8Bitdo Arcade Stick for Nintendo Switch & Windows – Nintendo Switch )
| Dimensions: | 30.3 x 11.1 x 20.3 cm; 2.1 Kilograms |
| Model: | 6922621501350 |
| Batteries Included: | 1 Lithium Polymer batteries required. (included) |
| Dimensions: | 30.3 x 11.1 x 20.3 cm; 2.1 Kilograms |
| Origin: | China |
I bought this for arcade games and they work alright, but you might want to replace the buttons.
The 80s kid in me loves the NES Advantage look, while adult me loves the functionality. The fact it fully upgradable is a huge plus. My Sanwa parts came in today. Time to get busy.
Buen acabado, increble esttica y botones y palanca increbles para el precio. 8Bitdo cumpliendo de sobra una vez ms.
This arcade stick is great for anyone looking for a good entry level arcade stick, that they want to eventually mod in the future. The stock stick is definitely the first thing I plan on replacing on it, as it’s a very loose stick and it sometimes doesn’t register movements correctly. However, that shouldn’t turn you off from purchasing. It’s an incredibly easy stick to mod if you want, and will last you a long time. The stock setup is perfect as an entry level stick, that will absolutely give you the performance you would like. The one “issue” I have with it which people have covered already, is the buttons are kind of squishy. But I also plan to add new switches to it eventually to give me a real arcade feel to it.
Increbles mando para disfrutar de juegos en mi caso retro y de pelea tipo teken XD..
Fcil de utilizar con la Switch y Pc.
Para utilizarlo con Wii o WiiU necesitas pillar un adaptador de la mismas marca con conexin tipo nunchuck, que al estar conectado al wii reomte emite seal bluetooh para que se contacte con el Arcade Stick.
Con la Play no lo he probado an..
Lo disfrutaris un montn.
PD: recomiendo antes de usar, actualizar el usb y mando.
I have another fight stick I’ve used for years, it cost me twice the price, and honestly I prefer the 8bit do stick to it.
I bought this primarily because I was looking for something lighter and less bulky. This manages both without feeling cheap in any way. The fact it can be used wired or wireless is a nice bonus, I’ve used it with the 2.4g receiver quite often and it works well. I was getting some lag when using blue tooth for some reason, though I think that may have more to do with my setup.
It’s even fairly easy to customize as well. I’ve replaced the buttons and the stick with aftermarket parts to fit my taste. In fact the the only negative thing I can really think to say, is that the security screws they used are a bit of a hassle, make sure you have the right tools if you plan on opening this up. The screws are recessed pretty far in there and set of screwdrivers I bought just for the job were a bit too thick to reach. Perhaps that’s on me though.
Super.. excelente jugabilidad…es cuestin de adaptarse al mando… se siente buena calidad..
It works well most of the cases. And its wireless. Thats all!
Muy buen funcionamiento, cmodo y compatible con Pc, Switch y Raspberry Pi. Y adems si quieres puedes mejorarlo con palanca y botones Sanwa. Muy til y cmoda la funcin turbo. Todo bien, cuidado si se quiere usar en xbox o PlayStation que necesita adaptador aparte y no est suministrado.
Been keeping an eye on this thing and finally scooped it up on sale for $72 I think
Sehr gut verarbeitet, sehr gutes Spielgefhl, durch Bluetooth und 2,4 Ghz an mehreren Gerten gleichzeitig verwendbar. Daumen doppelt hoch!
Muy buen stick, no hay nada mejor en calidad precio por lo que yo eh visto, y tambien compatible con switch. No son calidad sanwa pero responden muy bienpor poner algo, mejorable la bola del stick pero ya siendo muy especial.
I bought two of these arcade sticks in anticipation of Capcom Fighting collection for the Nintendo Switch and can safely say after owning them for a month that they have met all of my expectations and more! The stick is clicky, it has a great weight to it, and the material used for the shell does not feel cheap whatsoever.
On the software side of things, I’ve been using the arcade stick lately for Bubble Bobble: The Baron is Back, Capcom Fighting Collection and some other arcade games for the Switch. All of the buttons have been 100% responsive, and the connectivity to the switch is immediate after the dongle has been inserted (remember to flick the switch over to “S” mode and “2.4g” for proper connection. Everyone that has used it with me has had a blast, and love the NES retro design it has.
Cant stop playing Darkstalkers and Puzzle Fighter 2 Turbo with it!
I cant comment on the modable aspect since Im relatively new to fight sticks, but the only issue I see is that it may have with modding is that the body is slim, and a lot of joysticks may not fit the body.
For me, a casual, its 100% what I wanted. Well worth the price I paid for both.
All of my upgrades took maybe 30 minutes to install and the only thing that was a pain was the Torx screws that require a long bit to access. After that it was just a matter of snapping in my new buttons and joystick gate then unscrewing the joystick ball so I could swap it for a bat.
I might buy a second stick for two player games. It’s hard to beat the features and build quality of this stick for this price.
Il migliore nel suo settore dato che la componentistica di ottimo livello ed l’unico stick controller che abbia connessione senza file (bluetooth e wifi – quest’ultima implementata dall’uso di un’apposita chiavetta inclusa nella confezione). Da dichiarazione della casa madre compatibile con Nintendo Switch e con Windows; personalmente lo uso con un retori pocket 2 e funziona ottimamente ma solo tramite connessione wifi.
This joystick is amazing quality it’s got a good heavy weight to it to keep it in place when playing games and it give it a really nice quality feel the joystick is very responsive the buttons are easy to use and it’s extremely easy to connect it to your computer this is a game changer for playing 2D platformers or beatumups I can definitely recommend it it’s worth every penny in my book
Solid build.
Easy to up for travel.
Easy setup.
Good feel.
Software is a bit wonky, but that seems to only be needed for setting up macros.
