TMR controllers, or the best PS5 controllers.

The first time I 'dropped in,' as the kids say, I was 21, and Epic had launched their fancy new Battle Royale for a weekend. It was the first time I realized I might not have the skillz to take on the gaming youth. Despite being booted out of Fortnite's age range long ago, GameSir's latest range of X5 Lite and G8 Plus mobile controllers is still calling to me this afternoon.

The brand has launched six new colorways of its two iOS and Android gamepads, split between the more premium G8 Plus model and the cheaper X5 Lite. The thing is, ignoring that great big Fortnite logo in the middle (that's where your phone goes anyway), these actually look great even without their individual character context.

Take that black and green X5 Lite ($49.99 at GameSir), for example. Sure, it's got that handsome fella all the kids seem to like across the middle, but it's also sporting a slick translucent smoke gray design with a clean-looking khaki green to complement it. Even the brighter designs of the Peely Edition G8 Plus ($89.99 at GameSir) feel fresh, with its bold yellow and blue screaming out.

Some are easier to slide under the Fortnite radar than others, yes. That Peely version does have the game's name stamped across the right grip and a banana-styled logo along the back of the device itself. If I didn't know some of these were collabs, though, I'd think they were just darn groovy gamepads.

I love me some bright colors and translucent plastics, and with brand after brand hooking up with major franchises to offer a new spin on classic tech, I'm always on the lookout for new designs. While many take their source material and plaster it all over your tech, though, GameSir's Fortnite collab brings its own design punch to the party, separate from Epic's mega-playground. If you do happen to be a Fortnite fan, I tip my bonnet to you; may your reflexes remain sharp well into your 30s. However, you'll also be glad to hear each controller comes with its own virtual item, from gliders to emotes.

You're looking at either $50 or $90 for these controllers, so if those bright colors and translucent designs are piquing interest - what's the difference?

The GameSir G8 Plus gives you a little more room to work with, extending those grips down for more comfortable play during longer sessions. It also ships with a wireless dongle for use with a PC and easily connects to a Nintendo Switch as well, if you're after an all-in-one controller for play at home and on the go. This is the gamepad our very own Rosalie ditched the Joy-Con for a while back, upgrading the original gamepads for Hall effect thumbsticks, extra back buttons, and a far more ergonomic shape.

The cheaper GameSir X5 Lite keeps those durable sticks but squashes the design into a smaller form factor. That's going to be better for those with smaller hands, but it does mean those back buttons have to go. There's a trick up this guy's sleeve, for those pairing their mobile controller with one of the best gaming phones from a more competitive standpoint. Unlike the G8 Plus, the X5 Lite uses a physical USB-C connection to keep your gamepad going. That means lower latency in high-speed scenarios, with passthrough charging to keep your phone juiced up at the same time. It's also important to note that the X5 Lite isn't compatible with PC or Nintendo Switch due to the lack of wireless connection.

Both devices can stretch to hold most smartphones in between their grips, with the G8 Plus moving a little wider (215mm compared to 213mm). That means some of the best gaming tablets (under 8 inches) like the RedMagic Astra 2 are catered for here as well.

Both the GameSir G8 Plus and GameSir X5 Lite Fortnite Editions are available now via the brand's own store, with listing pages also live at Amazon (though no stock at the time of writing).

Our favorite mobile controllers:

• ELO Vagabond | $99.99 at Amazon
• GameSir G8 Galileo | $79.99 at Amazon
• Razer Kishi V3 Pro | $149.99 $125.99 at Amazon

Looking for more portable play? We're also rounding up all the best gaming earbuds to take with you as well as the best gaming handhelds.

Xbox X25 controller stock is still widely available today, and with launch upon us many a player will be wrapping their hands around these translucent green grips.

Not only that, but Xbox has also announced an exclusive dynamic background unlocked with both the gamepad and ultra-limited edition console (launching later this year). Announced on X, the wallpaper brings back those circular shapes of the OG with that bold green breathing in and out as well.

Thankfully, you're spoilt for choice if you're looking to buy the Xbox X25 controller this morning. Uncharacteristically, these gamepads are still in stock across both the US and UK. After selling out particularly quickly when pre-orders first dropped at the end of August, the gamepad has been MIA for a few weeks.

Anyone looking to get their hands on this tasty translucent green design can do so at a number of retailers across the web. I've scoured through the retailers with X25 controller stock live on the shelves, hunting down the stores with the fastest (and free-est) deliveries. In the US, you'll want to head to Walmart and Best Buy, both (at the time of writing) still holding the vans for either same-day pickup or delivery. Meanwhile, the UK stock hunters should head to Amazon.

Xbox X25 controller stock in the US

Xbox X25 controller stock in the UK

We're also rounding up all the best Xbox Series X accessories as well as the best Xbox Series X headsets and best Xbox Series X controllers.

Xbox just announced its first new controller in what feels like forever, but the pocket-friendly Xbox Nano Controller isn't coming for any pro gamepad's lunch. Instead, this compact set of clackers seems like the latest step in Xbox's quest to own every screen you look at.

The portable model sees the Xbox Wireless Controller squished into a horizontal form factor, with two thumbsticks and a giant floating d-pad taking up the majority of its tiny little face. At $49.99 / £44.99 (pre-orders now open at Amazon) this little fella doesn't want to be one of the best Xbox Series X controllers on the market, but it does want to be the one you've got in your pocket. And sometimes, that counts for a lot more.

The Xbox Nano Controller essentially takes everything that makes up the full-fat Wireless gamepad and bunches it all up into the middle of the chassis, removing the grips almost entirely. That means it can achieve a form factor of "just over 5-inches in length and just 3.5 ounces." Those are specs Microsoft is pitching not just towards on-the-go players but kids in particular.

Is the Xbox Nano Controller going to be right for you (or your little ones)? If you value that easy wireless connection to the Xbox you have at home and want the luxury of those pedigree Xbox controls, it could be. If you want the best value for everyday play while out and about? It's unlikely.

See, the Nano launches at a bit of a renaissance for these compact gamepads. With the rise of the best gaming handhelds and mobile ports growing in popularity, Microsoft isn't the only brand looking to park its buttons in your pocket.

CRKD, for example, just launched the Atom Plus, a super tiny wireless controller that only costs $29.99 (it's even on sale for $24.99 at Amazon right now). One look at that d-pad and symmetrical thumbsticks should tell you this isn't exactly up to the same caliber as the Xbox Wireless Controller, but when the numbers are pretty much halved it's well worth considering.

8BitDo has its range of SN30 devices that do a similar job as well as its Lite 2 gamepad offering the same buttons for $34.99 (Amazon).

This game of spot the difference isn't exactly set at hard mode. Budget-friendly alternatives aren't offering the full Xbox Wireless Controller experience here, and (from press images) it looks like Microsoft's model packs a little more junk in the trunk - especially around those little grip nubbins at the bottom. So, while prices might be higher, the ultimate experience of using Microsoft's compact controller might be just a little less painful than usual.

Microsoft clearly has plans for it. The brand is joining forces with Samsung to introduce a new bundle offer with its TVs later this year, and it's also got plans to bring the Xbox Nano Controller to Meta Quest bundles over the course of the holiday season as well.

• See all compact controllers at Amazon

We're also rounding up all the best PS5 controllers and best Nintendo Switch 2 controllers available this holiday season.

The CRKD Atom+ has gone through some upgrades to merit its new 'plus' namesake, and its new size is exactly what I had hoped for when I first learned of the improved version of the retro-inspired gamepad.

Don't get me wrong, it's still teeny tiny and should never be used as a day-to-day Switch 2 Pro controller substitute, unless you want some Mario Kart World with a side order of wrist cramp. However, the £29.99 (via Amazon) growth spurt has made it big enough to stand out amongst my messy game room, while remaining the ideal compact shape to take up little to no space in my Switch 2 bag. Nights ruining my friendships with hours of Dokapon Kingdom have never been better.

Whenever I pop over to my friend's house to witness the full depravity of their evilness through hours of Dokapon Kingdom, I have a fear. Not the fear of them constantly starting battles with me in the game (though that does happen often), but the fear of damaging any controller I bring with me for the Switch gaming times ahead.

The Atom+ has circumnavigated that. Despite being larger than the OG Atom, it still demands far less case space than any other of my Switch 2 controllers, which makes it less prone to damage. My go-to Pro-style controllers, like that of the Turtle Beach Rematch, are fantastic, but piling one in alongside my dock, steering wheels, and anything else can be a bit of a struggle. Even if I do manage to use my Tetris know-how and maneuver it within my all-in-one case, I'm still constantly worried that its thumbsticks will end up breaking into pieces.

The Atom+ is about the length of the palm of my hand, and takes up little to no space at all, so any worries of its newly added sticks rubbing up against other accessories are slim to none. In fact, it's so perfectly compact that I'm already considering picking up a full set of the four colors available. I could easily pack each into my PlayTrek 2-in-1 case and still have some room left over, something that wouldn't have been possible had I stuck with one Pro controller alternative.

It's not a perfect alternative to my Turtle Beach Rematch, as it's still small enough that comfort can be an issue, and nothing will ever outmatch the joy of having backpedals. However, any controller that manages to quell my anxiety of broken and damaged tech gets a big thumbs-up in my book.

• View all CRKD gaming accessories at Amazon

On the hunt for a new controller? Check out our guides to the best PC controllers for gaming, the best PS5 controllers, and the best Xbox Series X controllers.

In the last year, Scuf and Razer have done the seemingly impossible. Despite previous generations stipulating that a brand could only release one officially licensed controller per PlayStation generation, both of them have launched their second PS5 controller.

They're both extremely feature-dense too. The Razer Raiju V3 Pro and the Scuf Omega both have six extra buttons alongside their standard PlayStation gamepad offering. Both are wireless, both have PC apps that let you dial down to their nitty-gritty settings, and both lend themselves to multiplayer, competitive gameplay on Sony's consoles.

There's no point in stretching this out, though. While both are excellent gamepads and we enjoyed testing them, we'd recommend one over the other, and that's not just the subjective view of one person. While I test and review all the latest controllers that come out, my managing editor, Tabitha, reviewed the Scuf Omega and has hands-on time with the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro - the Xbox equivalent of the Raiju.

Meanwhile, I reviewed the Raiju V3 Pro and then tested and reviewed the Scuf Envision Pro, a PC controller with the exact same body and almost all of the same elements as the Omega, just without its official licensing from Sony.

We both have the same opinion on which controller you should buy, and it's the Razer Raiju V3 Pro. For a full rundown of these controllers, their design, and features, check out our reviews linked in the highlighted text above. But for time's sake, allow us to explain.

The side button problem

For starters, the Scuf Omega and the Scuf Envision Pro have what very few controllers have: side bumpers. On paper, and in other instances, these extra buttons are excellent additions, providing a way for you to actuate extra functions with your inner index knuckles as you play. Depending on how you grip and how long your index fingers are, that might be more useful than a pair of extra bumpers on the top of the controller (like the Razer Raiju has, for example).

The issue is that with the way Scuf has designed the Omega, these buttons are far too easy to push. You might read that and think, human error, get gud, but honestly, both myself and Tabitha have found that, despite our difference in hand sizes, Scuf's design is the issue.

The Envision Pro was the exact same when I tried it, and I actually really wanted to like and use those side bumpers because of how much I enjoyed them on the CRKD Nitro Deck+.

The way they're angled and their light actuation force means you will press them by accident often, and even once you adjust and relearn, they're a liability when you're in heated gameplay moments.

Sure, the solution you're thinking of is to remove them and replace them with the blank covers you get in the box - but then the Raiju is a clear winner with its six extra buttons. So unless you really prefer the design of the Scuf Omega or you want a custom colorway that only Scuf can provide, I'd avoid the trouble entirely and go for Razer.

Razer's back buttons

On the flip side, we really prefer Razer's back buttons. Scuf has a signature back button layout where they wrap around your middle finger and sit horizontally across the gamepad's back. This is opposed to the standard design the rest of the industry goes for where they're integrated into the grips of the controller for your middle and ring fingers to play with.

I'm sure this works for some people, but certainly anyone I've talked to about it who has tried both back button layouts prefers Razer's layout of one pair of back buttons underneath the other.

For the record, Razer's aren't my all-time favorite because they're a tad too close together, but they line up with the Wolverine V3 Pro in that they're positioned well and actuate with the same speedy microswitch clickiness that the rest of the controller's buttons do. That makes them feel more instantaneous when you need to press them in a tense gameplay moment, whereas the angles and positioning of the Scuf Omega's back buttons take a bit more of a thought adjusting to.

If you're looking for great back buttons, I'd go for the Raiju.

Slippy thumbsticks

Scuf brands itself as an FPS controller go-to, but I personally have always struggled to see that because its controllers have thumbsticks with absolutely no texture out of the box.

This is one of the most vital parts of FPS controller design, so I don't know what I'm missing here, but whenever I test one of this brand's pads, I need to really adjust and put more thought into pushing my thumbs down onto the sticks because they just have absolutely minimal grip.

That means smaller adjustments, which you'll want to make use of with TMR thumbsticks, are much harder to make. My aim always seems to suffer with Scuf's thumbsticks, so I don't know what I'm missing. The swappable tops you get in the carry case help a bit, but it's an issue with the texture this brand uses.

Especially if you're buying for competitive FPS gameplay, I'd go with Razer because you need confidence that no matter what thumbstick height you prefer, your controller isn't going to cost you the aim you're capable of.

The rest is pretty close

Besides those things, it's admittedly a pretty close race between the Raiju and the Omega. Both have TMR thumbsticks, both are symmetrical, which will suit PlayStation fans, both have clicky microswitch buttons, and both are subject to the same licensing parameters, so you won't get haptic feedback or adaptive triggers on either.

There are still some smaller design choices that we think differentiate the two, however. For example, the Omega has a four-way D-pad which, while PlayStation-remiscent, isn't as practical as the Raiju's floating 8-way one. Similarly, the trigger stop switches on the Omega are hidden into their triggers, which is very sleek and stylish, but not exactly practical if you want to flick one on while you're mid-match. Razer's are a lot more easily accessed.

It may come down to preference for you. If you've used a Scuf controller before and you like the back button layout and don't mind the thumbstick texture, the Omega might be good for you.

Personally, and this is backed up by my managing editor's hands-on experience too, it's got to be the Raiju V3 Pro.

For more, read up on the best TMR thumbsticks, the best Xbox Series X controllers, and the best Switch 2 controllers.

Two years on from the launch of its popular Wolverine V3 Pro controller, Razer is launching the Wolverine V4 Pro, and while it looks nearly identical, it's hiding some tricks within. Most notably, this new Xbox Series X controller has opted not to use TMR thumbsticks, which have become the industry gold standard since the last Wolverine hit the shelves.

