I want to replace my old GameSir G3s with a controller preferably under €70-75. Initially I wanted an european gamepad but the only 2 options (ready2gaming and snakebyte) was so non existent or questionable that I had to swallow my EU nationalism.
Gaming style:
- Only use controllers where it’s highly recommended
- Preferred genre for controllers would be arcade racing and JRPGs mostly
- Will only play on wireless (2.4ghz)
Preferences:
- Either TMR or high quality HE sticks
- Doesn’t look boring (preferably it has some amounts of LED / RGB)
- Xbox stick position layout (I want to try it out)
- Linux compatibility (don’t care about consöles)
- Doesn’t have a shit QC (8bitdo’s are apparently like that)
- I have larger hands, so maybe not a small controller
Currently these are some controllers that seems to be in my range. I’m interested if you know about even better controllers.
- GameSir Cyclone 2
- GameSir Supernova
- FlyDigi Direwolf 4?
8bitdo
I have been using stadia controllers for a while now. They’re not special and don’t look special. They do come with a very good battery life and you can find them for 10 bucks a pop
Yeah 8bitdo is good in my experience, you can return it anyway if it’s sussy on arrival. Works with everything, steam input or not
Thanks for the return idea! Do you perhaps use the Ultimate 2? If yes then how does it fit for your hands if yours are big?
I use 2c, my hands are not really big but fingers are long though. Pretty comfortable, but xbox 360 controller as a comparison point is bulkier and bigger
My PS5 controller works perfectly on mint DE.
does it report the battery status via bluetooth for you?
I asking because I use it on Kubuntu and it doesn’t so have no way of knowing how much akku is left
I used ps5 controllers. Both developed stick drift within a year of light use. They’re beautiful and so nice to hold and use, but don’t waste your money.
I recommend Gulikit TT Pro.
Good ergonomics. Repairable (made by the company who got famous selling replacement Hall effect sticks for Nintendo switch controllers). Built like tanks with proper microswitches and Hall effect sticks. Inexpensive too, especially compared to the controllers that have similar features.
Best of all, work out of the box on Linux.
Have you encountered anything weird with the wired input on those? I have the KK Pro Max and I get all sorts of random rogue inputs when using it wired on Linux. I have 3 of them and they all do it, and on every distro I’ve tried. It is the strangest thing, like even when its sitting there it presses random buttons.
Honestly that is an absolute bullseye of a suggestion! I did check out the TT Pro and TT Max as well (TT Max is unnecessarily overkill, I’ve forgot the reasons) so if somebody wants a controller with a PS layout then it’s perfect! Also the latency is good as well: https://gamepadla.com/gulikit-tt-pro.html
What games do you use your Gulikit for?
Oh man, all sorts. F1, Ghost of Tsushima, Hades 1 & 2, Planet Crafters, Powerwash Simulator, Stray, etc.
I really like the ps5 dualsense controller and had no issues whatsoever in Linux. Works really well. I’d even say better than in windows.
Do you feel better response times on Linux compared to WIndows?
I don’t feel any particular lag, neither in windows nor linux, when using Bluetooth (compared to usb): to me they feel almost the same. But it should be noted that I almost never play games where you would notice more.
In my experience, though, Bluetooth generally works better in linux than windows, esp. pairing and connecting.
Anyways, steam does an excellent job in making the controller work in games, also those that don’t officially support.
In the past, I have owned: an xbox controller (and I hated it) , other cheap controllers (and they broke). The ps5 for me works very well, it appears to be good quality, the battery lasts long and is rechargeable via usb c.
It’s pricey but it’s good.
But I don’t know how it compares with the steam controller.
The PS5 controller battery is my primary complaint about it.
It lasts like 6-8 hours where my ancient xbox elite controller still goes for 40ish hours of gaming between recharges.
Obviously both last more than usually necessary but forgetting to charge the PS5 controller is way more annoying.
It lasts like 6-8 hours
mine does definitely more than 8 hours…maybe yours is defective?
forgetting to charge the PS5 controller is way more annoying.
In that regard the experience on Linux is better than on Windows: on Linux I can see the level of charge directly in the Bluetooth menu, and then I can plug it in after I finish using it
I have four of them, purchased at different times and they’re all the same.
You can look it up. 6-12 hours is the most commonly stated battery life depending on feature use.