Not a fan of the spinning head on the joystick.
Buttons could be a bit more robust.
Good entry level fight stick. Not a huge investment, in case you’re not a fan.
Ottima la connettivit con i vari dispositivi. Il joy funziona abbastanza bene ma i pulsanti sono assolutamente da sostituire con dei sanwa o yamabusa a seconda dei gusti. Comunque qualit/prezzo ottimo.
Para ser un Arcade stick para empezar me parece bueno a secas. No es compatible de forma nativa con PS4 ni Xbox One (mucho menos con PS5 y Xbox Series), lo cual le resta versatilidad. Con PC y Switch funciona bien.
Los materiales, con relacin al costo, me parecen excelentes. Ahora bien, si lo comparas con botones y palanca Sanwa o Seimitsu, son mediocres si bien le va.
Se promociona como un stick de fcil modificacin pero no me pareci. He modificado muchos sticks anteriormente y este es el que me pareci ms complicado de todos: los enchufes de los botones no son rectos, tienen una curva que los hace difciles de sacar, el joystick no tiene un cable de 5 pines para desconectar, sino que estn soldados y tienes que modificar un cable de 5 pines o soldarlo a la placa si quieres poner un nuevo joystick. En fin, me pareci ms rebuscado de lo que debera ser y de lo que presume ser.
Para jugar casualmente en Switch me parece muy bueno, pues la funcin inalmbrica funciona adecuadamente, que es como yo lo uso.
Bought this to play my shootemup side scrollers, love it, feels like I’m back in the arcades agai
I bought this & a wired 8bitdo gamepad. Used this with Street Fighter V on PC, as well as a pi4 games build. Sturdy and responsive. Comes with the 2.4Ghz wireless adapte
I have wanted an arcade stick for a while. This working on PC and Switch was exactly what I needed. I really like how the buttons feel.
I’ve got young kids and want to introduce them to video games. My 4 year old just does NOT get it lol. But here’s what was funny to me. I let her play using this, and she is really starting to get the hang of it.
Anyway. It’s a nice sick, I love the old NES look. Good for making things feel more arcade like
I bought the 8bitdo arcade stick for use on my Switch. Out of the box it is an excellent arcade stick for the price. However, I decided to upgrade the stick and all of the buttons to Sanwa, which added another $50-$60 to the cost of the stick. I did notice a difference in performance between the Sanwa stick and 8bitdo stick, the buttons not so much of a difference was noticed.
There aren’t many fighting games on the Switch that may warrant the cost, but the few games that do exist this arcade stick makes playing it that much more fun.
If you are a casual then there is nothing to talk about you play anything on Android/PC or Switch and it really does a good job.
If you are planning to play fighting games then this is a very good starting point and don’t think about console compatibility as you can use fightcade to play all the retro SNK NeoGeo Capcom games like King of fighters and Street Fighter series and many more with a basic intel i3 PC. Fightcade has training mode as well so get your dp’s going. If you see improvement in your skills and want to upgrade start looking for Sanwa or Seimitsu just swap parts in the same box instead of buying something more expensive.
If you are hard on playing on console only look for Brooks universal fight board from Amazon.com or if you know someone’s travelling back from USA then ask them to get it for you and just modify the same box.
It’s has a good build, the size is good to place on your lap and doesn’t move around, Button travel is nice, it has square gate and small ball top compared to traditional ball tops you would see in arcades(when they existed)
Thanks 8bitdo.
Kabellos, luft super auf der Switch und mit dem Stick auch aufm Computer.
Mit der Software kann man Combos auf einen der 2 programmierbaren Buttons legen.
Der Stick lsst sich laut YouTube gut modden, aber das hab ich noch nicht ausprobiert.
I bought this looking for an arcade stick, not a competitive fight stick and it has been more than wonderful. The BT and 2.4 Ghz connections let me have it connected to 2 devices for easy switching, no noticeable input lag when using it wireless. Overall, great purchase if you’re looking for a new Smash bros controller, an emulation stick or anything that would work better with an arcade-y feel.
If you are new to the world of fighting/arcade sticks alot of information is thrown at you without any real context or explanation. Button Types, Types of Joysticks (Japanese vs. Korean), Balltop vs. Bat are some of the first topics you’ll likely encounter, and before you know it you’re down a rabbit hole of information with many different ideas and opinions on what you should start with, or look to upgrade into – that can leave you a bit confused on what to spend money on.
Therefore It’s likely that you just want something simple to get started with; and are looking at this fight-stick alongside a range of other “Budget” (i.e. sub 100) fight/arcade stick controllers such as the Mayflash, Hori and Qanba Drone. In addition; at the moment an Arcade stick is probably more of a curiosity to you and you are looking to dip your toes into using a fight-stick for 2d/3d fighters (eg. Guilty Gear, Tekken, Melty Blood, Street Fighter) or are looking to get that “Retro Experience” on a range of older 2/4 button titles that are available on various game services like those on the Switch NES/SNEW catalogue, or in many retro-pi/rasp-pi build your own arcades.
Positives –
The 8bitDo is a solid starting point for a newbie into the world of arcade sticks and I would describe it as being decent for “first time modders.” Out the box it’s both feature rich and pretty much “click and connect” when it comes to swapping out buttons.
To me it’s a reasonable price (I bought mine on a sale for 78); sitting towards the upper-mid region of the “budget stick” range. It also comes with several great out-the-box features: it can be used wired (and charges via USB-C meaning it charges quickly), as well as wireless via Bluetooth or 2.4ghz connectivity. The dongle has it’s own holding port too with a little cover on it to prevent it getting lost.
In terms of build: the look of the retro-aesthetic of the NES makes it certainly a talking point, it has solid weight and feels pretty durable. They joystick and buttons are decent clones of more authentic arcade parts and do the job well. There are also several companies that do Vinyl “Skins” to add even more styling.