In fact, Razer has chosen to include swappable magnetic elements in the Wolverine V4 Pro, which means a choice of TMR sticks (Tunneling magneto-resistance, which utilize tiny electromagnets) would undoubtedly cause performance issues. Instead, Razer is opting for what it says are even higher-resolution capacitive sensors that are also more power-efficient than TMR and Hall sensors.

This fancy new style of thumbstick technology is still immune to stick drift; don't you worry.

Interestingly, this time around Razer has dropped the carrying case from the offering, even while keeping the same $199.99 / £199.99 price as its predecessor. When I saw a sneak peek of this controller at Gamescom, I asked why that was the case, and the product designers told me it was because they find that people don't take their controller on the go enough to warrant it. Personally, that was never the reason I made use of the carry case, as it was a handy way to store the pricey accessory and keep all of its swappable parts safe. Not to mention, it was another way to differentiate it from its Tournament Edition model, which is a fully wired, cheaper alternative that'll also return for the V4 Pro generation.

That said, the Wolverine V4 Pro has the same swappable parts you'd expect from this product family. There are differently sized thumbsticks for you to choose from, a cable, a wireless dongle, and some blanks you can magnetically swap out if you'd rather remove the controller's back buttons.

In addition to those four back buttons, you'll also get two extra bumpers/shoulder buttons. As was the case for the V3 Pro, the entire gamepad is decked out with extremely clicky microswitch buttons brought over from the brand's Esports mice. This time, these have a slightly adjusted actuation, which the folks at Razer told me was implemented to add a bit more comfort.

The triggers maintain their stop switches too, so you can turn them into microswitches as well if you want the absolute speediest button presses possible. As you might expect, the entire device is controllable through Razer Synapse in case you'd like to fine-tune all the aspects of its settings. There will be four onboard profiles.

It seems as though Razer may be planning some more aesthetic choices this time around since it's emulating Scuf's magnetic faceplate design. I'll be interested to see what kind of cosmetic support arrives for it.

Most of all, however, I'm excited to see how Razer's gamble with a previously untested type of thumbstick module pays off in the V4 Pro. TMR sticks are already getting to a point where they're imperceptibly fast and even twitchier at higher polling rates, so as a controller reviewer, I struggle to see how we could be moving into an even more accurate generation of thumbstick technology. That said, this is the first gamepad of its kind, so it will be interesting to see if other brands pick up Razer's design in favor of magnetic, swappable parts.

Want to dive deeper? Check out the best PC controllers, the best TMR controllers, and the best PS5 controllers.

Nacon is launching its second officially licensed PS5 Pro controller, and it's the first ever to bring a built-in display and menu system to Sony's console ecosystem. Controllers with displays aren't exactly rare these days, as Xbox, Switch 2, and PC all have loads of gamepads with this feature, but Nacon's new Revolution 5 Unlimited is the first PS5 controller sporting a screen.

If you've been following the market for a while, you may remember the Nacon Revolution 5 Pro, Nacon's first crack at PS5 gamepad glory. That's been holding a top spot on our PS5 gamepad buyer's guide for a while now as the best for longevity thanks to its excellent build quality. Nacon has since launched a refined model of that controller for the Xbox Series X, called the Revolution X Unlimited (RXU).

The new Revolution 5 Unlimited picks up where that one left off, and I'm personally very excited because the RXU has become one of my all-time favorite gaming peripherals since it hit the shelves, so PS5 players are in for a treat.

As well as a screen and its own menu system that lets you control connections, button mapping, profiles, lighting, thumbstick sensitivity, and more, you also get a slew of pro controller features that modern rivals like the Scuf Omega and Razer Raiju V3 Pro will find it tough to trump.

The R5U sports six extra buttons (four back buttons and two extra bumpers), as well as top-drawer TMR thumbsticks which improve upon the Xbox version's Hall effect ones.

A personal favorite for me has to be the face buttons, which, despite being microswitches, have a beautifully light actuation that makes them feel super comfortable and tactile to use. The RXU has some of my favorite face buttons of any controller.

Naturally, like any officially licensed PS5 controller, it'll lack the DualSense's haptic feedback and adaptive trigger resistance - these are stipulations for controllers to secure their Sony licensing. Nacon has a clever way around this, which I'm really excited for, because in its dedicated PC mode, it will make use of its built-in vibration feedback.

For PS5 players, this might not make a massive difference, but personally, I prefer a controller with a bit more heft, and recent options without any rumble motors in their grips have left things feeling a bit too light and cheap for their price.

That's also where Nacon's excellent offering of accessories comes in. Nacon will provide a carrying case and even a charging dock - another first in the PS5 market. Again, this is now fairly standard in the Xbox and PC controller realm, but no third-party controller for PS5 has managed to break a charging stand through Sony's licensing parameters.

Also in the case, you'll find additional weights you can place in the controller's grips, different thumbstick tops, a wireless dongle, and a cleaning cloth and cable.

In an interesting turn from Nacon's previous gamepads, you can customize the R5U separately, but this time using a dedicated mobile app instead of a PC one. I asked Nacon if a PC application would be coming in the future, but the product managers didn't give me a concrete answer.

The biggest downside to the R5U is its price, which tops out at $229.99 for US shoppers but only £179.99 in the UK. That's a huge pricing disparity for both territories, making it one of the most expensive PS5 pads in the US but actually one of the more affordable ones for UK gamers. In the UK, that'll put it below the refined price of the Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded, which has held the best overall position on our buying guide for years.

I can't wait to test out what seems to be the most feature-rich PS5 controller to date.

• See all PS5 controllers at Amazon

Narrowing down your gamepad search? Here are the best TMR controllers, the best Xbox Series X controllers, and the best Switch 2 controllers.

Lisa DualSense pre-orders are now live in both the US and UK, with PS Direct listing the collaboration in both territories this morning. We're still seeing solid supplies on both sides of the pond to boot.

The $84 / £74.99 special release seems to have been modelled off the Chroma Peal model of one of the best PS5 controllers, with that iridescent sheen kept intact on a bright white base. The Blackpink member's stamp has been firmly set upon the touchpad, though, and continues all the way through the main grips. It's an understated limited edition, but one K-pop fans are going to be all over.

So far, we've seen stock emerging from a range of retailers in the UK so it looks as if this one isn't a PS Direct exclusive. I'd still head to Sony first of all, it's likely to be one of the first retailers to drop Lisa DualSense pre-orders in the US later today, but there are likely other options waiting in the wings as well.

Lisa DualSense pre-orders in the US

Lisa DualSense pre-orders in the UK

You'll still find plenty of GTA 6 DualSense pre-orders on the shelves, but we're also getting you prepped for all this year's Black Friday PS5 deals across the best PS5 accessories as well.

If you've been playing plenty of Control Resonant since it launched last week, you might be experiencing the same thing a lot of us are - spongy enemies leading to the game's exceptional combat feeling a little tiresome at times. Fret not, because I'm here to help you with a few solutions you might not have thought of yet, and they both come down to how you use your PS5, Xbox, or PC controller.

I don't know about you, but the issue with the Hiss being able to take so much damage isn't so much a difficulty problem for me; it's just a lot of button mashing, which can cause fatigue if you want to explore Remedy's mind-bending version of New York in longer sessions, as I do. Moreover, too much pressing can cause injuries like repetitive strain, carpal tunnel, or even just cause your gamepad to wear down more quickly.

But that's why I'm a big believer in back buttons - in fact, I'd say that I use them more than face buttons these days, especially since it's my job to review the latest gaming peripherals and they're a common feature on most of them today. The great thing about them is that they effectively double up a function you already have on a standard controller. If you map a spare back or shoulder button to your attack button, for example, you've suddenly got two ways to inflict damage instead of one.

This would be my first suggestion to anyone who wants a "remedy" for repetitive and sometimes painful button mashing. Double up a back button to your in-game attack and then alternate which one you press if you need to. You can make this a bit more engaging by pressing both buttons in the same sequence, tapping one and then the other in an attack combo. Alternatively, you could just switch what attack button you're pressing and only focus on one as and when you need to.

The other really cool thing about back buttons is that they're sometimes called "macro" buttons. The reason for this is that many controllers allow you to map not just one function to them, but a sequence of presses. For example, if you have a go-to combo with Dylan's Aberrant, then combat finisher, then stronger attack mapped to Y or Triangle, you could program that button press sequence to one single press of your controller's extra function.

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of that idea in a game like Control Resonant since it'd take away a lot of the fun, engaging combat mechanics. But if you're struggling with the game's level of difficulty, bear with me.

The benefit of doing this on a controller like the one I just reviewed last week, the GameSir Tarantula 8K, is that if you're in a giant battle with loads of Hiss enemies where you need to be absolutely on-point with your dodges, you can essentially take away your brain's need to focus on one of the combat tasks.

Pressing one single button that's macro-mapped to an entire attack sequence frees up your hands to just focus on controlling the camera, Dylan's movement, and manning the dodge button. It also allows you to concentrate more on the UI, the approaching enemies, and how you can use the environment to your advantage.

Don't forget, if you're really struggling with the game's combat, you can also head into the gameplay settings and play around with assist mode, which lets you control Dylan's damage output level, falter level, and more.

Personally, if you ask me, spongy enemies are more of a game design problem, but that doesn't mean we can't use hardware to make things a bit less irritating. The good news is that back buttons or macro functions are pretty common on both Xbox controllers and PS5 controllers these days, and won't even take you long to set up. If you're on PC and you're just looking for a cheap alternative, there are loads of options for you too.

Want to dive deeper into gamepad tech? Take a look at the best TMR controllers, the best joysticks, and the best Switch 2 controllers.

Off the back of my full 8Bitdo FlipPad review, I've been weighing up whether a discount could help it thrive. It's already one of the best retro controllers for Game Boy games on your phone in my eyes, but with Prime Day sneaking up fast, it could end up at a no-brainer price, especially if you're not into buying a standalone handheld in 2026.

There's room to argue that the 8Bitdo FlipPad is already pretty good value at $29.99, as it's $5 cheaper than its main rival, the GameSir Pocket Taco. That latter, chunkier controller usually goes for $34.99 on an ordinary day, although it does pack Bluetooth connectivity and shoulder buttons into its bulkier shell.

The short of it is that the 8Bitdo FlipPad is a sleeker, less obtrusive set of buttons for your phone for quick, casual sessions. Its excellent hinge mechanism lets your modern-day doomscroller almost cosplay as a 2000s flip phone, all while letting you flick the panel out of the way for when you actually have to do things on your phone. It also hooks up directly via USB-C, so you'll never need to worry about battery life or power issues getting in the way of your Pokemon sessions.

In contrast, the Pocket Taco turns your phone into its namesake, clamping onto your device at the bottom. Again, it's Bluetooth, so it will actually work with your Switch or even a docked Analogue Pocket should you prefer your Game Boy games on a bigger screen, but it's main goal is to give you something that feels like Ninty's brick to grip onto on your travels.

Both mobile controllers serve pretty similar roles, and both take opposite approaches in doing so. The Pocket Taco is for those of you who want a fully fledged Game Boy controller that doesn't rely on your phone and will be suited to all games across the Game Boy's expansive library, including GBA games that rely on shoulder buttons. On the flip side, the FlipPad feels more geared towards players with a very standard phone setup, as it'll fit best to a handset with iPhone dimensions and a case that's 2mm in thickness.

The Pocket Taco is for those of you who want a fully fledged Game Boy controller that doesn't rely on your phone and will be suited to all games across the Game Boy's expansive library, including GBA games that rely on shoulder buttons. On the flip side, the FlipPad feels more geared towards players with a very standard phone setup, as it'll fit best to a handset with iPhone dimensions and a case that's 2mm in thickness.

I would crown the FlipPad as the better-feeling controller thanks to its clicky dome buttons and solid feel. The Pocket Taco comparatively feels a bit cheaper, but it does mimic the plastics of an OG Game Boy in a more authentic way while packing more features than just plain USB-C connectivity.

Ultimately, I'd keep an eye out for both during Prime Day on October 6 and 7 (don't you dare say it), but I have a funny feeling 8Bitdo will include the FlipPad in its usual wave of nifty discounts, and failing that, Black Friday retro deals are set to arrive in November as a backup.

• Retro controllers at Amazon
• Game Boy clones at Amazon

Swing by the best retro consoles for remakes, emulation systems, and collectable mini systems.

I firmly believe you need to be a specific type of player for the 8Bitdo FlipPad to win you over. The idea of quickly turning your doomscroller cell phone into a Game Boy with physical buttons is alluring, yes, but when you weigh up the quirks compared to just, well, grabbing one of the best retro handhelds out there designed to run classic capers, the appeal slightly falls apart.

None of that stops the 8Bitdo FlipPad from excelling as one of the best retro controllers for Game Boy games, though, as it's one of the nicest pads I've tested yet. For $29.99, you're getting an accessory that offers satisfyingly clicky buttons, a hinge that'll make even your iPhone feel like a '90s flip phone, and an extremely low-profile design.

That sadly all comes at a pretty high cost for the FlipPad, as its direct USB-C design means that, unlike the GameSir Pocket Taco, it's fully dependent on your phone. For your 30 bucks, you're basically getting an, admittedly nice-feeling, set-up buttons hooked up to a direct USB connection, and when you consider that alongside some really unfortunate design limitations things get a little tricky.

Flippin slick

I'll admit that I've spent more time with this gamepad than I'd usually give to a Game Boy controller. I even specifically placed the 8Bitdo FlipPad in the hands of a casual retro gamer to conduct some further A/B testing.

The reason is simple: I wanted to absolutely confirm whether stripping back a Game Boy-style controller like this to a sleek "pad" is worth it. The FlipPad is undeniably the sleekest of its kind out there, and its 19.7mm profile makes the GameSir Pocket Taco look like a bulky plastic monster by comparison, not to mention it weighs in at only 31.5 grams.

But, that sleekness comes at the cost of useful innards. Again, you're only getting USB-C with the FlipPad and, in reality, that means it's confined to either the bottom of your phone or slightly larger compatible devices (I've already experimented using the Razer Edge).

Cramming everything into a small rectangle designed to rest on the bottom of a phone screen also eliminates good junk in the trunk. The Pocket Taco uses this asset to stow away a battery and give its shoulder buttons somewhere to hang, whereas 8Bitdo has opted to stick four left and right "back" buttons on its face.

I'll admit there aren't too many games suited to a Game Boy layout that make use of proper shoulder buttons anyway. However, if you did fancy strafing in the likes of DOOM for the GBA, you'll probably get your fingers in a bit of a twist trying to press the top toggles while shooting via the face buttons and using the D-pad.

