If you’re looking for an affordable PC controller, the upcoming 8BitDo Ultimate 2C needs to be on your radar. Arriving on July 15, the wireless controller costs just $30 yet offers one of the key perks of pricier 8BitDo models and pro-style controllers from other companies: anti-drift analog sticks. Preorders are now open for the Ultimate 2C at Amazon, with four different colorful styles up for grabs: green, mint, peach, and purple.
8BitDo Ultimate 2C Wireless Controller for PC — $30
Built with Hall Effect sensors, the 8BitDo Ultimate 2C is far less likely to experience the dreaded stick drift that effectively breaks controllers–unless you’re comfortable with opening it up and trying numerous possible solutions to fix it.
In addition to anti-drift sticks, the Ultimate 2C has another feature you’d normally find on pricier controllers: a pair of remappable buttons. Unlike other controllers in the Ultimate series that have rear buttons, the 2C’s remappable buttons (R4/L4) are shoulder buttons nestled next to the triggers and regular R/L shoulder buttons. These buttons can be remapped on the fly on the controller itself.
Other notable features include a turbo function, rumble, clicky buttons and D-pad, and a tactile grip that appears to match the texture of 8BitDo’s higher-end Ultimate controllers.
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The Ultimate 2C supports 2.4GHz wireless with Windows 10/11, Android 9.0 and above (with a USB-A adapter), Steam Deck (with a dock), and other handheld PCs with a USB-C hub or dock, including the Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go. Though it’s not confirmed, we’d expect it to work with the Analogue Pocket, just as the other Ultimate controllers do. It has an impressive 1,000Hz polling rate, so input lag shouldn’t be an issue. However, you can also establish a wired connection with the detachable USB-C cable.
While the Ultimate 2C retains the same form factor as the other Ultimate controllers, its low cost means some notable features aren’t present. Most importantly, you can’t use 8BitDo’s Ultimate software to create profiles, adjust trigger and rumble sensitivity, set up analog stick dead zones, and more.
If you’d like to have those features in your PC controller, you should opt for the standard 8BitDo Ultimate 2.4GHz model, which boasts all of the customization features and comes with a matching charging dock.
Alternatively, if you have a Nintendo Switch or simply like the flexibility of Bluetooth, you should pick up the priciest model, which is arguably still a “budget” controller considering the features. The Bluetooth model has the Nintendo Switch button labels, while the 2.4GHz mirrors Microsoft’s Xbox controller. 8BitDo also recently released a 3-mode model for Xbox, PC, and Android, though it only works wirelessly with PC and mobile, whereas the Xbox connection is wired.
Beyond the Ultimate lineup, the 8BitDo Pro 2 Bluetooth Controller gets you a great retro design and works with iOS, Switch, PC, and Android. Multiple colors are available (including a gorgeous Crystal Purple), and at $50, it’s a nice alternative to anything listed above. The 8BitDo SN30 Pro is another retro-styled gamepad, though it’s a bit more compact than the Pro 2. But if you’re a fan of the original SNES gamepad, you’ll find much to love about the SN30.
Below, we’ve listed deals on the 8BitDo controllers mentioned above. Xbox users can also take advantage of some great deals on official wireless controllers at Walmart right now.