In terms of lighting it has LED indicators of what each button is that changes depending on what input mode you are using. The available software also lets you tweak the button configuration and even set-up macros if you’d like to run the ultimate cheese of 1-button supers or combos. It also has a turbo button for use to trivialise the old “button mashing” arcade games.
For compatibility It works native with PC and the Nintendo Switch out the box. It has been shown to work on android and rasp-pi’s as well.
Negatives –
Despite all these perks it does have some negatives.
For example, it has a dongle holder, but doesn’t have any cable storage. The stock buttons and joystick “do the job” but in my opinion the joystick is a little loose for my tastes, whilst the buttons feel a little too light in activation.
However the the major negative is that this thing sells itself as being “Ultra Moddable.” This however is a bit deceptive because, well, It just isn’t. It be more accurate to say “It’s moddable to a degree that’s good for a new modder who wants to swap out a couple of parts but not for the advanced modder who will want more”. This is because of the following:
First, and foremost, to just open the thing up you need a Torx T10 Screwdriver – though cheap to find in any DIY shop or online, not everyone has laying around in the toolbox (I do because I have multiple retro consoles and these are common on things like Gamecube and N64’s). So be warned that this thing requires a specialist tool just to open.
Second, the depth of the chassis/case does not fit the full range of 3rd party sticks. It only has fittings for Japanese mounting plates and it uses an 8-pin connector with 4 of the ground wires natively soldered to the stock joystick. It does come with soldering points on the PCB but this may immediately confuse or put off people. There is a universal mounting plate with the attached joystick you can reuse but it doesn’t fit all 3rd party sticks. This therefore limits your options. For new modders this may not be an issue, as likely the first customisation will be a move to a branded (eg. Sanwa) Japanese style Joystick. However if you are set on going for the Korean style stick (eg. Crown) for games like Tekken, then they just don’t fit or will be a nightmare to mount.
Third, the internal PCB layout interferes with what buttons you can install – as they prevent the use of Screw-in buttons, or the deep-plunger style buttons – meaning you are limited to using 24mm or 30mm Snap-In buttons only. Again not an issue for new modders who are likely to look to being doing simple button swaps to Sanwa/Semitsu snap-in buttons, but I really feel that the stick shouldn’t be claiming to be ultra-moddable with these limitations – hence why this only gets 4 stars.
The final negative of the 8bitDo is that it lacks Xbox and PS4/5 compatibility. There are some work arounds to this, however in all honesty you may as well just get a stick that has native options to connect to these devices or have more simple work-arounds like the Mayflash than trying convert the input in software using a PC to feed into an Xbox or PS.
Considerations and Upgrades –
Like all things, there’s a learning curve to using an Arcade Stick. Afterall, companies like Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony have dumped thousands into ergonomic research and design to create the most useable and natural controllers on the market. Adopting an arcade stick for many may feel very weird at first and until you develop the muscle memory required; chances are it’s going to be a step back for many players and will require some getting use too before you start seeing returns.
There is really no correct answer to “what is the best controller” as even in things like the biggest fighting tournaments around like Evo, people are winning using current generation controllers. However I can honestly say there’s nothing like the satisfaction of pulling off an input perfect combo on an arcade stick, or just the overall experience you can get using one in older games that were built to use them.
What really makes the Arcade Stick stand out is the sheer range of customization you can do to it. You can truly design and build a truly personalised controller that will become your best buddy. As it’s built by you, for you, this may help you reach levels that a stock universal controller can’t once you learn how to get the best out of it.
For me, despite having the 8bitDo for under a week I’m already hooked into the world of modding and I’d say the 8bitDo is a great starting point. The reason for this is that modding can seem intimidating at first, but the 8bitDo offers a good platform for new modders to to learn on. Yes it limits the options you can use, but the silver lining to this is that it steers you towards a well trodden and documented path. Mainly you will find yourself directed towards moving to installing Japanese Arcade-quality components from companies like Sanwa, Hori and Semitsu. Teaching you about joystick types, joystick gates, joystick harnesses (basically the cabling), spring tension vs. grommets, differences in buttons and switches as well as pushing you into learning skills like basic electronics and soldering. The secondary skills you can learn from just customizing a fightstick are well worth the sub 100 price you pay for it.
So far on my 8bitDo I’ve replaced the stock stick with a Sanwa JLF, and I’m now experimenting with button vendors (Semitsu & Sanwa) to see which I want to go with. I’m also going to play around with springs to change the joystick tension and find what suits me best. I am also looking at skins to customize the case.
When it comes to modding the 8bitDo is very forgiving for those new to it. All the changeable buttons are snap-ins only and the internal wires are pre-crimped with quick-release fittings. For joystick install, you can use the existing I/O fittings and pins with Japanese mounting, but the 8BitDo also sets you up with solder points to work with as well as several very easy “work around” options if you don’t want to solder. You can customize pretty almost everything on this thing in some way.
The only downside to all this is that it’s very easy to end up spending more in mods than you paid for the original device (and in turn if you replace all the major parts is it the original thing you bought?). Due to this there’s a sort of soft-cap to how far you can go with the 8bitDo as eventually you’ll probably want to either move to a more moddable platform or build your own arcade stick from scratch. The plus side is that, at that point, your no longer a newbie! This is the same reason I can see more advanced modders and arcade stick users passing the 8BitDo up, as they already know what they want to use or build and go for those things.
However if your new to all this, or just want a solid “good to go out the box” arcade stick with wireless connectivity for PC and Switch, you can’t go wrong with the 8BitDo.
Likes:
1. Construction. This thing is built like a tank. Solid. Heavy. Like it could take some punishment, like crazy overexcited stick moves and arcade-style button-mashing.
