8Bitdo Ultimate 2C Wireless Controller for Windows PC

 

I’ve owned some version of most 8bitdo controllers over the course of many years and every time a new model comes out, they improve on it in some way. The last one I was using is the Ultimate Bluetooth Controller for Switch/PC/etc. It was their first (I think) to include hall effect joysticks and has served me well. However, one of my long-standing complaints was that there were no anti-friction rings around the thumbsticks, so the feel was a little rough. I saw this finally had some and wanted to give it a try.

In terms of general form factor, it’s more of the same, which is a good thing. The biggest difference is that there are no back buttons on this one; there are still extra buttons, they’re just moved up to the top and act as secondary bumpers. I have no issue with this as they are still easy to reach, but if you have smaller hands, that could be a problem. It also means that you are giving your index fingers another button to push instead of using your middle or ring fingers that otherwise don’t do anything, but ultimately I see this as a sidegrade, not really an up or downgrade.

A lot of other things have changed, though. This one has clicky bumpers, just like an Xbox controller, anti-friction rings around the (hall effect) thumbsticks that are buttery smooth, and a clicky d-pad, again like an Xbox controller. Except… it’s not THAT clicky. It’s more similar to their usual rubber dome d-pad, but with a slight click. The best of both worlds, really: the general feel of a rubber dome d-pad, but with the tactile authority and accuracy of a clicky one. I absolutely love it. Although the more I use it, I’ve noticed that it is a little too easy to hit up while pressing left or right whereas hitting down requires a bit more intention. I wish up required the same intention as it makes up diagonals a little too easy to trigger on accident. This seems to be more of an issue if, like me, you tend to press down hard because you’re INTENSE GAMING. If you can manage to commit to a lighter touch, it does not seem to be as much of an issue.

The face buttons don’t use this mushy/clicky feel, though, probably to save money. They are a bit louder than the other controller but on par with an Xbox controller. I do wish they’d used the same tech as the d-pad, though, as it’s really satisfying.

The biggest downgrades are that this does not include, nor is it compatible with, a charging dock. I wish it had the contacts so it was at least compatible, but it’s not a huge deal. It also doesn’t seem to work with the Ultimate Software, instead having you remap the L4 and R4 buttons on the controller itself. This works fine, but does mean you can’t rebind the other buttons. The manual mentions Ultimate Software V2 for firmware updates, but I don’t see this software anywhere on the web site, so maybe it’s not out yet. Regardless, this controller is half the price of its bigger brother, so it’s an understandable cut and honestly not that big of a deal.

Oh, and it comes with a color-matched (perfectly, I might add) USB cable, which is just a neat touch. I cannot say enough good things about this controller, it is seriously the best deal out there right now. Just buy one.