And yet, part of me does buy into the idea of trimming everything back to make the slickest Game Boy mobile controller possible. The idea here is that by containing everything to the bottom centre of your screen, it'll merely feel like your phone has physical clicky buttons, rather than feeling like it's wedged between a gamepad. It's exactly how you'd want an accessory you'll be sneaking in Pokemon sessions with on the go, and that plays into its strengths as a casual controller.

Case by case basis

If there's one thing 8Bitdo has really dropped the ball on with the FlipPad, it's accommodations for specific phone cases and non-standard handsets. As a gadget that connects straight into your doomscroller, it relies on you using a "standard" protective shell that's around 2mm thick. That will specifically ensure the controller fits flush to the base of your device, but through my own testing, I've rarely found that to be the case.

Had I only tested the FlipPad with the latest iPhone and the apparent 2mm case the FlipPad is designed around, I'd be saying the controller fits perfectly. You'll no doubt see plenty of videos and articles claiming there are no issues in that department, but I unfortunately wasn't treated to that Goldilocks "just right" scenario. Yes, my proverbial porridge was either too cold or too hot, representing the woe of the pad wiggling side to side or not fitting at all.

I specifically tested the FlipPad with a Google Pixel 7 and a protective shell, and while I could plug it into the USB-C port, it still suffered from an air-gap pivot. I suspect that's because the phone's cheaper silicone shell was out by a fraction of a millimeter, but it's more or less the sort of generic accessory you'll get at Amazon.

In contrast, I wasn't able to plug the FlipPad into an Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro with a Devil Case attached at all. I should note that I wouldn't have been able to use the controller with the handset anyway since it has a very silly offset USB-C port, but even if it were centered, thicker protective cases are going to be too deep and prevent the pad from reaching your port.

I don't want to tell 8Bitdo how to suck design eggs here, but I do reckon the FlipPad could have avoided fit issues with some tweaks. While I get that the controller maker was trying to keep connectivity faff free, some plastic adapters to suit different phones and case thicknesses could have made a meaningful difference. Since the gamepad relies on USB-C, I reckon going the extra mile with a system that helps adjust things specifically for your phone would have made a lot of sense, and ultimately would have helped it achieve a near-perfect score.

It all hinges on the pivot

It's in the name, but one of the FlipPad's biggest draws lies in the fact it "flips." The mechanical hinge absolutely plays into forgotten hardware mechanics that were once harnessed by phones and handhelds like the Game Boy Advance SP. In both those cases, the folding elements were designed to stand in the way of unwanted interaction, say, a bunch of keys in your pocket, but with 8Bitdo's Game Boy controller, the role is reversed.

The FlipPad's hinge exists to throw the controller out of the way when you need screen access. Like it or not, Android emulation suites and apps, like RetroArch, will require tweaking by touch, and interacting with settings menus, or even just taking a call in between games, is a pain when you have to revert things back to a vanilla cell phone. By way of flipping, 8Bitdo's design lets you flick the buttons out of the way with a solid snap that keeps it in place.

The hinge mechanism itself is extremely satisfying, providing a more solid, mechanical feel than something like a GBA SP. The swivel mechanism will apparently withstand over 6,000 flicks, and I genuinely reckon I'm halfway there since I've been using mine as a fidget toy. I should note that I'm doing that without it plugged into anything, as I'd be slightly paranoid about putting stress on a device's USB port through the force of the pivot.

If you use the perfect-size case without an air gap, your port should be safe. In normal circumstances, even slight movement shouldn't pose a threat, but I know better than to put needless stress on USB-C ports. I don't really think the FlipPad is committing any real sins here, but I do want to illustrate how 8Bitdo's design feels to use in practice.

Cromulent clicks

The 8Bitdo FlipPad's buttons don't really feel like an actual Game Boy, but in this instance, that's a good thing. Instead of opting for traditional membranes, this mobile controller uses click dome contacts that provide pleasingly tactile inputs that are closer to microswitches in feel. That means less travel and a more definitive input confirmation that's confirmed through ASMR-tier sounds, and that helps reinforce the overall design.

Had the FlipPad gone with the same arguably more authentic-feeling membranes of the GameSir Pocket Taco, its whole feel would have potentially been compromised. The fact that the controller will pivot if you don't use the right case ties into this, as the shorter travel of the dome buttons means less surface pressure that could potentially cause the unit to shift around even with the rubber pad gripping the screen.

You will absolutely still feel a bit of movement with the wrong case, particularly if you're playing something more frantic like a shoot-em-up or hectic NES platformer. But, in many calmer situations, the travel means the gamepad will largely stay put, in turn helping mask some of the connector's shortcomings.

The physical feel of the buttons lives up to 8Bitdo's usual quality levels, with a soft-touch matte finish on the face buttons accompanied by embossed A,B,X,Y symbols. The D-pad is the one element that feels like it's trying to emulate a Game Boy, as it's virtually a 3/4 replica of Nintendo's original, complete with those iconic ridges (for performance, naturally).

I still stand by the idea that the FlipPad is better suited to quick plug-and-play casual experiences. You can expect nice precision and minimal latency since we're talking about direct USB-C, which does lend itself to trickier platformers. That said, You're not getting as full a layout here since the shoulders are on the front, and it will limit your scope for playing games from across the console generations that use more buttons.

Less isn't always more

8Bitdo's FlipPad scores major points for sleekness and feel, but it really sacrifices additional features to make it happen. Even if it increased the price to the same as the Pocket Taco, a way to connect the controller to other devices and consoles via Bluetooth would have helped it excel, and that could have been achieved with some sort of plugin puck.

Using an additional back unit with some guts inside could have also provided a place for optional shoulder buttons, again, providing opportunity for an additional hardware feature. These are admittedly all plans 8Bitdo could have in the works for a Pro version (if not, then feel free to steal), but the current version feels a bit bare bones otherwise.

The streamlined nature of the FlipPad will work for some players, largely those of you who want something extremely discrete on the front of your phone. Adding in the above extras would have captured an additional slice of the market pie by providing external Game Boy buttons for everything from your Switch to something more niche like a docked Analogue Pocket. Perhaps there's room for that still, and while it keeps the gamepad from perfection, it's not a complete dealbreaker.

Should you pick up the 8Bitdo FlipPad?

As a mobile controller geared towards 8 and 16-bit era games, the 8Bitdo FlipPad is one of the best around. It's sleek, unobtrusive, and provides excellent clicky buttons that will bring you a lot of tactile joy. The hinge mechanism also makes for a phenomenal solution to retaining cell phone functionality while having buttons smacked on the front that feel like a natural part of the device, but its commitment to the compact bit is what keeps it from being the ultimate Game Boy controller.

Quirks with the connector requiring a specific 2mm-thick case act as part of the roadblock to a perfect score. But, I ultimately think ditching elements like Bluetooth connectivity for wider compatibility is the FlipPad's real Achilles' heel. It might reach the same heights as the Pocket Taco by way of a sleeker approach, but by not matching it on its wireless capabilities and physical shoulder buttons, it can't soar past its competitor.

Deciding between the FlipPad and Pocket Taco really comes down to your gameplay preferences. If you can pluck out games you know will use physical shoulder buttons, you're largely better off with the latter, whereas if you're really just looking for a nicer way to play OG Game Boy romps like Pokemon, 8Bitdo's buttons will provide a much nicer feel and less bulk. Both are solid options, but I can't help but feel I'm still waiting for an elevated accessory that really pays tribute to Ninty's iconic brick.

How I tested the 8Bitdo FlipPad

Over the course of a month, I put the 8Bitdo FlipPad to the test using various USB-C phones and devices, including the Google Pixel 7, Asus ROG Phone, and Razer Edge gaming handheld. To assess its functionality, build quality, and overall feel, I used RetroArch to emulate suitable arcade and Game Boy games, evaluating whether the design aspects make the gamepad a better fit for 8 and 16-bit games compared to rivals like the GameSir Pocket Taco.

For more information on how we test retro console and accessories, swing by our full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy for extra deets.

CRKD has just launched its first ever pro controller and the ULT PRO has a pretty sturdy list of specs behind it. TMR thumbsticks, trigger stops, swappable components, and 1,000Hz polling on Windows would usually make for a pretty premium package, especially if you look towards the best PC controllers from names like Razer and Flydigi. The brand is launching the CRKD ULT PRO for just $69.99 (Amazon) today, though, undercutting a good wedge of the premium market.

After all, this is coming in the same month SteelSeries debuted the $260 (yes $260) Aeon Pro. There's one hint here that the CRKD ULT PRO isn't playing in quite the same arena, though. The BAYX face button layout is a dead giveaway that the brand is pointing this asymmetrical thumbpad at Nintendo Switch 2 players.

You won't find clicky mechanical buttons, turbo-charged 8,000Hz polling rates, or complex software adjustments here, but for $70 the ULT PRO has quite a few green flags over competitors like the 8BitDo Ultimate 2, Switch 2 Pro Controller, and GameSir Super Nova.

With charging dock in tow, the CRKD ULT PRO's main competitor could be the 8BitDo number. The Ultimate 2 is currently the best Nintendo Switch 2 controller from a sheer value perspective, pitched at the same $69.99 (Amazon) price point.

It matches the ULT PRO's TMR thumbsticks, trigger stops, profile selection, and asymmetrical layout but adds motion control and wake functionality into the picture.

It's strange that the ULT PRO would drop this gyro from its specs, considering it's gone so far towards Switch compatibility as to create two separate SKUs for Nintendo and PC. It comes with its own advantages, though.

Rather than 8BitDo's two back buttons, CRKD is rolling the dice on a more PC-centered four-pronged approach. These back paddles are skinnier than the chunksters seen elsewhere in the Switch market, resembling the excellent Razer Wolverine V3 Pro's implementation.

It's not the only feature typically found on more robust PC controllers we're seeing here. The ULT PRO also includes two additional shoulder buttons for extra programmability as well as a swappable stick toppers and d-pad.

This looks to be an all-in-one pro controller for those not willing to shell out the full $90 on the official model. But it adds a lot more to the package compared to Ninty's. Sure, the classic Pro 2 Controller is all about feel, with particularly satisfying controls from the softly dampened face buttons to its incredibly smooth thumbsticks.

Would I take that over $20, profile presets, extra controls, trigger locks, and a charging dock? We'll have to wait until we get our hands on the new release to find out, but it certainly looks good on paper.

• See all Switch 2 controllers at Amazon

We're also hunting down the best PS5 controllers and the best Xbox Series X controllers available on the market.

The GameSir Tarantula Pro is one of my all-time favorite controllers, and that's some of the highest praise someone like me, who reviews a new one almost weekly, can give. I'm still not sure why it was discontinued, but I loved it for its DualShock 4-reminiscent feel that made it incredibly comfortable and very versatile across so many genres of gaming. It was like the enhanced, pro model of the PS4 controller I had always yearned for.

So as you can probably tell, I was very excited to report earlier in the year that GameSir was bringing back its symmetrical TMR controller as an entirely new product range. One with official Xbox licensing, and one on PC with an 8K polling rate. But to my dismay, they'd both be wired-only despite the first Tarantula Pro's wireless connectivity and excellent charging stand. Moreover, the PC version would remove its rumble motors for a stripped-back, lightweight feel. Finally, there would be a third, "Ultra" PC model which would have 8K polling, wireless play, and rumble motors - a much more fitting sequel, in my eyes. Sadly, at the time of writing, that version is still missing in action and hasn't been launched alongside the other two.

The version I've been testing is the blood orange 8K model for PC. It's certainly an update to the controller I love, but it feels bred for a very different purpose than the original, and I'm not sure it appeals to me quite as much. I used the first Tarantula for all sorts of gaming, multiplayer and singleplayer. It's a versatile feeling pad that's comfortable in any scenario and sits beautifully in the hands. This new version is for the competitive, elite players, and that's not what I want out of this particular product. It's available for £79.99 / $69.99, the same price as its officially licensed Xbox sibling.

Design

As I explained in my review of the original GameSir Tarantula Pro, it's essentially a carbon copy of the DualShock 4 from the PS4 era. It has long, cylindrical grips with a bit more girth than Sony's official one had, but besides that, is clearly cut from the same cloth. There are symmetrical thumbsticks, a four-way D-Pad, and even a small touchpad which, in this instance, you can customize as an extra button.

This time around, GameSir has kept the two excellent back buttons but answered my prayers for a little extra functionality. There now sit two additional shoulder buttons on the top of the controller. They run off the end of the touchpad, offering a back paddle feel as opposed to two individual buttons. They even click in, giving a sense of microswitch consistency across the entire peripheral. It's a design I've never seen before, but it rocks.

Not much about the physical design of the controller has changed from its original outing, although, as I say, this one is without any rumble motors inside. As a result, it's a lot lighter in the hands. That's not to say that build quality has suffered; the Tarantula 8K still has a sturdy, made-to-last air about it, as all GameSir products tend to, but with such little weight in the hands, it doesn't feel as substantial as other controllers out there. Then again, this could be a preference thing and may not be a problem for you.

I'm glad to see a lot of consistency in the design for the most part, though. The comfortable shape of the Tarantula Pro was one of its best assets. The grips here have a dotted texture, and feel every bit as nice to hold as they did before. There's also consistency in the convenient 3.5mm headphone jack and locking switches for the back buttons, should you not want to use them.

So far, there's one colorway of the 8K model, which is this vibrant bright orange. The Xbox one is white, and the so-far absent Ultra version has been seen in white, but I'd be interested to know if these get more colorways as time goes on. The GameSir G7 Pro has received colorway after colorway and limited edition after limited edition. It's clearly the golden child of the GameSir pantheon, but will its symmetrical cousin get the same kind of love?

Features

On one hand, I'd love to say that the GameSir Tarantula 8K has more advanced features than its predecessor, but on the other, it feels like a step back, and I can't really understand the decision process as to why. Nine times out of ten, I feel like I'm on the same page with GameSir and the decisions it makes when it comes to iterating on what worked and what didn't. Other times, like now, I'm left scratching my head.

The new Tarantulas feature updated Gen 2 MagRes TMR thumbsticks, which is an update from the Gen 1 modules in the original Tarantula Pro and Cyclone 2. You'll find the same thumbsticks here as on the GameSir G7 Pro 8K. The tops are even swappable this time, and you get a taller and shorter option in the box.

But without a wireless dongle, there's no need for a charging stand here, which makes this orange imitator feel like a step back. For over a year, I kept my first-gen Tarantula Pro on my TV unit, sitting on its very nifty charging stand, and ready to pick up at a moment's notice whenever I wanted to kick back with a game at my couch setup. With a wire trailing from the PC to the TV unit, and then messily dragging along my living room rug, the Tarantula Pro 8K doesn't have the same appeal whatsoever.