2. Color Scheme: It is on point. Reminiscent of the NES Advantage joystick I had.
3. Extra buttons. Haven’t even used them all yet, still learning. NES Advantage had two main buttons, A & B (along with Select & Start of course), but this has 8, plus extra. And it has a turbo (i.e. rapid button repeat mode) function, just like the Advantage.
4. Great for arcade-style games. This stick should be in your possession if you want that real arcade feel. It is PERFECT for fighting games like the Street Fighter franchise. Also great for old-school arcade titles like Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Galaga, any of the Nintendo “vs.” series (like Super Mario Bros.), Contra, Tetris… pretty much any arcade game that uses a joystick and buttons. (Sorry, Centipede.)
5. The battery life. It is insanely long, according to the instructions. Haven’t fully discharged mine yet, but I haven’t plugged it in for over a week now, whereas my little controllers would definitely need to recharge by now, I’m sure.
Dislikes (no major ones):
1. Missing functionality:
a. There doesn’t seem to be a way to replicate the pressing down on the Joy-Cons’/ Pro Controller’s thumbsticks (i.e., pushing toward the back of the controller and feeling the “click,” not tilting the stick in a relative downward direction). For games that require this, you have to use another controller.
b. And of course there is no second joystick, so probably not good for FPS games.
c. The joystick is octodirectional (8-way), not omnidirectional (analog) like a gamepad’s thumbsticks. So it’s basically a huge D-pad… but that’s okay with me. This is more for arcade-style games anyway.
2. I have a slight aversion to products made in or near China. I knew of its origin when I purchased it, but I’d heard nothing bad about it in the past. And so far so good.
Quality arcade stick and probably the single best product 8Bitdo has developed. The square gate makes it perfect for retro arcade and shooters. It’s marketed as “ultra moddable,” but you won’t really need to change much if anything. Maybe a different gate if you’re big into fighting games. Attractive and versatile out of the box and clearly something the company is proud of. No noticeable input lag even when connected through Bluetooth. You can’t do better at this price point, it’s kind of a steal.
I like the product but a company affirm, has been harassing me over this product I bought it though Amazon but affirm claims I made a purchase though Affirm: be warned with Amazon gift cards, it’s a third party card
I will return the product back to Amazon LLC so I won’t Harass by affirm every Morning.
I’m not happy Over all.
Stick is great, and it turns out it does work fine over bluetooth on Mac, no need for the dongle. I have an M1 Pro MacBook Pro, in switch mode it shows up as 8BitDo Arcade Stick, and x mode it shows up as a generic gamepad. I just beat a boss in Hollow Knight I was struggling with using this in switch mode (I do have to disable Steam controller input for the game for any controller to work).
Bought to use with Rasp Pi4. Use over bluetooth with RetroPi. All works fine although RetroPi needs a few restarts to work properly. Also works over WiFi, not tried. Works via cable, works fine but just prefer the ease of use Bluetooth gives me.
+ Preisgnstig
+ Wireless + Bluetooth-Verbindung funktioniert ausgezeichnet
+ 2g Wireless USB Adapter Dongle lsst sich einfach im Gehue verstauen
+ 2 Programmierbare Makrotasten auf denen man bspw. schwere Inputs oder sogar ganze Combos einspeichern kann
+ Sehr lange Akkulaufzeit
+ Verstellbare Inputs mglich (XInput, Linker/Rechter Stick)
+ Metallplatte als Gewicht im Inneren verbaut, damit der Stick eine bessere Haptik hat
Contra:
– Auen komplett aus Plastik
– Man kann leider nicht ohne weiteres ein Artwork hinzufgen
– Makrosoftware Speichert manchmal die Makros nicht richtig, sodass man Sie neu erstellen muss bzw es schwierig wird mehre Layouts gleichzeitig zu haben. Wenn man jedoch bei einem Makro-Layout bleiben will und es nicht jeden Tag wechseln mchte funktioniert das alles wunderbar.
– funktioniert nicht auf Playstation 3-5
– Man bentigt einen komischen Sternschraubenzieher um die 6 Schrauben auf der Rckseite entfernen zu knnen, wenn man den Stick ffnen mchte.
Sonstiges und Fazit:
– Die Buttons haben einen sehr geringen Abstand zueinander, daher empfehlen sich Snap In Buttons und keine Screws
– 5-Pin Connector ntig, wenn man einen anderen Stick einbauen mchte
– Die mitgelieferten Buttons und Joystick sind okay, jedoch kann man den Stick mit einem Partupgrade ordentlich aufrsten, was bei ausgelassenem Gebrauch empfehlenswert ist.
– Auf dem Bild seht ihr meinen gemoddeten Fightstick, wer mchte, kann beispielsweise noch zwei Lcher fr zustzliche Knpfe bohren. Auerdem habe ich SANWA Metallic Buttons sowie einen Koreanischen Joystick (Crown) verbaut.
Ich habe den Fighstick ausschlielich am PC und am Handy verwendet und da funktioniert er 1a ohne Verzgerung. Ich kann den 8bitdo fr jeden Fightstickfan weiterempfehlen!
If you want a retro looking stick that works great out of the box then this is the one. I do plan on swapping maybe my Balltop out as I am a fan of Bat style. Other than that it’s great. Works on PC and Nintendo Switch if you have one.
The 8bitDo strikes a great balance between price and quality.
The Stick is great and honestly sturdier than I expected.
Buttons tho are definitely the weakest part… They’re not bad, but I’ll swap them for Sanwa in the long run… They feel kinda loose and swing a millimeter or 2 from side to side.
Upsides, both switch, and pc have almost zero lag in wireless mode. Can be played wired for total lag-free.
Downsides… the software you can use to customize macros and update firmware is as temperamental as it can get.
