I have a Razer wolverine V2 that I like quite a lot. But it’s not perfect though… I’m wondering what everyone else likes to use.
Xbox 360 controllers are by far the controller that feels most familiar in my hand since it’s what I played the most on console growing up. The peripherals to use them are often a bit janky but they are still my favourites.
I had a Steam Controller for years and love it, but it has a learning curve and is probably difficult to find these days.
I also own a 360 wired and xbox one wireless controller. You can never go wrong with an xbox controller on PC, they are great.
Sad to confirm Steam Controllers are quite difficult to get these days. New condition ones are rare and demand a premium while secondhand ones typically don’t have the dongle included either because the idiot owner lost it or they’re a prick and are selling it separately.
I just have a 3rd party 360 controller. I don’t need anything fancy, and it’s a controller style I am very familiar with, so why not?
I use a DualSense, and I love it. I have two, for both of my gaming PCs. I love gyro aiming, and with Steam Input, you can set it up for almost any game.
Interesting. I’m curious as to what examples you like for gyro aiming, because it’s not something I typically think of as a way of control for most games that I play.
Are you able to get much functionality out of the haptics, or the triggers?
How useful/customizable is the pad when using it on PC?
Gulikit KingKong 2 (Pro). Mostly same layout as an Xbox controller and is recognised as one by the computer, works wirelessly or wired (true wired, not just charging while wireless) and is in line with prices on the usual brands while having hall effect sensors so it’ll never suffer from stick drift (by human life standards, not literally never so it might be your great grandkid’s problem but who cares about that sniveling little brat, right?). It typically comes in “Nin Switch mode” but it has onboard settings for Xbox and you can buy a pack of face buttons to swap them to Xbox visual layout (they aren’t required for function, just better for those who have to look down to remember where this X button is or simply for aesthetics). Sometimes you can get the face button kit included with the controller either in-box or as a purchase bundle. If you live in the US, I believe the same controller is sold at Target as the Zen Pro. There are other bells as whistles such as motion controls and input recording features but they aren’t all that useful to most people. The company also sells replacement parts for the face button mechanisms so they’re easily repairable after typical wear and tear unlike most companies that expect you to bin it and buy a new one. Feel free to ask if you have any questions.
Edit: I’m not sponsored or employed by Gulikit, I’m just a really pleased customer who wants to see potentiometer-based sticks that suffer from stick drift to go the way of the dodo and any company who lies about the difference in pricing to go with them.
I can not handle their website XD
Their controller does seem pretty good. I like the (seemingly good) repairability aspect too.
A few features that I’ve grown accustomed to on my current controller are the additional buttons (this one has m1 and m2 buttons on the shoulders, though that isn’t really my favorite position for them), and the other thing would be the tactile switches in the face buttons. The switches in the face buttons for the Gulikit do look interesting, but I really like the tactile clicky switches that are in the Razr. I do wonder how they compare.
One of the main features that I feel like I’m lacking right now is definitely wireless. Using a ~10’ cable when you’re on a laptop is really no fun.
Another thing that I really like to see in a controller is an easy way to take screenshots, though, that can usually be remedied with a software solution as well.
Luckily their website is only for showcase purposes. The controllers are on sale on Amazon and Aliexpress.
If rear buttons or paddles are important to you, Gulikit is bringing out their new KK3 Max (let’s get an eyeroll for modern naming conventions) which has four paddles on the back. Supposedly it’s more or less the same controller as the KK2 Pro but with some refinements and some additions that people have been screaming for (paddles among them), new vibration motors and supposedly an upgraded version (whatever that means) of the face buttons. On the subject of the face buttons, I just looked up your Wolverine V2 to be sure what you meant by the tactile feel and I have to say that’s not something I’ve encountered on controllers since the early digital ones on PC-specific controllers back in the 90s and sad to say that the Gulikit has the ever-so-slightly mushy feel not unlike Playstation or Xbox controllers you will have already encountered though they are mechanical. They just chose to do some interesting tweaking to make them feel like the silicon kind. I have to say that I didn’t like the feel when I first got my KK2 but I quickly got used to it.