And I’m on Linux when I use it with my pc.
my new ps4 controller also does only about 6-8 hours, but that’s with vibration turned on
It’s only a little outside your price range, but have you looked at the steam controller? I haven’t gotten it yet, but reviewers are raving about it
Actually yeah I did check out the Steam controller too. It only works with non-steam games if I add those to Steam and I don’t need trackpads tbf. But thanks for the suggestions, since their repairibility seems pretty top-notch.
That’s not true. If you don’t use Steam Input, you only lose the Steam-specific inputs, like the touchpads, gyro, grip sense, and back buttons. Otherwise it is pretty much equivalent to a modern Xbox controller:
- Two analog stick inputs
- Analog triggers (LT/RT)
- Digital bumpers and stick buttons (LB/RB, LS/RS)
- D-pad
- Face buttons
- Menu/select/guide buttons
I’ve played a lot of Project Wingman with it, and the TMR inputs are actually a massive improvement.
I believe in you, then do you actually see your Steam Controller being recognized as an actual controller in non-steam games?
I’ve heard the argument that it is recognized as a KBM if you’re not on Steam.
Yes, it’s recognised as a controller both in non-Steam games and in other applications like KDE Settings. It works just like any other controller with the usual, quasi-standard inputs (analog sticks, face buttons, etc). Steam support regarding non-Steam games:
Everything should work as intended if you have purchased and launched your game directly through Steam, but in many cases you will also be able to use the Controller with non-Steam games that run independently.
I’ve heard the argument that it is recognized as a KBM if you’re not on Steam.
If Steam isn’t running and there are no other games that capture the controller input, the SC enters “lizard mode” where it emulates mouse and certain keyboard inputs. The right touchpad becomes a mouse, the left touchpad becomes a scroll wheel, R2 is left click, L2 is right click, A is Enter, B is Escape;
wevdisplays the correct input events. Lizard mode is disabled when you launch a game.(edit) It sounds like this only works in Linux. Windows needs a separate utility to use the SC with non-Steam games.
As absurd as it might seem, the Steam Controller is technically not compatible with Linux.
What I mean by this: officially, it only works with Steam Input, which only works for Games you launch from Steam. It is not fully recognized and supported by Linux yet, and perhaps it never will.
Strong recommendation for Cyclone 2. I’ve been so happy with my first one that I’m about to order a second one.
Excellent ergonomics. The RGB you asked for. Works perfectly with my CachyOS and Bazzite setups out of the box. Premium metal charging stand included. Excellent clicky switches including changing triggers to micro switches. 2 back buttons.
This is available brand new on eBay for £30 in UK. You won’t be disappointed.
Okay that excellent ergonomics sounded reassuring because I’ve heard that it had weirder ergonomics, so maybe that’s just such a small nitpick from those ytbers. What games do you use it for?
I’ve got big hands too and I find it very comfortable. Depends on whether you like offset sticks.
I’m playing a lot of Dead Cells these days. But the controller has been good for any game ive played (Expedition 33, Thronefall, Hotshots Golf, Mario Odyssey, Super Meat Boy, etc). The D-pad is also great for precision platformers like Super Meat Boy.
It’s so great hearing you love the D-Pad because most of the reviewers and redditors said that the D-Pad feels meh. I mean I don’t care about the D-Pad mostly, but yk.
Every aspect of the controller might not be “best in the world”. I don’t play fighting games or anything with the D-pad. Overall the value you get here is unbeatable. £30 on eBay is just mind blowing to me. You can even get a connector on Ali Express to hold your phone if you use it for phone games.
It must also be really durable if you played Super Meat Boy with it and couldn’t break it in half out of frustration!
Frustrating difficult games are my jam. They don’t bother me at all. I’m into roguelites. It’s a great life lesson in being Zen and accepting what is…when you play an hour long run of Dead Cells with excellent legendary items, only to die a dumb death to curse just before the final boss ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I’d say ymmv. I struggle reaching L1 while using the analog stick. Depending on a game, I’d often switch L1 and L2 around. It works, but it’s mildly annoying.
I also seem to have an issue with the face buttons double clicking sometimes. This doesn’t matter 99% of a time, but some games (Persona) don’t like it. It’s a shame, because otherwise it’s a fantastic controller.
Before this I had a 360 and 2 gulikit controllers and none of those had this issue. I actually really love the feel of the newer gulikit, unfortunately the wireless performance is atrocious.
Hmm do you have bigger hands or smaller? Maybe the Cyclone 2 is actually preferable for taller hands.