And if you want to upgrade make sure the new parts fit as there’s not a lot of room for bigger sticks.
Overall a great starting point.
Les point fort :
– Plastique d’excellente qualit et qui ne se raye pas.
– Des coussins antidrapant
– Un dongle 2,4ghz fourni
– 2 Boutons macros
– Entirement customisable (et trs facile)
– Design rtro typique de la marque
– Bcane bien lourde comme il faut
– Compatible Ultimate software
– Compatible Bluetooth, 2,4ghz, filaire.
– Recharge USB C
– Autonomie Superbe (30h Bluetooth – 40h 2,4ghz)
Les point faibles:
– J’aurais aim une compatibilit PS3
– Impossible de faire des macro d’un stick et d’en utiliser un autre (exemple jouer avec le stick droit de simul et mapp des macro sur le stick gauche est impossible)
– Stick a 4 Axe (je changerais pour du 8 Axe)
– Je pense changer les boutton pour des switch bleue clickable
Note que je donnerais 18,7/20
Du trs bon matos !
This thing is fantastic. It reminds me of the the nes advantage. Had one when I was a kid. It feels great. Really has the classic arcade joystick feel. I’m using it with a raspberry pi 4 and batocera. Pretty much plug and play worked right out of the box.
Thanks 8bitdo for this awesome stick.
I bought this to play on my nvidia shield via bluetooth.
I have other bluetooth controllers that work just fine, but this one is just randomly laggy. I’ll get missed presses, or just a full second delay on some inputs, while other times the inputs are snappy. It’s random, and extremely frustrating.
The other thing that bothered me about this is the square gate… You only need to play street fighter once before you realize that it’s not ideal.
Other than that, build quality seemed fine. I liked it, and I’m really bummed I had to return it because of the bluetooth performance. When wired up it was playing fine. I understand wireless can have some latency, but this was just ridiculous.
I tested the Bluetooth on my surface pro, and it was fine. I then tried the wireless dongle on my shield and that was fine. It’s just Bluetooth that’s not working well with the shield, and the recent Android update on the shield may be the culprit. I wish it just worked without using one of my USB ports on my nvidia shield.
I spent a month trying to figure out if it was worth buying this. After several video reviews, I decided to, and don’t have any reason to regret it.
They don’t lie about how easy it is to customize, although I would recommend watching a video or two if you’re new to the idea. However, the controller parts already put into this are definitely good quality anyways, so I wouldn’t suggest being in any rush to immediately swap out parts.
I have had no problem playing on both my Nintendo Switch and PC in Wired, 2.4G Wireless with the included dongle, and even Bluetooth on both. If there is any input lag at all when it comes to Bluetooth, I honestly can’t see it at all.
The only thing I would maybe recommend replacing first is the stopper in the Joystick. It’s a 4 way square style. But, even that being said, it’s still really easy to start throwing Shoryukens on Street Fighter without feeling like you’re fluking it.
I feel like I could go into a massive essay regarding all of the really nice features about this thing, so I will leave it at that. If you want to know more information, I suggest going on YouTube and seeing what Wulfden has to say about it, since he’s the one that basically sold me on this.
Playing with this is so much fun. Can’t recommended enough. Get yourself this arcade stick and Esp. Ra. De psy and some good beat em up. Won’t regret i
I use this for retroarch on Nvidia Shield (Android). They don’t mention it in the compatability any longer but I am confirming that it works in all games. You might have to reconfigure some buttons. But the light up screen on the button panel will make that much easier. It also works on my android tablet, the Switch, Mac (latest firmware) and Windows PC. I still have my old NES Advantage controller. This is that same controller all grown up. The Bluetooth and 2.4g receiver work great. Not much latency. Even in the fighting games (I lose just like in the arcade). The joystick and buttons aren’t the best, but they get the job done. The USB wire included is nice and long (in case you prefer a wired set up…) The controller is real solid even though it looks cheap. It feels good on your lap. Also the rubber feet hold firm on a tabletop. If you’re an old school gamer like me who hates ps/Xbox type controls for retro games you can’t go wrong this controller. At worst it will look real cool on the shelf…
When I wasn’t sure about compatibility I reached out to 8bitdo and they got back to me promptly. So there is support.
Great arcade joystick for Switch, and it does work wired (just need to set Pro control to Wired in settings). Love this thing.
Don’t get me wrong, as a proper fight stick this isn’t a choice bit as all rounder to play old arcade games can’t go wrong. Connects easily enough and is wireless so for playing on a tablet it’s a good time.
Don’t be fooled by the claims you can easily swap in proper arcade parts – if you have the parts and the torx bits maybe but otherwise it’s a waste of time and money, you’d be better investing in a proper fight stick. This is just for the average person who wants to play some games for fun not for serious competition in my opinio
This arcade stick is brilliant, it’s like being a kid again in the arcade. I’m using it with the evercade vs and it works perfectly with all the old retro games.
My main issue is the joystick…..
When using for a fighting game the joystick wouldn’t register rolling motions properly….
But otherwise really cool
This controller is very fun, brings back the arcade. The quality is good and it connects very fast. The weight of this thing is about 5lbs and will make your legs numb if you sit with it for a long time. You have three ways to connect. The battery lasts for a few days of playing compared to the small switch joycons.
i got this on sale and mainly used it on my switch or steam/pc. this unit is great and easy to mod (beside the joystick). over all, if ur looking for a good wireless blue tooth or 2.4w fight stick. then this is it. thank you 8bitdo!!!
Really like the controller a lot. Gaming on my Retropie 3B+ through blue touth even for me as noob easy to install and use.
Excellent looking stick. Great 2.4 bluetooth conection that never drops out. Even better once i modded everything. I swapped the stick and all the buttons out for real Sanwa parts, also used a 2lb spring, larger heavy ball. The parts cost more than the unit in the end, but only by a small amount. Trust me, totally worth every penny.