I can relate to the unwieldly feeling of 8-10’ of cable from back when I gamed on a laptop but I’m a wired man at heart. That said, a controller that does both is nothing to be sniffed at. It’s always good to have options.
Both the KK2 and KK3 have a screenshot button but I believe it only works when it’s in Switch mode. What you can do though is press the home button to bring up the Xbox Game Bar and use that to take a screenshot. Not ideal and personally, I just use good old PrtSc with a clipboard manager that I’ve set to keep 50 entries so I don’t accidentally overwrite the potential many of things I wish to keep from a gaming session.
Any idea how well it works with Linux?
A mouse
I use an Xbox Series X/S controller (I think? I don’t actually own an Xbox Series (is that the name?)). I usually use it via Bluetooth (requires a FW update that can only be installed via windows to actually work), but I aprecieate that there is also a dongle I could use (though, sadly that requires out of tree kernel drivers [edit: on Linux]).
Yes, I think you got the name right.
So, sorry for the confusion, are you able to use the bluetooth functionality on Linux then? That is something that would be appealing to me.
are you able to use the bluetooth functionality on Linux then?
Yep. Well, I’ve technically only tested it on SteamDeck, but it works out of the box there, so I’m fairly confident it’d work on other distros too.
Nice!
I only have a Switch Pro Controller, but it’s an amazing controller as far as my experience goes.
I found a cosmetically defective Elite Series 2 controller on the cheap on eBay, so I’ve been rocking with that with zero issues.
Definitely beats buying one new that’s for sure
Nice!
The prohibitive price of the xbox elite controllers is definitely a big detractor. They have the ‘core’ model now, for 130 apparently, but doesn’t even include back paddles
I’m curious about what they run used though
Oh yeah, new or even used most of the time is pretty pricey. I think I got mine (series 2) for 44 bucks, with the case, accessories, and all that. The grip was peeling off the front, but thankfully it was only on the front panel, so one I had some spare change from Amazon gift cards, I got the replacement cover for another 10.
All in all, I think it was mostly luck on my end and not the norm xD
New developments:
So, I actually did order a open box elite series 2 controller but ended up having to exchange it because there was substantial stick drift on both sticks. Super frustrating that this wasn’t caught, or the sellers don’t care enough about the quality control…
The “core” version is a little cheaper, but nobody has the paddles, which is pretty much the main reason I want one of these controllers…
There is sadly not many competitors available right now either. The Razer model is 250$!? WAY more than I want to spend…
The Guilikit one looks promising, but still have another couple of weeks before it actually releases and then would have to wait on shipping from China, which I hate.
You would think that in 2024 there would be more viable alternatives for professional level no-compromise controllers with good quality for an affordable price.
Rant over.
Damn, the stick drift as soon as you got it is unfortunate- I’m also surprised an open box product managed to be that defective. I remember getting a gaming laptop open box around 5 years ago, and from what I remember, it looked pristine and operated without any issues. I’ve recommended getting tech open box since, though with an experience like yours, I should probably temper my expectations and advice in the future.
But wow, I didn’t even know Razer had a controller selling for that much. That’s really steep. And yeah, I’m surprised as well more options don’t exist, though I suppose it makes sense that the top brands like Microsoft and Razer dominate a market that (from what I imagine) is rather niche, as most people stick to standard Xbox/PS/Switch controllers. It’s a shame modularity isn’t more popular when it comes to controllers, or other pieces of tech for that matter. It’s a real shame products like the Google Ara didn’t take off, since those are the kinds of modular devices I’d absolutely love to see setting a mainstream trend.
Best buy was the culprit… I feel like I’ve generally had good luck with open box stuff otherwise though.
You know, previous to the current generation of consoles, I thought FOR SURE that back-paddles/buttons would become the next standardized iteration. Controller innovation over the last TWO generations I’d argue, has been really lacking in my opinion.
Patience, I guess. I’ve been waiting for literal fucking years at this point. A few more won’t hurt I suppose.
The Ara definitely seemed like a good thing, for repairability. I’m of the ‘fuck anything google’ mindset though.
The ‘framework’ laptop also comes to mind.