Clearly, the 8K Tarantula has been bred for a different purpose, and this much is clear from GameSir's socials, which shared a whole lot of impressively speedy AimLab clips when it was first launched. This one isn't for me to kick back on a couch and enjoy some singleplayer games with; this is a multiplayer performance PC controller. Its lightweight 180g build is designed for Esports, competitive athletes who have never felt at home with a mouse and keyboard; its 8K polling rate and in-depth customization in GameSir Connect lend it to players who sit at a desk, never far enough away from their machines to warrant a wireless connection that could bring with it more latency.

That intent is clear in every inch of the Tarantula 8K. The face buttons have abandoned their somewhat retro membrane press and raised, dome-shaped form factor for a slicker, flatter surface and a clicky microswitch actuation. The D-pad responds with a deep click in any direction too, and the trigger stop switches give you the same options for the controller's back.

The extra face buttons remain too, programmable for macros or for any in-game function you see fit. As per usual with GameSir pads, you can set these on the controller itself via the M button on the back, but the software allows you to dive deeper and ultimately access that 8K polling rate you bought it for. Under "report rate", GameSir Connect offers 250Hz, 1,000Hz, 4,000Hz, and 8,000Hz. The sticks have the usual options for controller deadzones and whatnot, and motion controls are also customizable. As is the RGB strip under the touchpad, but with such a bold colorway, you have fewer options here that will actually work in combination with orange.

Personally, I found the deadzones to be finely tuned out of the box and didn't feel the need to change them when I booted up to an 8K polling rate, which likely would have made them too unruly. Unlike the GameSir Super Nova, you have access to four profiles you can swap between.

Performance

This might be controversial of me to say, but I can take or leave an 8,000Hz polling rate. As much as I was happy to be back testing the GameSir Tarantula for this review, I found there was absolutely nothing wrong with the 1,000Hz polling rate and first-gen TMR sticks of the original controller. Besides upping the sensitivity to levels that could be unruly for most users, an 8,000Hz polling rate doesn't add all that much to a controller besides peace of mind that latency isn't impacting things. But then again, I got that peace of mind from a 1,000Hz speed. If you're really blaming latency in your controller past that point, I hate to inform you it's probably you, your gameplay, and reaction time that are the issue.

I very much understand that the intention of this controller is a bit different from what I'm looking for from a successor to one of my all-time general-use gamepads. The aim here seems to be to bring that 8,000Hz, TMR experience to the market that likes symmetrical thumbsticks, and as ever, I applaud GameSir for doing it. I love symmetrical controllers, and I'm glad folks who want to use one in highly competitive situations have the chance to try it here. It's not all that expensive compared to Razer's TMR-wielding Raiju V3 Pro or Wolverine V3 Pro 8K. It offers the full potential of those TMR modules to shine at a much more potent resolution.

I guess what I'm lamenting in this review, then, is that for symmetrical fans, that all comes with drawbacks that aren't present in the GameSir G7 Pro 8K model. Why are there no vibration motors here? Why is there no wireless play? These things feel like basic rites of passage for any GameSir controller these days, and aren't drawbacks that symmetrical players had to make for a similar price. So even if this does come down to highly requested changes from the community I don't align with, it's hard not to view them as weaknesses - especially because, for me, the main appeal of the original Tarantula Pro wasn't competitive play; it was the DualShock 4-like comfort that suited it to gaming in any genre.

Sure, in first-person shooters like Hunt: Showdown and Battlefield 6 up at an 8,000Hz polling rate, I felt like I had ultimate precision to make small corrections with my aim. Like with the G7 Pro 8K, I felt like I had as close to a mouse aiming experience as any controller can give because flicking between targets was smooth and incentivised me to use the right stick to find my target, not use the left one to help move me over it like with most gamepads. The precision here is some of the best I've found in any controller, and yet I'm reluctant to recommend it because there's a real lack of feel here. Even if the lack of any vibration is a preference thing, I think you can still add some heft to a gamepad to make it feel robust when you're wielding an in-game weapon. GameSir hasn't done that.

Does it feel light and sporty? Sure. Does that amount to gameplay that lacks a feeling of substance and oomph? Sadly, yes, and I think you need that in a pro controller. Down from about a 270g weight in the original Tarantula, it's a real stripping down of some important feel.

Thankfully, the comfort of the original Tarantula Pro is still here, and it's hard not to get lost in it for hours at a time. I did most of my testing with this controller by playing Tennis Elbow 4, and I fell completely into immersive and dramatic sets with this thing in hand, all because those rounded grips, nostalgic triggers, and the overall ergonomics made it so easy to focus on the game I was playing rather than what my hands were doing.

The same was true in Forza Horizon 6; driving a myriad of cars across virtual Japan was lovely, although just like in Tennis Elbow, I felt like an integral level of feedback was missing because there was no haptics or rumble telling me how aggressively I needed to brake or how hard the engine was working. This stuff is fundamental to games like these, so I just don't feel like the 8K variant of the Tarantula is going to be worth it if those are the games you usually play.

There's certainly a responsiveness to the new PC-tilted Tarantula that can't be ignored either. Towerfall Ascension felt as snappy and precise as it can with a controller in hand. It felt amazing playing a game I've developed total mastery and muscle memory over with a controller that responds to my every twitchy movement and instinctive press. There's so much great performance to be had here, but my personal preferences want a bit more feel for my money - especially in games like Towerfall that have such pivotal, crunchy feedback.

Should you buy the GameSir Tarantula Pro 8K?

This one is going to come down to preference, ultimately. It's hard for me to be really excited about the return of one of my favorite controllers here because GameSir has removed wireless play and vibration motors from the equation, and these are two things I really like in my gamepads.

But then again, the 8K Tarantula doesn't feel cheaply made, and there's a lot for people to like about it if they enjoy a lighter feel, symmetrical thumbsticks, and play games to a competitive standard that warrants an 8,000Hz polling rate. If you're one of those players who does enjoy a lighter controller and thinks feedback is outdated and doesn't add anything but distraction, I don't doubt you'll love this.

Still, I can't really understand the thought process here. The original Tarantula was received really well, was popular, and was one of the leading TMR pads on the shelves when that technology was first introduced. Then it was discontinued, so I can't really recommend it anymore, but I can finally point you toward the revived models, and they feel like lesser versions despite their modernizations.

If any of my criticisms and nitpicks seem relatable to you, I'd hold off for now and wait for the Ultra 8K PC model that GameSir announced a while back. There's no indication of when this will hit the shelves, but if it has wireless play, vibration feedback, and an 8K polling rate, it'll feel like the all-encompassing sequel I've been waiting for, and the true symmetrical equivalent to the G7 Pro 8K.

How I tested the GameSir Tarantula 8K

I had a good couple of weeks using the GameSir Tarantula 8K for all of my PC gaming before I came to a verdict on it. I tested it across a multitude of gaming genres, as I did with its predecessor. I used the GameSir Connect app to get the most out of it and test its various polling speeds. I played with different configurations of thumbstick heights, and compared it to the GameSir G7 Pro line, as well as the original Tarantula Pro and other TMR pads on the shelves.

For more on how we test controllers, take a look at the GamesRadar+ hardware policy.

There's more GameSir where that came from - take a look at the best Xbox Series X controllers, the best Switch 2 controllers, and the best mobile controllers to read more.

With Stage Tour making its way to the stage later this year, there's no better time to pick up a guitar controller. If you were unaware, the neat thing about RedOctane Games' Guitar Hero successor is that you don't have to pick up their new, fully-priced instruments and can make do with alternatives like the CRKD Gibson Les Paul instead.

CRKD's guitar controllers can often be pricier than the official Stage Tour axe, but thanks to Woot, the Black Tribal Les Paul is $74.99 instead of its usual $124.99 price. That's a $50 saving, which is music to my ears, as it's not only cheaper than the official Stage Tour guitar counterpart, but also a price that you won't currently find at Amazon's own US storefront.

I was a Guitar Hero aficionado, so my excitement for Stage Tour is turned up to 11. Regrettably, I don't have a valid excuse to pick up a new guitar controller, as my PDP Riffmaster "will work natively with Stage Tour" according to the game's official FAQ, so long as I make sure to grab the PS5 version to pair properly with my PS5 guitar controller.

However, had I been on the market for a new music gamepad, I was undoubtedly eyeing up the CRKD Gibson Les Paul. It features a hall-effect strum bar, mechanical frets, and a neck you can swap to gain 5 additional frets. Not only that, but Stage Tour FAQ states that CRKD guitars will also work natively with the game, and the Les Paul has the benefit of actually looking like a real-life guitar.

As someone with a background in music, a licensed guitar controller that shares a stunning resemblance to real-life Les Pauls is going to look better when displayed against the rest of my instrument collection. The Riffmaster is neat, but its aesthetic doesn't tick my music-nerd boxes in quite the same way. Not to mention, CRKD's alternative is available in different designs, including a black-and-blue Blueberry Burst Pro look, which is also $74.99 at Woot today.

Whether you pick up this CRKD Gibson Les Paul guitar controller (or fork out the $129.99 at Best Buy for the Stage Tour Kramer guitar bundle), just make sure you're getting the right one for your platform of choice for the best compatibility. Have an Xbox Series X/S? Then you can rock out with this Woot deal and Stage Tour when it launches on December 10.

• View all gaming deals at Woot

On the hunt for a new pad? Check out our guides to the best PS5 controllers, the best Xbox Series X controllers, and the best Nintendo Switch 2 controllers while you're here.

Tomb Raider is celebrating its 30th Anniversary this year, which is hard to believe, as it feels like my love of Lara Croft and trapping butlers in freezers has been with me since birth. Alas, the iconic game series originally began in 1996, and 8BitDo is paying homage by launching two official Tomb Raider reskins of its best PC controllers.

Much like the way the upcoming Tomb Raider Legacy of Atlantis is the original game with a new coat of paint, the Tomb Raider controllers aren't entirely new. With this collab, 8BitDo has taken the Ultimate 3 and Pro 3 and coated them in gold details and designs that celebrate the series' legacy, but that's not what draws me to these special edition pads. Instead, it's the fact that the chassis of the Ultimate 3 celebrates Lara, while the Pro 3 harkens back to the original game - which feels perfectly on theme for a retro controller of its calibre.

If Lara Croft is your favorite takeaway from the three-decade-old game franchise, then the 8BitDo Ultimate 3 is going to be more your style. Expected to ship on October 24, this Xbox controller features an assortment of Lara's on the left side of its face. The brand-new Legacy of Atlantis version of the dual-pistol-wielding heroine takes center stage, but my favorites, including the Tomb Raider Survivor Lara and even the polygonal OG, are all there.

The Laras are spread out as dark golden silhouettes across the gamepad, which looks pretty fantastic when paired with the 30th Anniversary charging stand. 8BitDo even made sure to coat the zinc alloy D-pad in a golden metal colorway, which helps tie into the theming and makes the entire pad look like something that the British Museum should have handed back centuries ago.

As an 8BitDo Ultimate 3, it's pretty much a standard affair where the rest of its features are considered. You've got the TMR sticks, hall-effect trigger buttons, remappable bumper buttons and back buttons, alongside Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless support. All of this can be found in a traditional Ultimate 3, which will also be $10 cheaper than this $119.99 (via 8BitDo) controller. It's a similar case to the 8BitDo Pro 3, which is $79.99 at Amazon rather than its other colorways' $69.99 MSRP, but these collabs are usually about looks, and the Pro 3 more than looks the part.

8BitDo aptly takes the Pro 3 and uses it to pay "tribute to the Lost Valley", one of the most iconic areas of the original game. What 90s kid doesn't remember that fearsome T-Rex fight?

The charging stand for this peripheral is even more eye-catching than the Ultimate 3's as it features a stone-texture print that makes it look like a plinth holding up a valuable artifact. With this release, 8BitDo has also included interchangeable ball-top joystick caps that perfectly replicate the turquoise coloring of Lara's OG outfit, and there's a set of grips that match the ancient relic design of the faceplate included too.

The Pro 3 is definitely my preferred pick of these two upcoming 8BitDo releases. Not just for these Tomb Raider-y design choices, but because it captures a similar shape to the original PlayStation SCPH-1080 controller, with plenty of modern benefits - from its TMR sticks, back buttons, and magnetic ABXY buttons.

The Tomb Raider 8BitDo Pro 3 is expected to launch on October 24, the same date as the new Ultimate 3. Sadly, that means there's a long wait until Tomb Raider Legacy of Atlantis's February 12, 2027 release date. However, with the wealth of Lara Croft adventures available today, you shouldn't have an issue finding the perfect game to pair with these stunning anniversary edition accessories.

• View all 8BitDo gaming controllers at Amazon

You don't need to be an expert tomb raider to unearth the best PC controllers for gaming, the best PS5 controllers, or the best Xbox Series X controllers on the market, as we've tested the lot.

The GameSir Super Nova has been popping up more and more in recent months. Originally launching in spring of 2025, the PC / Nintendo Switch / mobile controller was pitched as a $44.99 / £49.99 budget gamepad for Windows and Ninty users going big on customization without shelling out for a bona fide 'Pro' gamepad. That's a competitive proposition, but it's not what led me to getting the device in hand for myself.

The GameSir Super Nova wore me down. After months of seeing this gamepad at a $30 sale price, while also promising Switch 2 wake functionality, I had to give it a go. My results? Optimistically positive with one hearty disappointment.

Unfortunately, the one feature that had me seeking out the Super Nova in a sea of the best Switch 2 controllers is, at best, obtusely difficult to set up correctly and, at worst, non-functional. No, I never managed to get the GameSir Super Nova to reliably wake the Switch 2 as it promised. What I did find, though, is an impressively detailed gamepad taking on the best PC controllers on the market and waltzing away with value on its side.

Design

Aha, another third-party Xbox clone. The GameSir Super Nova doesn't deviate too far from the playbook in its form and shape. This is a slightly lighter (263g) and slightly more compact Microsoft design complete with asymmetrical thumbsticks, your standard ABXY layout, and chunky, angled grips.

That Nintendo heritage isn't too far away, though. In place of the pause and menu buttons, we have a plus and minus, as well as a home and screenshot pairing just underneath. The face buttons can also be swapped around to get those Xs and Ys in the right place when switching over to Ninty's console as well.

A small 'M' button at the bottom of the device allows for on-the-fly customizations, which we'll get to shortly. Around the rear, you'll find the two back button-paddle hybrids. They're not the magnetic ones found on the Gulikit KK3 Max, but their longer lever design gives them some interesting feel. On the back, you'll also find a connection slider toggling between Bluetooth, wired, and 2.4GHz modes. My only gripe here is that the slider is a little too shallow for super easy use. Flush with the plastic of the casing itself, there's not a lot of purchase when switching between connection methods.

