8Bitdo Ultimate Wireless Pro Controller (Switch, Windows, & Steam Deck)

Edit: No joke, only a few hours after writing this review my left joystick has started bugging out. When I hold forward, the stick seems to sometimes think I'm only pressing it about 90%-ish the way forward, making movement inconsistent and making a game like Dark Souls practically unplayable as it thinks I'm walking instead of holding forward all the way to run at normal speeds. I was gonna deal with the controller in its less-than-perfect state, but now looks like I have to return it. Original review: This is not necessarily a bad controller, but I have to say it's not what I was expecting considering what people say about 8bitdo. After using it for a little over a week now, I have some thoughts. I'll start with the good. Pros: - The back grip buttons are very nice to have, and feel great to press. Nice and tactile -- not too clicky, not too mushy. - The profile switching feature has been very useful. Being able to have set profiles, and switch between them on the fly, is pretty sweet, especially for reconfiguring the back buttons. - The charging dock is sweet. I never have to worry about the batteries dying, and it's just a nice little stand to place the controller on. Magnetized so I don't have to worry about making sure it's seated properly. - The ergonomics are pretty solid, with one minor exception I mention in the cons section. Specifically, claw grip feels very comfortable which cannot be said for certain controllers (looking at you, Dualsense). The controller also feels nice and light. Mid: - The value is.... okay. If you compare it to an Xbox controller, you're essentially paying $20 more for back grip buttons, profile switching, hall effect joysticks, more compatibility, and the included dongle + charging dock. Seems like a pretty good deal, except for the fact that the Xbox controller has markedly better build quality and slightly better ergonomics. So while it may seem like a really good value, there are definitely some trade-offs you're making by going with the 8bitdo. The xbox controller just feels better to use, honestly. - I didn't want to put this as a con, as it may very well be something specific to my system (and it's not a huge deal anyways), but after closing the controller configuration application -- without fail -- my PC starts to hang up and I have to reboot. I have zero idea why this is happening, but again not a huge deal as I've only had to use the software once or twice so far. Cons: - Motion controls do not work on PC. I have to say it feels pretty scammy to advertise the motion controls and not mention that they just straight up do not work. That was a big part of why I bought this thing in the first place -- I've gotten used to it on the Steam Deck, as it's a great way to add a little more precision to traditional analog stick aiming (and I just can't get down with the little trackpads). Really disappointed that isn't an option, even though it was advertised. - The shoulder buttons are honestly garbage. They just feel super mushy and sticky, and they're a little loose so the controller rattles when you shake it as a result. - The back grip buttons need to be placed higher IMO. I have big hands and even then it's still a rather uncomfortable stretch for me to be in position for both the back grips and the shoulder buttons. - The d-pad is also rather mushy-feeling, especially when you compare it to the Xbox Series controller which has a super nice and clicky d-pad. - Connectivity is pretty good, but not great -- there have been a couple of instances where it's just randomly disconnected, and I'm sitting a mere <2 meters away from the dongle with nothing blocking the way. Overall I think I'm gonna have to look elsewhere for my next controller. It's not horrible, but considering 8bitdo's reputation, I was expecting something a lot better. Probably a better idea to just save up and get an Xbox elite controller IMO, at least if you're a PC gamer like me.