The 8BitDo Pro 3 Is So Dang Customizable, You’ll Never Need Another Controller
Hello everyone. Let’s dive straight into this shiny slab of retro-modern plastic called the 8BitDo Pro 3. On paper, it’s a premium controller crammed with customization options, nostalgia-inducing aesthetics, and techy buzzwords like “TMR joysticks” to make you feel like you’re holding an artifact from a cyberpunk museum gift shop. In reality? Well, this is one of those times where you ask the surgeon to save the patient, and they hand you back something that’s alive, but missing a limb.
The Good – Like Finding a Rare Loot Drop
I’ll give credit where it’s due: ergonomics here are excellent. The grips are wide enough for real, human-sized hands, not the tiny T-Rex claws some controllers seem to be designed for. The button swapping system is downright clever – magnetic face buttons you can yank out with a suction-cup tool like you’re performing some delicate surgical extraction. You get options for both Nintendo and Xbox layouts without frying your muscle memory. That’s like swapping between WASD and arrow keys in the same game without rage-quitting.
The TMR sticks? Lovely. Not only do they promise resistance against drift – the controller world’s equivalent of preventing digital arthritis – but they snap back to center like they’re auditioning for the role of “Best Stick Response” in some imaginary awards show. Battery life also trumps Sony’s laughable DualSense stamina. Three hours for you, PS5 owners? Pathetic. This beauty runs for hours and comes with a charging dock, which doubles as a 2.4GHz connection port for PC, Mac, and Switch. It’s practical and doesn’t look half bad on the desk, unlike some overpriced gamer gear that tries to cosplay as alien tech.
- Fantastic ergonomics
- Magnetic swappable buttons
- TMR joysticks with excellent responsiveness
- Decent battery life with practical charging dock
The Bad – Like a Boss Fight With Cheap Mechanics
But here’s the thing – you can’t wake the Switch 2 from sleep. Excuse me? That’s like designing a gorgeous sword and then forgetting to sharpen it. For something marketed as premium, this is a baffling oversight. I also question the point of thumbstick arcade-style caps: they’re adorable, yes, but functionally useful? Not unless you really want to look like you stuck 1980s arcade gear onto a modern controller because you lost a bet.
The so-called “Ultimate Software” is another letdown. We’re talking barebones utility with a side of frustration – finicky installation, connection issues, and none of the polish you’d expect from a company trying to woo serious players. If software were a raid party member, this one’s the underleveled newbie who dies in the first five minutes.
- No Switch 2 wake function
- Overhyped arcadey thumbstick caps
- Ultimate Software = ultimately disappointing
- No native Xbox or PlayStation support
The Middling – More Style Than Substance?
Cross-platform versatility is nice – Switch, PC, Mac, iOS, Android all work – but competitive shooters? Please. If you’re strapping into Call of Duty ranked matches with this thing, you’re basically bringing a Swiss Army knife to a sniper duel. It’s a great all-rounder for casual play, platformers, and anything that enjoys a precise D-pad, which is admittedly superb here. The triggers even switch between analog and clicky modes, which is a lovely touch, but still not enough to overthrow the big boys in esports territory.
As for the design, it’s a retro-modern love child between a DualShock and SNES pad, dripping in nostalgia. And like nostalgia, it’s comforting until you remember that sometimes the past died for a reason.
Verdict – A Great Sidearm, Not Your Main Weapon
The 8BitDo Pro 3 is a fantastic-feeling controller with killer customization for the price, but it shoots itself in the foot with missing features, weak software, and a few baffling design decisions. If you want a stylish, versatile pad for Switch 2 and PC that feels great in long gaming sessions, it’s worth grabbing. If your idea of gaming is hyper-competitive FPS lobbies or you’re after console-spanning domination, this ain’t the weapon for you. More like a flashy sidearm for casual missions than your competitive go-to.
In conclusion: Strong design, great feel, but falls short of being “the one controller to rule them all.”
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is entirely my opinion.
Article source: The 8BitDo Pro 3 Is So Dang Customizable, You’ll Never Need Another Controller, https://gizmodo.com/the-8bitdo-pro-3-is-so-dang-customizable-youll-never-need-another-controller-2000640089