Everything's accounted for here, then, and it's presented in a far more luxurious chassis than I would expect for $45. Hold the GameSir Super Nova side by side with the PowerA Advantage Wired Controller for Switch 2, and you'd have a hard time convincing yourself they were approaching the same price point.

While the former is hollow and flimsy, the Super Nova carries a reassuring heft that belies a far higher price tag. There's a dense quality in the hand that gives every button press just that little bit more oomph while still remaining comfortable during longer sessions. It's a plastic case, but a particularly thick, hard one with no creaking or rattles no matter how animated those motion controls get.

A lot of that luxury comes from the grips. A lightly textured rubberized diamond pattern adorns each side, wrapping all the way around the left and right grips and bleeding slightly over onto the back buttons to the rear.

It's a particularly tactile design, but its shallow design keeps it from feeling tacky or stiff in the hands or adding any undue temperature during warmer sessions. The palms are locked in without feeling claustrophobic or reducing mobility during the odd reaching movement up to the pause or home button.

As for looks, I won't say the GameSir Super Nova is the most impressive aesthetically. It's personal, of course, but the larger legends on the ABXY face buttons feel a little immature given the premium feel elsewhere, and the RGB lighting (while nicely contained and customizable) can sometimes run a little cheap in today's market. The dark blue fade along the top of the main faceplate shines nicely, though, and is swappable via a magnetic system.

Even these magnets feel premium. I've been mainlining the Scuf Omega on PS5, which features a similar swappable topper. I'll say it, though: the magnet strength and faceplate durability on the $45 GameSir Super Nova far exceeds that of the $219.99 PlayStation pro model.

Features

The GameSir Super Nova is compatible across Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PC, and mobile, with a strong set of features to support each platform (wake functionality somewhat aside). It's one of the more collaborative controllers I've seen so far, cross-pollinating common PC offerings with the Switch's main draws to fantastic effect.

Motion controls, for example, perform flawlessly in Ninty's titles but can also be mapped to mouse inputs across PC for an additional layer of control. In practice, this isn't always the best experience. The benefit of being able to wield a cursor with less precision than usual will depend on the game, but for simple navigation it comes in surprisingly handy.

Meanwhile, trigger locks are also up for grabs here, where they're often missed in more casual Switch 2 gamepads. The 8BitDo Pro 3 is one of your few alternatives if you want to swap between full depth and a faster snap, and that'll cost you $69.99 all in.

They're not quite as instantaneous as the mechanical switches found further up the price scale, but they certainly provide a speed benefit in online and singleplayer first-person shooter scenarios.

All that, and the Super Nova doesn't fall behind in its core tech either. Hall effect thumbsticks might not be as sensitive or precise as newer TMR controllers, but they're still leagues beyond the traditional potentiometer sticks previously found in budget options. A Bluetooth connection will poll you at 125Hz, but plug into a PC with the 2.4GHz dongle and you'll get the full 1,000Hz for a more reliable experience.

Those two back paddles are programmable while on the run using the aforementioned 'M' button, but GameSir Connect's PC software can also map them to pretty much any input you like. We're talking mouse clicks and keyboard combos as well as your standard button mapping. In fact, it's this software that really lets the Super Nova rev its engines.

It's a surprisingly robust package considering the price point. Alongside those motion settings, you're covered for dead zones, Hair Trigger, and curve settings across your triggers, with anti-dead zones and trajectory settings thrown in on top for thumbsticks as well. Vibration levels can be tuned via a slider, allowing you to nail the right balance between the left's heavier action and the right's tighter buzz. Add RGB settings, as many keybindings as you can muster, and per-key assignment for up to three combos in a macro, and this is a confident, expansive customization system.

That's why the lack of presets is so confusing. There's nowhere to save different setups for different titles, which means diving into each of these settings every time the game is changed. It's a long process and one that only slightly more expensive gamepads have fixed a long time ago. Hopefully we see something patched in on the PC side at least in the future.

Performance

Let's get the tough bit out of the way. The first thing I wanted to test here was that Switch 2 wake functionality. It's a feature you'll generally only find on more premium offerings like the 8BitDo Ultimate 2 or official Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller. Grabbing it for a mere $29.99 (when on sale) feels too good to be true. Unfortunately, in my experience, it might be just that.

There's a lengthy setup process that involves pairing and re-pairing, then removing the Joy-Con, then changing the grip, then searching for the Joy-Con again before the Super Nova should be able to wake your Switch 2 using the main home button. I went through this process countless times across multiple testing sessions to no avail. The controller's central lights flash as if they should be communicating with the system, but nothing happens.

I reached out to GameSir to verify that the process was correct and that my controller was indeed on the most up-to-date firmware, and they provided a similar walkthrough video that should solve the problem. Using their guidance a few more times and still coming up short, I have requested any further information they have on the issue and will update this review accordingly.

It's frustrating because, this one feature aside, the GameSir Super Nova runs without a hitch. I have never encountered any day-to-day communication errors between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz and have no speed concerns over either connection. Faster movements in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom are picked up beautifully, and the larger face buttons and well-dampened response make longer Pokemon Pokopia building sessions feel like a breeze.

Those thumbsticks maintain their accuracy in both faster spins and slower pans, holding up against more frantic Doom: The Dark Ages moments on PC thanks to their finely tuned tension and snappy return. There's also an impressively smooth glide here, with no snagging at the outer edges of a maneuver or grating against the side of the chassis itself.

The triggers themselves offer a middling level of tension. There's slightly more force pushing against you compared to the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro, but a longer draw that requires a more sensitive approach compared to the official Switch Pro 2 Controller. Personally, it's a sweet spot. There's still a sense of texture here, giving Forza Horizon 6 just that little bit more presence, and a full bottom-out is still complemented by a comfortably cushioned stopper as well.

GameSir hasn't outfitted its Super Nova with the same microswitch face buttons you'll find on the slightly more expensive Cyclone 2 model. Instead, we're back to a cheaper membrane action on the ABXY here, but they still feel nicely cushioned under the thumb.

Unfortunately, the D-pad suffers a little more from this cheaper tech. The four-pronged design is simpler itself, but the actuation of these membrane clackers makes it a tad too rigid to truly feel nimble in play.

The back buttons could also prove divisive, depending on your grip type. With my index fingers middling the triggers and bumpers, the length and positioning of these paddles are perfect for fast, reliable hits with my middle finger without impacting other controls.

Shifting that middle finger up to the triggers puts a little too much pressure on the left ring finger, though, often causing a mispress of the left trigger at the same time. That didn't prove to be a problem for me in my natural, relaxed hand position, but it should be noted if you go for a more involved hold.

Should you buy the GameSir Super Nova?

The GameSir Super Nova is competitively positioned, especially when it inevitably goes on sale. At $44.99, it's just a little too pricey to completely cut TMR options like the GameSir Cyclone 2, which can often be found for between $50 and $70. When it's on sale, though, things change dramatically.

I often see this gamepad up for about $30 when it's discounted, and at that price this is no feature set to be arguing with. On the PC side of things, its closest competitor in our testing roster is the EasySMX X10. This is the controller I'd been happy with for years, and it matches the Super Nova's Switch compatibility (though not Switch 2), back buttons, and Hall effect sticks. It's difficult to get your hands on these days, though, and it drops quite a few customization features from its roster.

On the Nintendo side of things, you're going to be choosing between the Super Nova and the PowerA Advantage Wired Controller. The decision shouldn't be a difficult one. PowerA's budget model comes with a wired connection and far lower build quality, while dropping motion controls, easy customization, trigger locks, and rumble. It's cheaper day-to-day, starting off at $39.99, and typically goes on sale for between $17 and $25. For a potential $5 upgrade, though, GameSir's additional features are well worth it.

Of course, if it's that wake functionality that drew you in, you're going to be a little stuck here. I have seen evidence of happy players able to get this connection up and running successfully, but I personally haven't. I can only go off my own experience here, so I wouldn't recommend the Super Nova to those after a cheaper Pro Controller alternative that doesn't require a more complex connection process. If you're happy ignoring that wake functionality from the official spec sheet, though, you'll still find plenty to love here.

How I tested the GameSir Super Nova

I've been running the GameSir Super Nova for all my controller-specific PC play and docked Nintendo Switch 2 sessions. The gamepad has been put through its paces across Doom: The Dark Ages as well as High on Life 2 across Windows. I also tested it across Pokemon Pokopia, Mario Kart World, Dragon Quest 2 HD-2D Remake, and Cyberpunk 2077 on Nintendo Switch 2. For more information on how we test controllers, check out the full GamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

For more console alternatives we're also rounding up the best PS5 controllers and the best Xbox Series X controllers.

The CRKD Atom+ controller has begun to ship globally. That means if you pre-ordered your tiny, retro-style pad in March earlier this year, you should expect it to arrive at your door sooner rather than later.

The $29.99 (Amazon) pad, much like CRKD's Nitro Deck 2, was subject to delays and was originally expected to begin shipping from late June 2026, but as you're likely well aware, the summer is officially over and June it is not. The shipping window was then moved to August 17-31 2026, but it wasn't until today that the brand confirmed that its four models were shipping out to customers. Better late than never, particularly as its late arrival has brought an introductory discount along with it.

While CRKD has given official word that the impeccably cute Nintendo Switch 2 controller is shipping out, some people got theirs weeks ago, like r/Controller Reddit user TheLoFiPunk, who picked up the 'Retro Purple' pad.

They also waited through the many delays to grab theirs, but shared it was "worth it", which makes me more eager than ever to try the new one out for size. I have four of the older Atom controllers in my setup, and their small stature makes them absolutely ideal for playing the Switch 2 on the go, as it takes up little to no space in my bag. However, the adorably petite controller was missing an important feature that made it awkward to play anything beyond Nintendo Switch Online's NES and SNES library - a pair of thumbsticks.

The Atom+ has that covered with the inclusion of not just two precision thumbsticks, but TMR sticks which can help prevent any drift issues from rearing their ugly head. It also includes digital bumper and trigger buttons to offer a more tactile gaming experience, which sounds ideal for some Mario Kart World action, as do the new built-in vibration feedback and motion controls.

While CRKD has piled on plenty of new features, it still keeps what I loved about the previous Atom pad - its compact size and cute designs.

Like the version before it, the Atom+ plays into the nostalgia with its retro-fueled colorways. Instead of a plain all-black design, you've got transparent Smoke Black and Glacier Blue models, which harken back to the see-through tech of the early 2000s. My personal favorite is the Pal Grey design, which was kept over from the previous incarnation. It replicates the colors of the PAL SNES and, as a Scottish kid who grew up obsessed with Nintendo in the 90s, I'm a little bit obsessed.

All of these retro controller designs are covered by the same $29.99 / £27.99 MSRP too, so you don't have to pay any extra. In fact, as of September 25, you get to pay less as CRKD has dropped $5 / £5 off all four designs at Amazon. Meanwhile, you can stick with the older $19.99 (via Amazon) Atom (which is also Switch 2 compatible) if you want more colors and are happy sticking with just a d-pad.

• View all CRKD gaming accessories at Amazon
• View the CRKD Nitro Deck 2 at Amazon

Creating the ultimate Switch 2 setup? Check out our guides to the best Nintendo Switch headsets, the best Nintendo Switch 2 cases, and the best Nintendo Switch 2 controllers while you're here.

Have you ever paid for something on the PlayStation Store and thought, hey, that wasn't easy enough? No? Me neither, but PlayStation wants to give you easier ways of transferring your card details over to the console, which I can sort of get behind. Today in strange PlayStation patent news, the PS5 controller, or its PS6 successor, might one day be able to take contactless payments from your phone or bank card.

As is always the case when I report on new PlayStation patents, I'll tell you to take this with a pinch of salt. This brand files some utterly bizarre patents just to say it has ownership over the ideas, and many of them never see the light of day.

Regardless, originally found by Patentlyze, the patent can also be found on public listings under the application number 19082121 and is titled "VIDEO GAME CONTROLLER-DRIVEN INFORMATION TRANSFER". It essentially lays out that Sony has put ownership on the idea of a video game controller being able to detect through NFC protocol that a phone or payment method is nearby, transferring their details to a console.

Near Field Communication (NFC) is the same technology that's used for all sorts of payment methods today, including contactless bank card payments, but also Nintendo's Amiibos. Most phones today also have NFC features in them, so you can pay contactless through a bank app.

While this seems like a pretty arbitrary feature, it seems like Sony is mainly eyeing it up for the added convenience of being able to transfer your payment details to a console without typing out your card number, expiry date, and security code using the controller and on-screen keyboard.

"Video game players have found it desirable to store payment method information and account information such as credit account information, bank account information, gift card information... and associated credentials in their accounts for facilitating and managing video game purchases," reads the patent's description.

Interestingly though, instead of listing player convenience reasons, Sony's patent argues the best reasons for implementing a new way of transferring these payment details are more to prevent the console itself from overworking itself:

"However, facilitating and coordinating these operations by performing multiple operational steps using multiple devices often causes performance of the video game console to suffer and/or one or more operations of the video game console to fail."

"Techniques disclosed herein improve video game consoles and video game console performance by utilizing video game controller-driven information transfer operations," it continues.

Surprisingly, the patent makes no mention of actual bank cards, only "electronic devices," which allude to a phone - one image does show a gift card being transferred, however, which might suggest your bank card will work too.

"In some implementations, the video game controller can detect that the electronic device is within the predetermined distance from the video game controller by, in some examples, detecting a signal emitted from the electronic device, using a communication protocol such as a Near Field Communication (NFC) protocol and/or a Bluetooth protocol, detecting that the electronic device has physically contacted the video game controller."

The controller would then vibrate to tell you the details had been detected.

The patent itself shows illustrations of what looks like a DualSense controller, but personally, I think this feature, if we ever see it used, will likely be reserved for the PlayStation 6 and its controller, because introducing this now to the current iteration of the DualSense would probably cause price changes and manufacturing difficulties this far into the controller's life.

While the DualSense uses Bluetooth, it doesn't currently have NFC protocols within it, so it could require a change of architecture to implement.

Another intriguing use of this feature would be to log guests into your PlayStation console when playing a local multiplayer game while they're visiting. This could save the hassle of having to do manual logins to non-home consoles and might just allow you to tap your PlayStation app on a controller to log in. Another illustration shows your phone tapping the controller as a way to send and receive messages, but I don't see such a clear use for this.

What's also interesting to me is that while Sony is patenting this idea with specific reference to transferring payment information, Nintendo has had an NFC communicator in its Pro Controller since the original Nintendo Switch in 2017 to scan amiibos with. I bet someone at Nintendo is kicking themselves that they didn't think of this use for their controllers' NFC protocols.