Its very very easy to mod. Its all plug and play inside. You also need a 5 way female to female cable conection lead. There are some videos on Youtube that will help with a step by step guide if you need to look it up.
It really is worth upgrading. You end up with a high end Arcade stick that not only looks the part, but it plays as well as any other high end stick. Its a little smaller to be honest, but that is what i wanted. I hate the massive boards, they just take loads of desk top room up.
This has not become my main stick. I had 4 already. This was one of the cheaper ones even with the upgrades, but its my main stick now.
Connected to the switch, MacBook, android phone and 8bitdo retro receivers (NES and SNES) with ease. I like a stiffer feeling joystick so I did upgrade the spring to a 4lb spring. I also changed out the square joystick gate for an octagonal gate. Both cheap and quick mods with the correct screw driver. I use the 2.4g dongle with the switch and BT for all other devices, although I tested the BT on the switch and had no issues I just primary use it with the switch so it made sense to have it connected via 2.4g. Overall a nice stick that works with multiple devices. I play primarily 2D platformers and love using this stick.
I’m completely amazed by this product! For only 78 bucks you get a gorgeous looking arcade stick, with Bluetooth, 2.4 wireless connection and a nice USB-C port and a nice and robust long USB A/C cable! Natively compatible with Nintendo switch and PC and even more, the button layout is remapped automatically based on the compatibility mode! It has led indicator for battery Level and player status! And more, it has a home button, a turbo button and TWO additional buttons for macro!!! It is absolutely insane this under 100 euros! One of my best purchases ever.
8bitdo have nailed this arcade stick. I am amazed at the attention to detail and quality of this product. Usually when I get an arcade stick for this price I feel the need to upgrade to sanwa immediately. However the stick and buttons on this are really good. 8bitdo products just work and I’ve never been disappointed with them yet, having had a few over the last few years. I would highly recommend this stick for anyone it’s fantastic.
Really nice controller for playing MK11 and Street fighter on my nintendo, upgraded out of box to silent Sanwa buttons and stick, easy done in under 10 min with a 5pin adapter cable for the stick and two screwdrivers (see JoystickNY video on YouTube for how to). Happy gaming!
This is a great arcade stick if you really like not being tethered to a wire.
It’s worth upgrading the stick and buttons to something Sanwa or whatever you like. Stock buttons feel good and stick feels pretty good except the plastic mold seam around it but can be easily replaced.
Almost perfect for me – I love the design, the wireless feature which is just superb, the layout and size, everything is made very well and 8BitDo clearly create products putting a lot of thought into it. The joystick feels fine, and my only real minor gripe is the buttons, they feel a bit “mushy”, a step down from the most professional components but having said that, they are no different to what you would find with Neo Geo’s Arcade Stick Pro (which I have), or Arcade1UP and the like – solid components but not the very, very best.
Otherwise I absolutely love it and am more than happy I made the purchase. 5 stars.
I’ll change to a silent stick and buttons in the future, nothing wrong with the ones on it, just personal preference, this is well worth the asking price
I have a new M1 Mac and ordered this without reading some reviews.
The gen 1 version of this stick works on older Macs, but with Apple’s update it no longer runs out of the box. (Something about X-input and Apple restricting 3rd party stuff for security reasons)
8Bitdo claims you can connect it to a Mac using their wireless USB adapter, but DO NOT waste your time. It only reads the joystick input, not the buttons.
How to make it work:
PIck up a Mayflash Bluetooth controller adapter with a USB port on the end. (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079B5KHWQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) This allows you to use any console controller on your Mac, including the 8bitdo Arcade Stick. Simply plug it in and it works out of the box. I’ve been using it with Fightcade with no noticeable lag.
I never knew if I liked fight sticks, I bought this on a whim. I really like them and plan on getting a nicer one soon. But as a budget option this is amazing, you get tons of functionality and decent quality parts (in fact I kind of like the stick). The wireless has no delay I can tell, if it does it’s only a couple frames that you can mash through.
This arcade stick is great. I use it for my Raspberry Pi. Just put the 8bitdo switch on X, set it as player one, port one, identified as a 360 controller. For button config just set the stick using the d-pad inputs and set the switch on the 8bitdo to LS. It took me a bit to figure it all out so I wanted to share to hopefully save you the trouble. The 8bitdo itself feels great. It’s miles better than trying to play my old games with any other method. I looked at sticks for a couple years before I decided on this one and I’m glad I did. Stock parts are great but for just a little edge I changed the buttons and the stick to a Sanwa JLF. I’ll add a picture of the wiring for the stick in case you decide to solder. I couldn’t find plain information o the wiring online so I’ll save you the trouble on this too. Just make sure the JLF is oriented the same direction.
Great stick, works flawlessly. Top quality, no cut corners, nice hefty weight.
Phenomenal product that’s easy to setup and use. I was able to connect it to my PC wired, but also using the included 2.4ghz dongle or using the built in Bluetooth. All options worked well! Works great on my Nintendo switch too!
I found the joystick to be very sturdy, buttons are easy to press down without too much force. This is my new favorite controller. I find myself looking for other games besides fighting games to use this with. It’s just so perfect.
I have to re order a second item but I still have to returned the old and I don’t know what is the next step if you can help me with this issue. thank you!
