8BitDo is now the best Switch pro controller

Nintendo’s official Pro Controller for the Switch is generally a pretty useful accessory, but it has its problems: the D-pad is unreliable and does not really offer any ‘pro-level’ functionality. 8BitDo’s latest controller fixes both of these issues while running at a lower price.

The 8BitDo Pro 2 is an upgraded version of the SN30Pro Plus, already a reputed Switch controller. It uses Bluetooth and also works with computers and mobile devices; there is a physical control to switch between Switch, X-input, D-input and Mac. You can also use it as a wired controller with a USB-C cable. I did try to use it on my computer, but I feel it makes more sense on the Switch because of the Japanese button layout with B at the bottom and A at the right. Or maybe I’m just too used to using Xbox controllers on my computer.

Aesthetically, it looks like a cross between an SNES road and a PlayStation controller, with a diamond-shaped bowl, two handles and symmetrically-directed analog sticks. The unit I have is decorated in a PlayStation-inspired gray color screen, but there is also an all-black option and a beige model that evokes the original Game Boy.

It’s not a big controller, but it feels comfortable in my big hands, with easy access to all the buttons and triggers. Just as important to me, the D-road is good. It more or less feels like an SNES pad, and its placement above the left analog stick makes it more suitable for games where it is a primary input option. I use the Pro 2 rather than the Nintendo Pro Controller for just about any 2D game on the Switch.

The most important feature of the Pro 2 above its predecessor is the customizable back buttons that you can press with your middle finger. It’s a common element of enthusiastic focus controllers today, from Microsoft’s Elite controllers to third-party offerings like the Astro C40 for the PS4. Sony has also released an attachment offering similar features to the DualShock 4.

These buttons are useful because they allow you to enter commands without taking your thumbs off the sticks. For example, most first-person shooters assign jumps to a face button, which means that it can be uncomfortable to activate while aiming at the same time. With controllers like the Pro 2, you can set a back button to work in the same way as a given face button, freeing you up to design more flexible control schemes. The Pro 2 makes it much easier to manipulate the camera in the middle of a Monster Hunter Rise battle, which may be worth the asking price alone.

The rear buttons on the Pro 2 are responsive and clickable, activating with a slight push. You can assign it through 8BitDo’s Ultimate Software app, now available for the Pro 2 on iOS and Android as well as PCs. It’s not as simple as some pro controller setup that allows you to refresh the buttons directly on the controller, but it does support multiple profiles and works well enough. In addition to button assignments, the app can also be used to change the vibration strength and sensitivity of the controller.

Some of the features of the Switch Pro Controller you do miss with the 8BitDo Pro 2. Although the rumble is solid, it does not feel as precise as Nintendo’s HD Rumble in supported games. The Pro 2 also does not have an NFC reader, so it does not work with Amiibo icons. And it can not be used to enable the Switch, which is common to most third-party controllers on different platforms.

For $ 49.99, however, these omissions are understandable. That’s $ 20 less than Nintendo’s equivalent option, let alone the pro controllers you’ll get for the $ 180 to $ 200 range for the Xbox or PlayStation. All things considered, I take the 8BitDo Pro 2 most days of the week over the official Nintendo controller.

The 8BitDo Pro 2 launches on April 12th.

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