For more, look at the best PC controllers, the best Xbox Series X controllers, and the best Switch 2 controllers.

Razer is reviving its Tartarus product range with the new Razer Tartarus V2 Pro, a gaming keypad designed to bridge the gap between controller and mouse-and-keyboard play. The original Tartarus launched all the way back in 2013 and hasn't had any sequel or seen much support since then. But with renewed competition in the gaming keypad space from Azeron, it's no surprise Razer wants to re-enter the best PC controller alternative race.

Much like the Azeron Keyzen and Azeron Cyborg II, the Razer Tartarus V2 Pro combines a thumbstick, palm rest, and suite of customizable keys. Paired with a mouse, it'll give you an alternative to gaming with a traditional keyboard designed around typing, and the ability to free up your fingers from the WASD keys.

The Tartarus V2 takes things a step further than Azeron's keypads, which are undoubtedly the go-to in the keypad market right now. The V2 Pro uses a TMR thumbstick, has an 8,000Hz polling rate, and more advanced actuation customization thanks to Razer's Analog Optical Switch Gen 2 technology. Meanwhile, Azeron's Keyzen, which launched last year, uses three different types of Cherry switches, but you can't mix and match or set different actuation points for them. The Keyzen has a Hall effect stick and a 1,000Hz polling rate by comparison.

That means you can set a 0.1mm actuation distance if you like, or enjoy a maximum bottom-out depth of 4.0mm. At the same time, Razer has included Rapid Trigger Mode, which enables immediate repeat presses by resetting pressed keys instantly after their actuation point. Snap Flex is also featured, allowing different actions to be assigned to a single key's press and release. In theory, that means you can assign four different functions to a single key press - one for halfway down, then the second half of downward travel, then both halves on the way back up.

There are a total of 31 mappable controls on the Tartarus V2 Pro, which expands the Azeron Cyborg II's 30, but lands just shy of Keyzen's 32. Where Azeron might have another edge is in physical customization and comfort. That brand's keypads have always made a point of laying out their rows of keys (towers) in an ergonomic fashion that lines up with the shape of a human hand. You can also adjust their length, depth, and height. Meanwhile, on the Tartarus V2 Pro, the keypad itself has been expanded over the original, but the rows are laid out on one fixed board, and the only adjustments you can make are to the angle and length of the wrist rest.

The Azeron Keyzen can store up to six profiles, with an infinite number stored on the brand's software. Razer's new Tartarus can store 3 profiles you create through Synapse, each with 8 keymaps supported for 24 configurations in total. And yes, you can assign macros to each key if that's your preferred method.

I'm looking forward to testing the Tartarus V2 Pro out for myself to see how it compares to the Azeron experience. When I'm not testing out the latest controllers for review, I spend all my time gaming on PC with a mouse in my right hand and an Azeron Keypad under my left, so I find any newcomer, or in Razer's case, returner, to this niche of gaming hardware to be something to celebrate.

For more on controllers, take a look at the best TMR controllers, the best Xbox Series X controllers, and the best PS5 controllers.

Rumour has it Apple is working on two gaming controllers, and I'm already reminiscing about the iPod. Yes, the company that ushered in the age of full touchscreens is apparently working on gamepads, and if it's really getting back into buttons, I need it to bring back the mighty click wheel.

First highlighted by a MacRumors reader, the Apple controllers emerged as references in the latest macOS 26.7 release code. Dubbed T6502 and T1057, the gamepads apparently include staple elements like a D-pad, dual thumbsticks, shoulder buttons, and analog triggers. The latter adds an accelerometer and gyroscope, though, suggesting that it could be a "Pro" version.

Those findings have now been corroborated by Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, who says the gamepads are actually controllers for the iPhone. The tech journalist specifically says the gamepads will likely launch under the Beats brand and were actually engineered by executives for the sub-brand. That makes sense, given that the accessories would theoretically work with non-Apple devices if they use USB-C, but it does crush my click wheel hopes and dreams.

For those of you unacquainted, the click wheel is the big touch-sensitive pad on the front of every iPod. You could say it was Apple's way of soft-launching touchscreen navigation, as it fused rotational, capacitive gestures with physical, clicky buttons to create an incredibly intuitive way to scroll through menus and playlists. It even doubled up as an eventual Atari-style paddle controller once iPods started shipping with arcade-inspired games like Brick.

No, I'm not saying Apple should turn your iPhone into a retro handheld just for Breakout clones, even if that would be a neat bonus. That said, I do think the company should go back to its roots if it's finally getting into gaming hardware, as the click wheel could bring something "new" to an already brimming battlefield.

You've already got the Backbone One serving as an affordable mobile pad, while newcomers like the foldable Razer Prio cover the premium side. Even Game Boy players are being catered to with the likes of GameSir's Pocket Taco and the 8Bitdo FlipPad. But Apple could make big waves by resurrecting its click wheel, as it could let players do everything from quickly switching weapons to actually performing specific in-game mechanics, should developers leverage the unique, circular range of motion.

Alas, the chances of Apple actually reviving its click wheel for the new iPhone controllers are slim, especially if they're Beats-branded. I suspect they'll be at least designed with the new iPhone Duo in mind, with the connectors specifically catering to the taller 1.4:1 aspect ratio so that the buttons are in a central, balanced position.

However, I suspect we won't be treated to anything that specifically feels very "Apple", not that we'd get that physical feel of its 2000s devices anyway. What I will say is that if the rumors that there's a version with a gyro and an accelerometer are true, we could be looking at gamepads that are designed to work with more than just mobile, and that may mean the company is properly dipping its toes into PC and console hardware waters.

• More mobile controllers at Amazon
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Swing by the best retro controllers for authentic console gamepads with modern abilities.

SteelSeries is stepping into the Xbox controller market today by launching the new Aeon Pro, a very competitive and feature-rich multi-platform gamepad. It sports an onboard OLED display and menu system, very tactile microswitch back paddles and buttons, a charging dock, and a hot-swappable battery system, but its price is going to reserve it for the wealthiest of gamers.

At $259.99 / $229.99, it's by far the most expensive controller I've come across in my four years of reviewing them professionally. I have to admit, from a quick hands-on, it feels like an excellent gaming peripheral, but it's going to take some miracles during testing for me to recommend something like this at full price.

Fans of clicky microswitch buttons will be very happy with the Aeon Pro, since it has them all over, including its four back paddles. These aren't the exact same as the magnetic ones found on the DualSense Edge and Elite Series 2, but they're longer, metallic levers that actuate with a tactile click, so they feel very similar.

Uniquely to the recent controller market, the Aeon Pro has a removable battery in order to follow the same design philosophies as SteelSeries headsets and mice. By allowing for hot-swapping and supplying you with two batteries in the box, you can ensure that one always stays charged so that, in theory, you never run out of power.

There's a rather chunky charging stand for the Aeon Pro which might just be one of the stars of this very pricey show. Obviously, you can charge the controller on the stand, but there's also room to store and charge up the additional battery, and magnetically attach the swappable thumbstick tops - a favourite feature of mine.

Around the back, you can connect a PC and Xbox via separate USB-C ports, meaning you don't need to swap a USB dongle from the back of your console to the back of your PC if you're swapping platforms. The charging stand acts as your receiver, a bit like the Steam Controller and its puck.

Going back to them briefly, I am a real fan of the thumbstick tops being magnetically attached. Most of the time, these are plastic slots that need to be clicked into place at a specific angle, and there's always a slight fear of breakage when you attach or remove one from a controller. Magnetic ones make them easier to use, and a convenient charging stand will ensure you don't lose the spare ones.

Rather disappointingly for such a premium controller, the Aeon Pro uses Hall Effect thumbsticks - hardly a dealbreaker, but for something so expensive, I'd want top-of-the-line TMR sticks instead.

As well as the onboard menu system, which comes with a few prebuilt button profiles for different gaming genres, you can also access the SteelSeries GG software to fine-tune thumbstick deadzones and other elements of the pad.

Like I say, the Aeon Pro is a feature-rich controller with a lot of really impressive elements, but at $259, it's got a lot to prove. I look forward to testing it out properly and seeing if it's worth its weight in gold. What do you think?

If this seems a little pricey, I'd also recommend looking at the best TMR controllers, the best PC controllers, and the best PS5 controllers.

So many controllers try to do the same things these days, so I'm always pleasantly surprised when I come across one that feels distinct. Particularly in the Xbox market, a lot of gamepads shoot for their own spins on a tried-and-tested formula that captures what people like about the institution that is the Xbox controller. Sadly, that can lead to a lot of them feeling identical in the hands, but the Scuf Valor Pro Wireless isn't in that camp. It's got these chunky, fat grips that make a bit of a statement as soon as you pick the thing up, and I love it.

Of course, they feel a bit familiar. A while back, I tested the original Scuf Valor Pro controller, an odd case study. We had waited years for a new pro gamepad from Scuf, and what it brought to market was wired-only, behind the times in terms of its features, and it didn't feel too useful in the shooter genre it was supposedly built for.

The Valor Pro Wireless modernizes things with TMR sticks, wireless capabilities, and a slew of eye-catching designs worthy of this brand. It might not seem as though much has changed, but this is definitely more like it. Besides a price of $199 / £179 that pits it against some of the most feature-rich gamepads on the shelves, it's one I'd happily use in my own rotation for its comfort alone.

Design

If you're familiar with the original Valor Pro, you'll know what to expect here. In truth, very little has changed besides its wireless capabilities and other internal substitutions. Scuf seems to really believe in this design since it's now forming the skeleton of the brand's new 8K polling PC controller, the Nemesis.

The Valor Pro Wireless is an asymmetrical controller with some to-be-expected Scuf notes. The Hex rubberized grip texture is back, as are some cleverly angled back buttons that almost wrap themselves around your middle finger. These aren't quite as enveloping as the ones on the Scuf Envision Pro, but they do a good job of positioning themselves in an easily accessible manner.

What's noticeably distinct about this pad are its chunky grips. There are loads of different ways to design comfortable controller grips, but Scuf has focused on depth here in a way I've not seen many times before. The width and length of them are fairly average, so you might not get a sense for it just by looking at the controller's face. Extra girth has been added in the back, which gives the Valor Pro a bit more for you to hold onto. This device feels really substantial in the hands, and if anything, the shape just makes the back buttons easier to actuate because your palms have more of a surface to counter-squeeze into when your middle finger flexes.

As is always the case with Scuf's products these days, there's a magnetic faceplate and loads of cosmetic options for you to choose from. There are options for making a fully custom version of some Scuf controllers (this one included), but faceplates are the brand's answer if you don't want to go through the nitty-gritty details of dialing in every single element's color.

Features

The Valor Pro Wireless sports TMR thumbsticks, improving on the original wired model's Hall sensor modules. To my frustration, Scuf's slippery thumbstick tops are unchanged from the original model. I can't really understand how this brand gets away with supplying uncontrollable thumbstick tops like these when it prides itself on being an FPS controller brand first and foremost. Thankfully, there are swappable nubs in the box, and the taller one that I prefer to use on my right stick has a domed shape that's a little less reminiscent of a Mario Kart banana.

Perhaps controversially, the Valor Pro Wireless uses membrane face buttons. In a world set against them as we see more and more gamepads adopting microswitches, the Valor Pro is staying true to tradition, and I don't mind it in the slightest. Clicky buttons aren't for everyone, and Scuf has done a good job of making these face buttons responsive without the need for clicks.

The Valor Pro Wireless features four back buttons, with the bottom pair responding with standard plastic actuation. The top two, angled slightly further away from your fingers, are microswitches that take a little less effort to push in - a smart move.

The Valor Pro Wireless will naturally be locked to the Xbox's lacklustre polling rate (between 150-400Hz) on the console itself, but there is capability on PC for it to utilize a 1,000Hz polling rate if you use a wired USB-C connection. This is a bit of a shame since it'll need to go through the same annoying process as the original Valor Pro to update and activate it. I'd have hoped Scuf would have cracked the code on this by now, and we'd see 1,000Hz wirelessly as we do on its rivals.

Compared to those rival Xbox controllers, the Valor Pro doesn't come with a carrying case or many swappable parts. Its USB dongle, cable, and swappable thumbsticks come in the box with it, but there's very little to help you hold onto all of those things together. Similarly, there's no charging stand either, which is a bit of a shame considering a lot of licensed Xbox pads at this price offer all of these things. Even the GameSir G7 Pro has a charging stand, and it's under $100.

You can play with the Valor Pro Wireless on PC, Xbox, and via Bluetooth thanks to a connection switch on its back. There are trigger stop switches too; just be aware that due to the triggers being a bit short, their corners can end up feeling as though they're stabbing into you if you press too hard while in microswitch mode. I much prefer the longer trigger shape on the Envision and Omega.

Performance

The best thing about the Valor Pro, without doubt, is its comfort. I mentioned it above, but the unique grip shape really lends itself to hours and hours of gaming at a time.

This thing is an absolute joy to hold, and I'd say it's one of the most comfortable controllers I've tested this year. I played about 3 hours worth of Forza Horizon 6 one evening while catching up with a close friend of mine, and the Valor Pro Wireless was just another element that made that session fly by in a heartbeat. This is a super comfortable controller, especially if you have larger hands and like having a bit more of a hold on your gaming peripherals.

Like any TMR controller, the Valor Pro responds really well in first-person shooters. Having those four back buttons so close to your middle finger is a really nice bonus too, and helped me to feel like I didn't need to take my thumbs off the movement and aiming controls. If Scuf wanted to hone in on this aspect even more, it'd be nice to have those higher back buttons wrapped a little more snugly around the middle fingers, as they are on the Scuf Omega and Envision.

For a membrane button controller, it still feels really snappy to use in games that require a fast reaction. Dragon Ball Sparking Zero and Clair Obscur both felt great with this thing in hand, with bumpers and face buttons snapping down well in heated moments.

In platformers, I really liked the thumbsticks and the D-pad especially. The 8-way D-pad is set fairly small and sits level with the faceplate, so it almost tricks your brain into thinking it's embedded into the controller. Its textured directions make it easy to use, and overall, I really like it.

Should you buy the Scuf Valor Pro Wireless?

The Valor Pro is a great all-rounder whether you're driving around, playing a narrative game, looking for action in a shooter or fighting game, or puzzle platforming in a metroidvania. It feels authentic to Xbox while putting its own unique spins on Microsoft's controller blueprint that are actually worth making.

We can find awesome pro-level features in so many gamepads these days but, to me, comfort will always be king, and the Valor Pro's comfort is such that I'd be happy to keep it in my rotation going forward, even if there are better controllers out there for nailing down certain genres.