WHich Gulikit do you use? The Gulikit TT Pro / Max honestly seems amazing seeing by just some reviews and specs. Even the latency is excellent on both wireless modes. https://gamepadla.com/gulikit-tt-pro.html
I’d say on the larger side of medium. The way I hold it I use my index finger for both L1/2 and the curve on the back (of the controller) makes it that I need to shift my grip when I wanna switch between them. I can hit the corner of L1 with the last knuckle, but it feels kinda off to do that.
I have the old NS09 (KK Pro) and NS39 (KK3 Max). The dongle latency is on par with bluetooth, which is not great. https://gamepadla.com/gulikit-kk3-max-kingkong-3-ns39.html
My wireless xbox^TM controller works flawlessessy on bazzite/steam for Hollow Knight and Lego LOTR for whatever that’s worth to you.
8BitDo controllers?
Ultimate 2 seems interesting ngl, however I hear that more people have QC issues about 8bitdo, but I might have misinformed myself.
I bought four Ultimate 2C’s for our couch gaming setup. Though we’re going to be unpacking everything for that setup in the weekend of the 25th. So if you can wait I’m happy to share my experience with those.
I have the original ultimate for about a year. I don’t know how relevant it’s going to be, but I never had any issues with it. The triggers and the stiffer sticks definitely feel cheaper compared to the Xbox One controller. The lighter weight might also be the reason. I’m overall really happy with it considering the price. I paid the same for the controller and dock combined as the Xbox controller.
I also bought their Gamecube controller for my Switch a while back, I think three years. The B button stopped working a couple of months later but they sent a new one shortly after I reported it. They didn’t even bother to let me ship the broken one back.I will most likely buy the controller tomorrow or today, but I’m interested about your findings! There might be someone who reada this post after X months and decides based on your input.
Yeah fair, I’ll do that then. I hope you’re happy with whatever you end(ed) up picking
I have three different 8bitdo controllers and they’ve all been fantastic. And they sell things like replacement covers for the joysticks (I wore through one of them after a lot of hours). Obviously this is just anecdotal, but I’ve had nothing but great experiences with them.
I have a controller and a keyboard, havent personally had issues! but thats my own anecdotal evidence
Doesn’t have a shit QC (8bitdo’s are apparently like that)
Can’t confirm. I own 3 controllers, a keyboard, a numpad and a mouse by 8bitdo. None of them have any hardware issues. Only issue is that the software is meh and Windows/Mac-only. But it’s a plug-and-play controller, so you really don’t need the software unless you want to do stuff like define macros (which you can just use Steam input for).
+1 on that. I own an old SN30 pro+ and a new ultimate 2c (which has amazing value for 30$). Both are flawless.
I have one of the not new Ultimate controllers, and it has rear buttons. Sadly, it looks like the only way to use them really is to do some weird macro stuff in their software. Currently Steam doesn’t let you rebind them. The solution people have come up with it creating a macro for them to mimic a stick press in, and make the real stick press activate it twice, then you can bind those actions through Steam Input. I’ve yet to find a way to do this on Linux.
I have a SN30 Pro and i havent used it much since probably '18 or '19 but the rubberized sticks completly dissolved already. I have 30 year old PS1 controllers in the basement where the rubber held up better. You can buy replacements for a few bucks though! Not too happy about it but its okay i guess all things considered.
Yeah, 8bitdo’s also have official SteamOS support too, which is a plus point.
Is that all of them or just some? Got a couple of the wireless 2C currently and probably going to get a few more at some point. Not sure how others compare.
I owned both GameSir and 8bitdo controllers. All my GameSir ones have fallen apart (stick drift, trigger broke off), while the 8bitdo ones are still alive despite my kids’ best efforts.
I have two 8bitdo controllers and they’re both great. I’m not sure what makes you think they are shit. I’ve only ever heard good things and that’s been my experience. I intend to get a third one to replace my dying ps3 controllers.
Well you may be right, I’ve just read comparably more complaints on faulty 8bitdo Ultimate 2 controllers compared to the Cyclone 2 (these 2 controllers are frequently being compared to eachother) and whilst I don’t trust too much in TrustPilot but the ratings of these 2 brands are far away (2.2 and 4.0 basically) which was sus. So it seemed to me that their QC isn’t as strict as GameSir’s is.
Chiming in. I have several 8bitdo products including the Ultimate 2. Love them all.
Maybe it is one of those “victim of their own success” situations. Hey have more complaints than some other brands because they sold so many more products that theres bound to be someone with a problem somewhere by statistics alone.