Got the price, its great. Idk if they’re official sanwa buttons or clones but they feel very quality. Plus it comes with the 8bitdo Bluetooth adapter so you could use another controller with your switch (like a dualshock or dualsense) while using it wired. Great purchase for $90
Huge fighting game enthusiast here! I play a lot of MvC3, Guilty Gear, Tekken, Dragonball Fighterz, and MK. Ive used fightsticks in the past but never got into them until recently. Maybe its because I didnt want to lose from lack of practice with a fight stick. BUT IM GLAD I SWITCHED. I have no complaints about this product. Maybe because I havnt moded it yet or have smaller hands, but i love this thing and use it almost daily since purchase. I love that its cordless and connects easily to my switch and PC. A lot of folks complain about not having enough “wrist rest” room, but i dont seem to have that issue. Buttons feel great and all the pros use a square gate so im going to stick with it. Its convenient as hell! It fits perfectly on my desk and doesnt take up much room. It has a retro design and the house we just purchased has tacky wood paneling in my man cave, so it just fits. The convenience of this thing is what won it over for me vs the mayflash. Its nice to be able to play some MvC3 and go into the other room, turn on the switch, and connect to that for some Scott Pilgrim without plugging in at all! I havnt noticed any input lag. Only downside is i cant connect to my PS4, but my ps4 has been collecting dust since I built my PC anyway. So unless you have gigantic hands and exclusively play PS or Xbox, you should get this.
It felt good the instant i picked it up. It’s heavy and sturdy, and feels like it can take a beating. I’ve only really been using the USB dongle and have had no issue with input lag, so I imagine a wired connection would be just as good if not better. A nice little feature is that one of the knobs let’ you select which analog stick (or Dpad) to emulate. The only downside i can think of is that the bluetooth connection can be tricky to achieve. There is also no manual included, with all information being printed on the box itself.
Do keep in mind it only connects with PC and Switch without some additional hardware and some workarounds. The shallowness of the enclosure also means that you can only replace the stock parts witch select Sanwa parts( the buttons are popped in, not screwed).
Overall the 8Bitdo Fightstick is a plenty good controller and a good entry model. It might take some getting used to if you’re accustomed to a regular controller though.
Everything on this works very well. However, I found the stick to have a lot of play and the buttons to be a bit mushy. For $40 I put in Sanwa parts and it is now a premium stick in my opinion. Just make sure to buy the 5 pin connection cable to you do not have to solder anything.
The first thing I noticed about this fight stick was the overall weight. As soon as you begin mashing buttons you know this thing is built for the challenge. I use this on everything from Raspberry Pi to Nintendo Switch. One other cool thing, the manual does not mention this, but this fight stick IS compatible with Mac OS when running Antstream arcade service! The Bluetooth connection works great. Super solid fight stick
This is my first ever arcade stick purchase and I’ve really enjoyed having it! It’s been fantastic for me as a beginner. I’ve improved much more than I ever did with a pad, I mainly use this for Guilty Gear Strive and Street Fighter 5. I’ve used it a handful of times for Pac Man 99 on the Nintendo Switch and it worked just as well for that. I ended up replacing the buttons and ball top with Sanwa components because of the high praise I’ve heard about them. Taking it apart was easy although you need a special screwdriver to do it, a T10 to be precise. It took me maybe 25 minutes to replace the buttons and get it all put back together. I mainly use it wired although wireless is an option, I have not used the wireless function and do not plan too. I would recommend this to anyone who is in the market for a stick at an affordable price!
I challenge you to find greater value in an arcade stick.
It’s a case, it’s buttons, it’s a board, it’s a stick, and you can EASILY swap out ANY of it on the inside.
If you’re just getting started in the way of the stick or if you’re a vet who wants a badass case that looks like the old NES advantage, this is the stick for you. This is the stick for anyone.
Worth every penny.
It is the best joy stick I can find in market with an affordable price. It works very well with street fighter 30 years anniversary. The only potential issue is that the stick was designed for Asians and might be a little short for big hands.
This bad boy looks and feels like a legitimate arcade joystick from the early 80s. Its behavior and responsiveness are just like the original cabinet. It has a large footprint and a lot of mass, so it doesn’t jerk around when you play with it like smaller joysticks do. The fact that it pairs wirelessly with laptops, the Nintendo switch, my Macintosh and my PlayStation I’ll make it the more amazing.
Works great, I got it on sale so the price was even better than normal. I’m not a pro level gamer or anything but it has been great for me for MK11 on both PC and Switch.
This has been a game changer!! Used by someone who with fine motor disability and it has allowed them to play games independently. Opened a who new world of gaming!! Thank you!!!
Swap the stick & buttons with Sanwa or Seimitsu, great versatile controller. Streets of Rage 4 & Hades are a joy to play & of course all the arcade, fighting & shmups. Highly recommended!
The base restrictor plate is a straight square. Buy a 2 dollar 8 point restrictor plate and you have a very solid stick.
Only other issue is the weight. Unless you sit this on your lap. You have alittle “recoil” on inputs from the stick jumping back from the weight of your wrists.
Parts bought:
Sanwa GT-Y Octagonal Restrictor Plate
First time using one to play guilty gear and i havent had issues been having it for a couple of weeks! I do recommend i
Love it, works flawlessly! Just that I couldn’t correctly make a macro for King’s 10 hit combo. I don’t know what I did wrong but whatever it worked for GG: Strive. Also very cool that you can use it with your Switch!!
Great solid construction, and nice parts that can be upgraded if you are so inclined. I used it with a Sega Genesis using the 8bitdo genesis bluetooth receiver, and it worked great. I used the 8bitdo software to reconfigure the buttons for use with the Genesis. This was a bit confusing and might make it less compatible with the Nintendo Switch- not sure.
Was a competent stick but made much more amazing once modded with Sanwa parts.
customable arcade stick. can be easily personalized with sanwa keys and joy sticks.
This fighting stick rocks. Really brings me back to my childhood. Other fighting sticks are large this one is the perfect sweet spot for me. Joystick is ok. Might replace it down the line. As for the buttons I plan on replacing them with some blue sanwa buttons. I like that there are easy to mod. The included dongle for the 2.4 connection is great. They really put so much thought on this.
