We have been placing a procession of 8BitDo controllers by the evaluation course of since Change 2 launched. I’ve lined their wonderful Professional 3 controller, while Ollie has been all around the new Arcade Stick for Change + Change 2 and the Final 2C, which is the budget-friendly model of what I am having a look at as we speak – the 8BitDo Final 2.
At the beginning, for anybody who does not gel with the form of the Professional 3 controller, what you have acquired right here is one which fits these pretty, tender, Xbox-controller-shaped paws you have developed over time. I do know for some this is usually a dealbreaker, particularly with how the thumbsticks sit horizontally aligned on the Professional 3, so if that has been holding you again, this can be the pad you are after. Issues underneath the hood aren’t displaying a whole lot of distinction in any other case.
Certainly, my most important optimistic speaking factors stay a lot the identical as with the Professional 3. 8BitDo has put a whole lot of emphasis on having the newest tech in its gear just lately, and right here we as soon as once more get all the massive 2025 buzzwords from the thrilling world of controllers. TMR sticks make the lower — a characteristic which nonetheless normally sees the price of a controller rocket — and they’re a pleasure, supplying you with the smoothest sticks round with all of that fancy magnetic magic that goes into making them free from the bane of stick-drift.
For the triggers, we’re taking a look at snazzy Corridor Impact magnetic jobs, too. So you have acquired all the standard included with regard to sticks and triggers, precisely the identical as with the Professional 3, which makes for a stable core. The d-pad sticks to the identical fashion because the Professional 3, too, chunky and responsive and sitting out properly because it clicks by all of its enter factors.
Sticking with similarities between this and different 8BitDo merchandise, the primary disadvantage is, after all, that these controllers haven’t got the power to wake the Change 2 up. There have been some rumblings that they are engaged on an answer, and the pad obtained an replace to make it suitable with Change 2, so that is one thing we may see down the road, as some producers have already managed it. Nevertheless, for now, I really feel like I am capping evaluation scores for pads that make me stroll to my console to an 8 out of 10. Not out of laziness, you perceive; it is a operate that merely must be there.
If you may make peace with this — if you happen to can one way or the other work across the ache of turning the console on “manual-style” — properly, there is not actually far more for me to observe up with when it comes to negatives. If I needed to get choosy, NFC help is not there (one thing that does not curiosity me in any respect, however it is going to do some), and I really feel as if the additional programmable ‘L4’ and ‘R4’ shoulder buttons up prime make the pad a tiny little bit clicky and fewer stable in kind than it might be.
It does not really feel unhealthy in any respect. The truth is, it feels very like the official Professional Controller 2 from Nintendo, and even beats it out in having good grippy textures on the again of the pad, however they’ll often really feel a bit free compared to the remainder of the inputs. You do get a complete of 4 programmable buttons out of this, thoughts, with two paddles on the grips, so all in all, a really minor concern.
The Corridor Impact triggers will be switched between common and macro-switch modes and there is some snazzy RGB lighting within the slightly sadly named “RGB Hearth Rings” across the bases of the sticks. I am not an enormous RGB man, as exhausting as it might be to imagine, however these are advantageous in my view – they provide off a warming glow and will be switched on and off and cycled by colors and modes by way of the 8BitDo software program obtainable from their website.
Now, talking of this software program, it’s good to replace the controller, must you choose one up, with a purpose to have it work on Change 2, so concentrate on this and know that you will want a laptop computer or whatnot to attach for a small obtain. As soon as within the 8BitDo app, you can even then set your lighting to no matter color you need, swap it off, have it observe and alter colors to your contact, and so forth.
This controller additionally comes with an enormous brutalist charging dock, which I’ve to say I kinda love. Identical to the Professional 3’s base, right here you discover your all-important USB-C receiver tucked away in a compartment, and the dock has the identical slick little bar of sunshine working alongside its underside, which is a beautiful element in a darkened room.
Earlier than I wrap up, and with regard to battery life, I drained my controller in about 14 hours, and I imagine I may have gotten a bit extra out of it if I had turned off the RGB. So, phrase of warning, it isn’t the easiest battery on the market, and people lights make it ever-so-slightly worse.
In any other case, when it comes to specs and worth level ($59.99 / £49.99), options, consolation and design, it is all gravy, even when the funds 2C wins within the worth division. Sure, it might be simpler to replace, there is a tiny little little bit of clickiness out of the ‘L4’ and ‘R4’ buttons, and the battery is weaker than I might like, however general that is nonetheless a premium-feeling pad, stuffed stuffed with the newest wizardry, at an inexpensive worth in comparison with some rivals.
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The 8BitDo Final 2 is already on the market and available for purchase, obtainable in Black, White, Purple, or Inexperienced. There are financial savings to be made by searching round in the mean time, thoughts!