I have two 8bitdo ultimate 2c controllers (the cheaper Xbox style controllers) and they’ve been great. The only thing they’re missing is RGB, other than that they tick every box. I use them for my steam deck and on my bazzite PC and they work flawlessly, have held up very well in the ~8 months of regular use they’ve seen. My one (minor) gripe is battery life. A charge lasts several days, but my Xbox one controllers lasted about a week, sometimes more when I was using them. They’re USB-C, charge pretty quick, and you can use them while they’re charging so it’s not a big deal but still worth mentioning
Ultimate 2 actually fits all of the boxes if I’m lucky with QC because it has some tasteful RGBs in there and it looks beautiful honestly. Battery life isn’t a problem if you use the dock tho. Did you buy it without the dock?
The 2C doesn’t have the connection points for a dock, that’s part of the features they cut back on for the budget option. It also doesn’t have the RGB or the buttons on the underside of the controller. I’m happy with my choice but I’ve also been tempted for the higher end version for all of that stuff too
On the QC thing, the 8bitdo controllers are less “refined” than a dual shock or an Xbox controller. The abxy buttons have a little play side to side in them and minor stuff like that. They’re slightly lower build quality than the big name controllers, but not in any way that will affect gameplay or responsiveness. The joysticks have tuneable dead zones, you can test the pressure sensitivity in the triggers, and fully configure the layout to suit your needs. They connect without a hitch and the 2.4g is very low latency. I watched a few vidoes comparing controllers when I was looking and the QC thing came up too. I was a bit apprehensive but pulled the trigger and, with the experience I’ve had (on cheaper controllers no less) I feel that a lot of professional reviews place an undue emphasis on their QC. They may have been lower quality in the past, but I genuinely haven’t had an issue with them and they’ve held up great so far
Those led rings were part of the selling point for me, but honestly I turn them off all the time. It’s nice that they’re there, but they’re so bright and, well, I’m not looking at my hands when playing.
Be warned it only seems to work in Bluetooth mode for some reason, via the dongle I don’t get the back paddles to show up. That being said I want to echo the fact that I also have an 8BitDo and has had great quality. Also they work out of the box in Linux, so no worries there.
That sounds wonderful! Does the software work too? Interesting, apparently 2.4ghz should also work according to Gamepedia https://gamepadla.com/8bitdo-ultimate-2-wireless-controller.html
I meant the remapping of the back paddles only seems to work in Bluetooth for me, the controller itself works on both modes, but that is not surprising to me as most controllers just work out of the box on Linux.
Update the firmware on a windows VM and then turn it on while holding b to go I to dimput, if you want it to go back to x input turn it of and then on while holding a.
On dimput you can use the extra shoulders, the paddles, the gyro and the accelerometer
Have they released another update? I’ve already updated it when they announced the steam compatibility. I was able to get it to dinput and work once, but it reverted and wasn’t able to get it to work with he dongle and recognize the back paddles again.
Also came here to suggest 8bitdo, it is genuinely higher quality than any official Xbox or PS controller I’ve owned. Not sure what OP is on about.
The 8BitDo Ultimate Wireless 2 has been perfect for me and fits all your criteria.
I know they had QC issues with their dpads on their earlier controllers but it seems they’ve long fixed that as I don’t see people reporting it anymore on their subreddit.I know they had QC issues with their dpads on their earlier controllers
Anecdotal: I just had a trigger on an 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth fail. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a button or trigger fail on any other gamepad I’ve ever owned, so that was a bit disappointing.
Letsgooo! One last question. Do you have big hands and does it fit good on you? Ultimate 2 seems less wide than other GameSir controllers.
I have big hands. Ultimate 2 is awesome and the gyro worked in Linux after I set it up under windows since it stores the config in the controller. It’s been my main controller for a year.
My hands aren’t that big (I used to play the 3DS and never felt cramped), so I can’t really speak to that.
If it helps I’ve played both on DualShock 4 and Xbox 360 controllers and migrating to the 8BitDo felt super natural.
8BitDo work well with my Steam Deck
And on Bazzite too.
I have the 8bitdo 2c with PC dongle. The only game I had issues with is No Mans Sky, but those problems do occur on Windows as well. I like them better than my Xbox controllers.
The battery last a lot too.
I’d save up +30€ and wait for the steam controller to be available
Came here to say this. Literally has Linux in mind.
I use a Dualsense controller and it’s great. It feels as responsive on my desktop as it does on a real PS5.
Though I mostly use it to play old Pokémon games through emulators and occasionally Bloodstained