The best feature for me is the illuminated buttons. It shows what each button corresponds to when switching between switch and Xbox mode. Love that feature. Though if you change the layout then the corresponding buttons won’t show correctly. Just an fyi. I never had to change my layout so I’m quite pleased with this.
This fighting stick rocks. Really brings me back to my childhood. Other fighting sticks are large this one is the perfect sweet spot for me. Joystick is ok. Might replace it down the line. As for the buttons I plan on replacing them with some blue sanwa buttons. I like that there are easy to mod. The included dongle for the 2.4 connection is great. They really put so much thought on this.
The best feature for me is the illuminated buttons. It shows what each button corresponds to when switching between switch and Xbox mode. Love that feature. Though if you change the layout then the corresponding buttons won’t show correctly. Just an fyi. I never had to change my layout so I’m quite pleased with this.
This is the ideal arcade stick for any fighting game.
I purchased it for use on the Nintendo Switch, and it went above and beyond my expectations. The structure, feel, and design all appealed to me cosmetically, but how does it handle?
Well…
Size:
Not oversized, this stick is portable and easy to pick up. The box they send it in even doubles as a carrying case! Brilliant.
Feel:
The stick is the perfect weight, providing sturdy feel on your lap or a surface. It isn’t flimsy, feels strong and durable, and doesn’t shift or slide around in place.
Buttons:
Responsive, Crisp, and the Stick has a satisfying click that you really look for in a controller.
One aspect that I really like is that it’s a Bluetooth Controller. So you can be portable, OR you can plug it directly into your Switch.
All in All, if you’re looking for a controller to play fighting games on Windows or the Nintendo Switch, seriously look no further. This is it. For its price, feel, and handling, this baby does it all.
The stick came as advertised and has really been a nice addition to the arsenal of controllers we have here. Can’t say enough about build quality and ease of setup and use. The only gripe I have is that I’m not fond of the physical stick itself, doesn’t feel as solid as the X-Arcade we’ve had for 10+ years. That said, it works well, and isn’t a hinderance to gaming, we might swap it out (love that feature), for something different in the future. If you are looking for a fight stick that can interface with just about anything, is versatile, easy to configure and use, and can be modified and upgraded, look no further, this stick is it. I really like everything we’ve ever purchased from 8Bitdo, they are quickly becoming my favorite third party controller company.
The stick came as advertised and has really been a nice addition to the arsenal of controllers we have here. Can’t say enough about build quality and ease of setup and use. The only gripe I have is that I’m not fond of the physical stick itself, doesn’t feel as solid as the X-Arcade we’ve had for 10+ years. That said, it works well, and isn’t a hinderance to gaming, we might swap it out (love that feature), for something different in the future. If you are looking for a fight stick that can interface with just about anything, is versatile, easy to configure and use, and can be modified and upgraded, look no further, this stick is it. I really like everything we’ve ever purchased from 8Bitdo, they are quickly becoming my favorite third party controller company.
I absolutely love this stick for playing fighting games such as DBFZ and GG Strive. I bought a circle and octagonal gate to replace the stock one though, as I do not prefer the Square gate that it comes with. The buttons are very easy to press and are not hair-pin sensitive like others I’ve played with (I like these buttons more). If you’re looking to get into fighting games, or just arcade style games in general, this is a great stick to buy without breaking the bank for other ‘quality’ sticks ($150+).
There is a Bluetooth function if you’d like to sit on the couch and play, which is nice, but I have yet to try it as I only use my stick for competitive matches.
I absolutely love this stick for playing fighting games such as DBFZ and GG Strive. I bought a circle and octagonal gate to replace the stock one though, as I do not prefer the Square gate that it comes with. The buttons are very easy to press and are not hair-pin sensitive like others I’ve played with (I like these buttons more). If you’re looking to get into fighting games, or just arcade style games in general, this is a great stick to buy without breaking the bank for other ‘quality’ sticks ($150+).
There is a Bluetooth function if you’d like to sit on the couch and play, which is nice, but I have yet to try it as I only use my stick for competitive matches.
didnt work out of the box! 🙁 I wanted to return it…. but ask for help from support @ 8BidDo.
They send me special flashing software, I was able to flash device and it works like a charm. Great support.
Controller is heavy, feels good. works well with retropie. Had to remap keys LT & RT. (Common issue).
I might order second soon.
Aside from the metal plate screwed to the bottom cover being an obvious attempt to fool the buyer into thinking “it is higher quality bc it is heavy,” the unit is well put together, buttons are responsive in wired and wireless modes, and while not the most mod-friendly out of the box, I was still able to replace the stock restrictor gate with an octagonal version model.
Great product. Had a little trouble pairing it with the switch but after I read the instructions I got it pair. I love that it has BT and a dongle to pair it. I use BT for pc and the 2.4 on the switch. It takes some time getting used to an arcade stick after years of playing on controller. It’s sturdy and very responsive Had no issues pulling combos in SFV and DBFZ
Best ever simply because. I have been using arcade sticks for games since the very first one ever.
works well even tho i have only connected to a switch. only complaint is there’s very little room for my palm to rest next to the joystick.
I own more then a few 8bitdo controllers and they all serve a purpose. I own the PS version, SNES, and two of these. I just like to play with the controllers that were made for the game. Stock setup works fine, but I like Sanwa stick and buttons as well as an octo gate. Went with the metallic buttons and metal bat-top Easy to mod no soldering needed, but no screw buttons will work.
I ordered this stick to check it out. I ended up returning it since I already own two Qanba arcade sticks. The 8bitdo wireless stick was ok. The outer case is very sturdy. The stick and buttons felt very cheap though. You can replace the stick and buttons, but that would cost another $45-$50. They should have just included Sanwa parts. Wireless worked fine.