That's going to be the main issue of the Valor Pro wireless, in my opinion. Its competition is priced similarly and offers more specialization in customization, in certain genres, or more functionality. Meanwhile, the Valor Pro wireless is a highly comfortable all-rounder that does a bit of everything well. Which sounds more appealing to you?

How I tested the Scuf Valor Pro Wireless

I put the Valor Pro Wireless to work over a period of two to three weeks before writing this review. I compared it closely to other Xbox controllers I've reviewed, as well as other Scuf products - specifically the original Valor Pro wired gamepad.

I did my usual sweep through a wide range of gaming genres to test its capabilities, as well as a few extras as my testing lined up with my own gaming time.

For more on how we test controllers, check out the full-length GamesRadar+ hardware policy.

Want more gamepad recommendations? Take a look at the best PS5 controllers, best Switch 2 controllers, and best joysticks.

At the time of writing, the only shelf piece GTA 6 will receive (other than a redundant code-carrying case) is a limited edition DualSense controller. Announced as part of today's PlayStation State of Play, two DualSense controllers bearing that 'VI' stamp will be unleashed alongside the game on November 19.

Each gamepad launches at a pretty sizeable $84.99, though that's been the going rate for a special edition controller for a little while now, with pre-orders dropping on September 10 at 10am local time.

Available in either black or white, both gamepads feature a shimmery two-tone mid-section with a pop of neon purple in those icon legends and D-pad arrows. Both feature identical Vice City etchings around the main grips and controls, with palm leaves cut into the body of the gamepad itself, and replicated in the middle of that now-iconic VI stamp on the touchpad.

It's a nicely bold controller design, in the right light. Obviously Sony has positioned its shimmers and shines just so to create the classic Vice City vibe in its State of Play sizzle reel. However, if those embossed sections are as textured as they appear from press materials, your GTA allegiance should be pretty obvious in the hands.

Of course, you're still getting all the first-party features of the best PS5 controllers, with unparalleled (on the console) haptic feedback and that slick adaptive trigger system as well. Based on the GTA 6 pre-order hype and recent Xbox X25 pre-orders, these could well move fast when they hit the shelves, so I'd recommend marking September 10 on your calendar sharpish.

This marks the first special edition GTA 6 PS5 accessory we've seen so far. It's all but expected that Sony will launch its own PS5 bundles when the time comes, but a special edition console is still but a hope and a dream. Still, having something to hold in the hands is always appreciated right now. GTA's own digital-only release kickstarted a whole physical media debate earlier in the year, one Sony seems to have doubled down on in more recent announcements.

• See all PS5 controllers at Amazon

Don't care for the DualSense? We're also rounding up the best PC controllers and the best Xbox Series X controllers on the market.

The Turtle Beach Kevin the Cube controller is a pretty, purple sight to behold. The Switch 2 accessory was unveiled during last week's Gamescom celebrations and is inspired by the aforementioned glowing purple cube that has remained part of Fortnite's wider (and very confusing) lore since Season 5.

Much like its namesake, the $69.99 Rematch controller has a stunning purple exterior which is coated in runes. However, while Kevin's runes sent the terrain of Fortnite's map into flux, the ones across the controller remain stationary until you pick up the pad. Using it reveals a rainbow spread of hieroglyphic-like text, and there are four lighting effects in total to play around with.

I've just got back into Fortnite, and this is the exact kind of controller I'd love to have at my disposal while trying to claim my way to victory on the Switch 2. Turtle Beach must've known, as they've generously chosen to throw in a Capoeira emote with every pad, which can be claimed when it launches on October 8 later this year.

I know not everyone is a fan of the often garish look of RGB lighting, but Turtle Beach has a good track record.

I currently have the Turtle Beach Rematch Mario and Luigi gamepad, which is part of the same line and one of the best Nintendo Switch 2 controllers I've laid my eyes on. At first I was worried the dynamic lighting effect would look tacky, but witnessing the dazzling effect of Mario series power-ups shining through the plastic chassis was super impressive in person.

The Switch 2 controller is one of the rare Ninty accessories to receive a "woah" reaction from my friends, and I feel almost certain that this Fortnite release would elicit the same enthusiastic response. By default, the purple colorway and the matching buttons spread across this pad look fantastic, and glowing rainbow runes would only make that better. Not to mention the RGB Rematch lighting effect on the brand's Rosalina controller literally flows across the pad, and that'd lend itself to this Kevin the Cube design.

I'd be remiss to not mention that the Turtle Beach Rematch line-up is also pretty grand, RGB lighting or not. While you're missing the premium features of the Switch 2 Pro controller, from NFC-reading tech to HD rumble, it feels fantastic in the hands. You've also got stick-defying TMR thumbsticks to take advantage of, mappable back buttons, and an impressive 40-hour battery that's left me rarely having to charge the Mario and Luigi version I have sitting amongst my controller collection.

If you do happen to want something a bit more premium, the brand's Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded Fortnite Drift controller was also being shown off at the Gamescom floor.

• View all Turtle Beach Nintendo Switch 2 controllers at Amazon

Check out our guides to the best PC controllers for gaming, the best PS5 controllers, and the best Xbox Series X controllers while you're here.

Razer is launching a brand new mobile controller today, and it's quite a departure from the brand's most recent on-the-go gamepads. The Razer Prio folds down to a footprint that's smaller than your phone, and will happily fit in your pocket or backpack. Razer has ruled the roost in terms of full-sized mobile controllers for the last few years, but it's now looking to provide a more portable option for those gamers who just want a quick and easy way to play on the go.

I first saw the Razer Prio at Gamescom last week, where the brand's product designers walked me through their ethos for the device. Where the Razer Kishi Ultra and Kishi V3 Pro line were all about translating the feel of the brand's console and PC controllers to a mobile device, the Prio tries to squeeze that feeling down into a practical and portable design.

“With the Razer Prio, we set out to erase the tradeoffs between portability and precision," said Travis Furst, Head of AI Hardware and Console Division at Razer. "It folds down to the size of a credit card, but the moment it opens, it plays like a full controller. That's the whole game, wherever you happen to be sitting.”

The Razer Prio could very easily pass for a payment card wallet, and in some ways, it's a shame the designers didn't leave any room for you to store some cards in it, because that'd be the only way to make its design more inventive.

Indicated by three small lines on one side of its back, you push one half of the controller away from the other. The sides will then separate, unfolding a bit like a clamshell. From there's it's a matter of spinning the right-hand side of the controller down the way, revealing the proper face of the controller.

On the right-hand side, there's a USB-C port, a tiny thumbstick, and AXYB fact buttons. On the left, there's another tiny thumbstick as well as a four-way D-pad. On top, you'll find the usual RB and LB bumpers, as well as a set of spongy triggers that depress all the way down. Unlike some other mobile controllers that try to squeeze down functionality into a portable footprint, these aren't just simple press buttons; you'll be able to accelerate properly in driving games, for example.

There are no back buttons to speak of here, and no extra functionality. It's a simplistic and relatively basic mobile controller (y'know, besides its incredibly inventive design), and that's intentional. Razer already provides options for you if you want a "pro" controller feel while playing on the go. The Prio is for those users who don't want a mobile powerhouse gaming setup; they just need something simple for a commute, or something they can take with them in case they get bored while out somewhere.

One of the true bits of genius when it comes to the Prio is how cables are hidden between its two halves. The elasticated band that holds them together also hides the wiring that will provide power and register button presses from one side to the other.

Interestingly, the thumbsticks are symmetrical but, unlike the Scuf Nomad, they're placed at the bottom of the controller and, due to their size, they're embedded slightly into the controller's face. I haven't done any proper testing of the Prio yet, but I'm interested to see how this feels, even in shorter sessions, since it could prove to be a bit uncomfortable.

Razer hasn't opted for Hall effect, TMR, or Potentiometer thumbstick sensors here. Instead, it's utilized contactless, capacitive analog thumbsticks. These will be immune to stick drift since there are no physical contacts to wear down and, in theory, have a higher resolution than even TMR sensors. To some degree, these are wasted on such a tiny controller but I'll be interested to see how they perform if Razer carries them over to full-sized products in the future.

There's just one main issue with the Prio from my point of view, even without testing it. Priced at $99 / £99, it's bloody expensive for something that's proclaimed as a simple, portable option first and foremost. The Razer Kishi V3 Pro line isn't that much more expensive. In fact, the Kishi V3 is currently discounted down to $69.99 at Amazon, so surely something that's geared at more casual on-the-go players should be a lot more affordable?

The GameSir G8 Galileo is a nice middle ground between comfort, functionality, and portability, and that's easily found around the $60 mark these days. The ELO Vagabond, which is the best mobile controller overall, is priced at the same $100 point in the market, and it offers a lot more functionality, so I do feel as though Razer has priced this a little high for its intended use.

For a verdict on how the Prio performs, come back soon and hear my thoughts after I've tested it.

For more on controllers, take a look at the best TMR controllers, the best Xbox Series X controllers, and the best PS5 controllers.

Not quite made the leap to the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller but still eyeing up those back buttons? JSAUX's latest launch might be for you.

The brand teased its Voidjoy Elite Extender alongside its new controller wing last month, and the brand has just made the $39.99 accessory available for purchase today. It's essentially a hug for your original Switch Pro Controller. A wraparound buddy that sits on the main body of the gamepad, adding 1,800mAh of extra battery life and a suite of additional controls to the best Nintendo Switch controller on the market.

Two back buttons are positioned between the grips, with additional shoulder clackers up top as well. The brains of the operation also handles button remapping, turbo, and up to 42-step macros, with support for Android Touch Mapping for all those gaming phone fans as well.

It's a risky move, releasing a brand new accessory for the previous-generation controller (this one's for OG Switch Pro Controllers, rather than the newer Switch 2 model), but when prices are climbing as they are, gadgets that breathe new life into old tech are quickly growing in popularity.

While the same kind of mobile functionality, shoulder triggers, and battery boost would have been appreciated on the newer Switch 2 Pro Controller, then, I'm keen to see how the Elite Extender does in the wild. Ninty's official gamepad comes in at a whopping $89.99 - a fifth of the price of the handheld. Yes, it's the best Nintendo Switch 2 controller on the market, but those after some newer features no longer need to abandon old faithful.

At first glance, it doesn't look like those back buttons are going to feel as buttery intuitive as the ones on the official Switch 2 Pro Controller. They're positioned right on the back panel of the gamepad, after all, whereas Ninty's full release has them neatly tucked in under your fingers on the grips. It's a necessary repositioning to make sure everything sits on the same panel, but it might take some getting used to.

Competitive players will be keen to get their hands on the sturdy macro controls, though, while racing fans will be eyeing up those analog triggers up top instead. These detachable paddles want to bring your Switch Pro Controller to the PC, with pressure-sensitive actuation offering a wide range of movement down the stem compared to the stock triggers on the gamepad itself.

So who is the Voidjoy Elite Extender for? If you're only interested in those back buttons for Switch and Switch 2 play, just know that they come with an (admittedly currently unseen) caveat. We'll know a lot more about how these buttons perform once we get them in-hand, but at first glance they look just a tad more fiddly than the built-in options on Ninty's grown-up pad. However, anyone looking to outfit their original gamepad with some new features, whether it be for more sophisticated Switch controls, or to migrate their hardware to PC and mobile, should be investigating the brand's new gadget further.

That's not all JSAUX launched today either. The Voidjoy SkyLark S1 Pro is a full TMR controller with optical triggers, a compact form factor, and quick-switch pairing. The pocket-sized clackers are up for $49.99 at JSAUX's official site.

• See all Nintendo Switch controllers at Amazon

We're rounding up all the best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories on the market, including the best Nintendo Switch 2 cases and best Nintendo Switch headsets as well.

Last week heralded in a set of Xbox X25 pre-orders that promptly sold out in a matter of minutes. The special edition translucent green console and controller, despite their hefty markups, were gone in the blink of an eye when pre-orders dropped on Thursday. While hopes of a stock refresh on the main event might be a little optimistic, though, I'm not quite finished with that controller yet.

The Xbox Series X25 console is an $899.99 (or $999 if you bought via GameStop) showpiece that costs more than a PS5 Pro but puts all its investment in its numbered green aesthetic and easter eggs. There are only 25,000 of these being made - it's a true limited edition. That gamepad on the other hand? That's only a special edition.

While it's still currently out of stock in the US (Amazon), I'm fairly confident we haven't seen the last of this luminous Xbox Series X controller. This isn't my first time at the rodeo after all. Just a couple of years ago PlayStation celebrated its own 30th Anniversary, and with it came a limited console and a special controller release. Yes, that light gray controller is difficult to find now, but it managed to pop back onto the shelves several times after it initially sold out at a pre-order level.

In fact I only managed to snag my own celebratory gamepad in a restock that emerged a full year after the original launch.

It's only been a few days since the first wave of stock dropped, but I wouldn't be surprised if we saw more gamepads on the shelves later in the year. The November holiday shopping period is an obvious target for Microsoft, and when I'd most expect to see the X25 Wireless Controller back in stock. However, keep an eye out for smaller drops around that November 13 release date as well.

Pre-orders can move quickly, and we often see a number of high-demand items returning when full sales go live. That can be down to buyer's remorse when crunch time arrives, or simply payments declining months after being placed. It's reasonable to expect a handful of Xbox Series X25 consoles to return to the shelves at launch, but they're still going to move incredibly quickly. Controller stock hunters should have an easier time of it though.

Microsoft hasn't had an easy time of it in the hardware world recently. With rising console prices, it's been haemorrhaging market share to PlayStation in the last few years, as evidenced by the recent Triple-A platform splits. I can't see a future where the brand unnecessarily holds back its cheaper (but still in-demand) anniversary release.

• See all Xbox controllers at Amazon

If you're not fussed about special edition gadgets, check out the best Xbox Series X accessories as well as the best Xbox Series X headsets on the market.

Can we ban brands from using the word “ecosystem” when they announce new sim racing gear, please? At least until they can be trusted to use it responsibly. I’ve played with a fair few of the best racing wheels for PC, and it feels as though every time new gear comes along it’s with the promise of an expanding range of extras and add-ons “in the future”.

“Start with the basics and expand over time as your racing habits evolve and your wallet recovers,” that sort of thing. Which is great, in theory. It’s a logical plan for both company and player, but the problem is this never seems to be a promise anyone keeps.

There is an emerging exception to the trend though, and it’s from an unlikely place: Nacon.

Likely known to most people for its range of controllers and peripherals, including the excellent Revolution X Unlimited, it launched its dedicated sim racing brand with some success last year. The Revosim RS Pure bundle: a 9Nm direct drive wheelbase, round wheel, and load cell pedals for £699/$799, undercut plenty of the established names on price while largely matching them on build quality and performance. It was a strong debut in isolation, but it also followed the ecosystem script with immediate talk of not just what was here now, but what was to come in the future.

Arguably, Nacon was even more brazen than others, as the wheelbase shipped with connection points on the back labelled “shifter” and “handbrake”, but that hardware didn't exist yet and didn’t even have a release date at the time. Just a promise that it was on the way before the end of 2025. It wasn’t a promise Nacon kept initially, but the best part of a year later, backup did arrive, and what landed is actually rather good. The Revosim RS Pure Hybrid Shifter, Load Cell Handbrake, and Clutch Pedal filled in those empty slots on the back of the wheelbase and completed the initial picture.

But this is territory we’ve been in before.

Turtle Beach made it this far with the VelocityOne range and has gone MIA since. The Race wheelbase arrived in early 2024, and it too was complemented by a Multi-Shift shifter and handbrake. Then, eighteen months on, a second wheelbase joined the range, and the F-RX Formula wheel arrived with it. Things were looking good. The F-RX in particular is lovely; in fact, it’s one of the nicer wheel rims I've used and was proof that Turtle Beach had the know-how to compete. But since then, nothing. Turtle Beach's next round of simulation hardware announcements went to flight sim gear instead. Racing got two good years, and seemingly that is that.

Thrustmaster is guilty too, albeit in a different way. It’s a major name in sim racing and has kept releasing hardware on a pretty consistent cadence. The problem is the EVO Racing Hub was entirely pitched as the start of something, a hub designed to take an assortment of swappable rims and modules. I tested it at launch in early 2024, and both the hub and 32R Leather wheel were solid. Thrustmaster told me more rims were coming soon and the little pictures on the box suggested the same, but it wasn’t until a couple of months ago that two more rims and a paddle set quietly appeared on the website.

And that lands us at Nacon's newest move: the Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team customization kit for the RS Pure. It's aimed at a completely different kind of driver than the brand’s recent shifter and handbrake; it’s formula racing rather than rally or GT, and it’s not a huge headline piece, either. In an RPG it’s a side quest, but it’s an interesting one that fleshes out the world with depth and interest. The kit includes a new formula-style rim, carbon fiber shifter paddles, and a few Aston Martin-themed design touches, along with some gloves if that’s your thing.

It’s all good gear. I ran it mostly in F1 25 with some time in Forza Horizon 6, and found the open-wheel shape much more to my taste than the round wheel the RS Pure ships with. The carbon paddles are a nice upgrade, and even as a McLaren man, I liked the added flair of British Racing Green and shocking, highlighter yellow. None of this makes the Aston Martin kit essential. But it's well-made and adds an extra dimension for a specific kind of racer; it adds choice to the range, and that’s the point of an ecosystem of compatible gear. Not everything has to be a big new addition. Just keep iterating, keep adding, show me this is actually a range you’re supporting and that it’s worth me investing in and building my setup around.

Nacon is on to something with the Revosim range, but the real test now is what comes next and when.

We’ve already been told what’s coming and they’re marquee pieces. The RS Initiale and RS Lite, new mid-range and entry-level Direct Drive bundles that bring RevoSim to console for the first time. That brings another layer of complexity because cross-platform compatibility is a minefield and Nacon hasn’t yet detailed what from the existing range will work where. But it’s also a huge expansion point, and if Revosim can continue this momentum and successfully land the jump from PC to console, then we might finally have a sim racing ecosystem worthy of the word.

For more, check out the best PC controllers, best PS5 controllers, and best Xbox Series X controllers.

The Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded is getting decked out in Drift swag this year, with the new Drift colorway making its debut on the Gamescom showfloor. The mostly-black controller takes its aesthetic cues from the season 5 skin, with flashes of white, gold, and light red completing the look. This is the same gamepad underneath all that, of course, the latest version of the Victrix Pro BFG that's been sitting at the top of our guide to the best PS5 controllers for a few years now.

With the addition of Hall effect sticks, the Reloaded version is the latest to hit the shelves but you're still keeping that modular design and excellent ergonomic shaping. The Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded Fortnite Drift colorway is hitting the PlayStation, Xbox, and PC versions of the controller, with pre-orders now live ahead of the October 8 release date. Both console versions are up at $209.99, while the PC edition sits at a cheaper $189.99.

Refreshingly, there's no upcharge for that Fortnite colorway here. The Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded is sticking to its usual $209.99 / $189.99 MSRP (hear that Razer?). That's also matching today's current rates at Amazon, though if you're not fussed about the design itself it's worth noting that this controller is no stranger to discounts.

If you can go without the Drift skin, the PS5 version of the Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded has regularly dropped to $169.99 when on sale at Amazon, while the Xbox version has dropped below $150 in the past (and is currently under $200).

Still, Fortnite fans are well served by this particularly slick redesign. There's nothing garish going on here. You wouldn't glimpse this controller and immediately know it was a Drift statement. In fact, the clean gold lines and bolder red portions keep things looking nifty in their own right. You don't have to have been around in season five to enjoy this rework, but it certainly helps.

Underneath its new paintjob, this is the Victrix Pro BFG Reloaded we know and love. A massively modular system of swappable thumbsticks, buttons, and even a fightpad keeps things versatile and personalized, but that excellent performance under the hood keeps you nimble as well.

It's lost a little of its value proposition since the newer model took up a higher $209.99 MSRP (the original launched at $179.99), but considering it's taken on heavy fire from the Razer Raiju V3 Pro ($219.99) and Scuf Omega ($219.99) while still holding onto the top spot in the PS5 category, it's still got plenty to say.

• See all PS5 controllers at Amazon

We're also hunting down the best PC controllers on the market as well as the best Xbox Series X controllers and best Nintendo Switch 2 controllers we've had our hands on.

Scuf has launched its latest PC controller, the Nemesis Pro 8K, today and while it shares a lot of its vibes with the PS5-friendly Scuf Omega, one troublesome feature is missing in action.

Duncan's on the Gamescom showfloor and has had his hands wrapped around the new Nemesis Pro 8K. It's essentially the same shape and feel as the Scuf Valor Pro (minus the Xbox branding), though removing the Valor Pro's four vibration motors hasn't made a dent in the weight. This thing is only a couple of grams lighter, which could raise some competitive eyebrows. Still, in the hands it feels nicely nimble without too much dragging it down.

That price tag is still heading north though. The Scuf Nemesis Pro 8K swaps in 8K polling for the true competitive spirits among us, as well as all the usual button mapping options, four back paddles, and companion app support, for $119.99 wired and $199.99 wireless (available for pre-order, though at the time of writing no release date has been announced). That's a hair higher than the wireless Valor Pro's $189.99 MSRP.

That's not quite as expensive as Scuf's other outings - the Omega, for example, comes in at a hefty $219.99. Still, the Envision Pro sits at $169.99. You're paying more for the wireless form factor here than you would with Scuf's previous PC-only endeavour, but not quite as much as you would for that PlayStation license.

The Xbox-styled Windows gamepad still has those mechanical mouse-click face buttons, dual-mode triggers, and TMR thumbsticks, but the small nubbins on the side of the Omega (and the similar PC-focused Scuf Envision Pro) are nowhere to be seen.

These are additional side buttons, completely remappable, that aim to keep even more controls out of your face buttons' way. The upside is you can keep your thumbs on the sticks a lot more often, but the downside on the previous gamepads was pretty consistent miss-fires. Having mainlined the Omega on PS5 for the last few months (and with Duncan coming up with the same troubles in his Envision Pro coverage), I'd call that a relief.

Plus, with an asymmetric thumbstick design and that higher polling rate, there could be some sway for the ultra-competitive among us. Ultimately, that speed is going to be the clincher here.

The Scuf Nemesis Pro is the brand's first to feature that 8,000Hz polling rate, whereas previous iterations have relied on 1,000Hz whether they be wired or wireless. It's that kind of reliability and precision that could bring some players away from the Valor Pro, especially if you're looking at the cheaper wired options.

How does it fare against the rest of the competition? GameSir has a habit of taking the standout features from other gamepads and packaging them up with a much cheaper price tag and that's where the Scuf Nemesis Pro is going to fight its biggest battle. The GameSir G7 Pro 8K scored 4.5/5 stars in our review and comes in at just $89.99 (Amazon) for a wireless gamepad with those same TMR thumbsticks and a charging dock thrown in for good measure.

We've only had a quick demo on the Gamescom showfloor so far, but Scuf's premium build, additional customization options, and snappy triggers and face buttons are going to have to work hard to justify the jump in price comparatively.

• See all PC controllers at Amazon

We're also rounding up the best PS5 controllers and the best Xbox Series X controllers for more options, or take a look at the best Nintendo Switch 2 controllers on the market.

The Steam Controller has dominated the spotlight of the gamepad market this year, but that might be about to change. Gaming accessory brand Genki is launching what it calls its "most ambitious project yet" on Kickstarter, a mammoth of a controller that combines some of the most standout features of some of the best PC controllers on the shelves today.

The Genki Manta is available to support on Kickstarter now, and to name but a few of its standout features, it's got six extra mappable buttons, a color display with its own MantaOS, TMR thumbsticks with adjustable tension, full gyro, trigger stops, pulse buttons that sense full travel, and a unique shape.

The reason I'm deeming this a big threat to the Steam Controller's appeal, however, is that it has "on-the-fly KBM" functionality that turns the Manta into a keyboard and mouse for you to navigate a PC with. That's undoubtedly the signature feature of Valve's TMR controller, since its trackpads allow you to navigate a PC from the comfort of a couch, bed, or wherever, really.

The Genki Manta also utilizes TMR technology, but it could end up outperforming Valve's gamepad thanks to easily adjustable stick tension, the likes of which we've only seen from the FlyDigi Vader 5S and its predecessors. This can make a massive difference in making a controller feel like your own, and tailoring it to different genres of games.

Like most controllers with a display, the Manta's main appeal for many may just be that 27-inch full-color screen, but it looks like the addition of a dedicated operating system, MantaOS, is going to take this particular gamepad to the next level of gamepad screen technology, perhaps even past the Manba One. MantaOS will allow you to customize profiles, connections, and fine-tune settings, but you can also run custom apps, with one clip in the Kickstarter trailer even showing it playing a Space Invaders-like game.

Alongside all of these features, Manta will also utilize Maglev Haptics, which the product designers say are aimed directly into your palms to communicate detailed feedback more clearly. Obviously, the PS5's DualSense is the gold standard for this, but it relies on its firmware and dedicated support from game devs for you to get the most out of it - I'll be interested to see how the Manta compares.

Of course, the elephant in the room is the Manta's very unique shape, which Genki admits is unlike any other pad on the market. Personally, I'd argue it takes a few design directions from Valve. I'm yet to try any of Genki's controller grips, but given the brand has a history of making these sorts of gaming accessories, I have faith its unique design will translate to ergonomic gamepad design.

Another unique feature is that the Manta's face buttons will be able to sense the full travel of their actuation; in other words, they'll have less latency (in theory) since they don't need electrical contact at the bottom of their press to register an input. They'll be more like Hall effect key switches or triggers that can register inputs on varying levels. Whether that points to double inputs for versatile types of presses like the DualSense's adaptive triggers further down the line remains to be seen.

The Genki Manta's Super Early Bird offer at Kickstarter will set you back $189, which is already pushing up to the sorts of prices we see for fully licensed Xbox Series X controllers and PS5 controllers, so I hope that doesn't translate to a final price tag, given how the Steam Controller's $100 price went down with consumers.

To make matters worse, that offer says it's 32% off, pointing to a price of $279 without any discount. Let's hope it's not that, because even with a display and a bespoke OS, that's going to make it prohibitively expensive.

The Manta has quoted support for PC, Steam, Switch 1 and 2, macOS, Android, iPhone, iPad, and Vision Pro.

Looking to get into sim racing? Take a look at the best PC racing wheels and the best Xbox steering wheels.

If you can't get enough of that warm, fuzzy feeling when opening up a randomized blind box, you'll be happy to know that experience isn't just exclusive to plastic figures and Labubus. Hyperkin's Drakong brand has unveiled the PixelByte Attack on Titan Blind Box, where you have your chance to collect a mini (and fully working) controller inspired by the colossally successful anime series.

At $24.99 each, a single box contains a tiny gamepad inspired by iconic characters from Eren to my favorite potato girl, Sasha. There are seven in total to collect, and each one differs in color and design, but it's not here that you'll find representation for your favorite Survey Corps member. Instead, each PixelByte pad comes with a dangling chibi character keychain that you can use to hook up to your backpack to show off your love of anime, or give yourself easy access should you need to whip out a mini wireless controller in a pinch.

The powers that be could have easily rendered these accessories purely for show, as plenty of the best retro controllers exist as display-only collectibles. However, these are instead fully working wireless accessories that are equipped with a D-pad, ABXY, and shoulder buttons, and have up to a 12-hour battery life. There's also a USB-C port for charging, and Hyperkin has thrown in a built-in Turbo button should you need rapid-fire controls at your disposal.

While tiny gaming tech like this can be a little impractical, I've always found them handy for playing older Nintendo Switch Online NES games on the go. I currently always have one of CRKD's ATOM similarly-sized pads at arm's length, as they're neat for a quick run-through of the original Super Mario Bros when the platforming mood strikes me. Yet, what I never thought of using a tiny controller for was as a productivity tool.

The official Attack on Titan PixelByte product page states that you can set these controllers into "Productivity mode" and use them to "take photos on your phone, scroll through teleprompters, change presentation slides" and more. That makes me wonder if these would be handy for scrolling through my Crunchyroll library and getting through my ever-growing anime watchlist, and even the odd re-watch of some Attack on Titan episodes to remain on theme.

As is the nature of blind boxes, you can't pick the pad you like the best as each box carries a randomized design. You've got a 1:30 chance to pull the "ultra rare" design however, if there's a character and a gamepad you specifically want for your collection, you can alternatively grab the entire box of Drakong's adorable little anime accessories.

A whole set is available to pre-order for $149.99, and you won't get any duplicates if that's a worry. In fact, Drakong states that should that happen, you can send the extra one back, and they'll replace it with your missing design, which is a pro-consumer move I'm very much a fan of.

Whether you're after a single box or the whole set of these limited-edition PixelByte controllers, these are just up for pre-order, and I couldn't find a release date amongst the swanky photos of each controller and their adorable anime keychains. Once a date is confirmed, I'll be sure to let you know, and if I spot these at any other retailers. In the meantime, anime fans should check out the Centauri60 Asuka Edition He Gaming Keyboard.

• View all Hyperkin gaming controllers at Amazon

Not a blind box fan? Check out our guides to the best PC controllers for gaming, the best PS5 controllers, and the best Nintendo Switch controllers while you're here.