Forget the joystick and forgo the D-pad. 8BitDo introduced an all-button arcade controller with an ultra-slim profile that’s built for competitive fighting games. The company is known for its wide range of affordable handheld controllers, but it’s been venturing more into fight pads following its Arcade Stick release. The latest Arcade Controller comes in two versions: a blacked-out variation that’s officially licensed by Xbox and a retro-styled counterpart that’s compatible with PC and Nintendo Switch.
For fighting game fans, the Arcade Controller offers a ton of features to provide a more competitive edge. 8BitDo’s newest fight pad has 20 hours of wireless battery life, but also supports a wired mode for better latency performance. For quick adjustments mid-game, the Arcade Controller has a control panel at the top-left that lets you turn up the volume, switch between PC and Switch modes on the standard version, and even activate a tournament lock that prevents accidental misclicks that could distract or disqualify you during high-stakes matches.
8BitDo added four programmable kidney-shaped buttons and lets you hot-swap each button’s mechanical switches for extra customization. If you prefer RGB lighting, 8BitDo only included it on the Xbox version. All of these elements are jammed into a controller that’s 1.6 cm thick, which is just thicker than a MacBook Pro that measures 1.55 cm.
The standard version is up for pre-order on Amazon for $89.99, while the Xbox version is also available for $99.99. 8BitDo said that the first Arcade Controllers will ship across North America starting July 15, while European customers will get theirs starting August 15. It’s worth noting that 8BitDo’s website previously said that it would halt orders to U.S. customers coming from its warehouse in China, but has since resumed shipping to the U.S., only adding that “shipping fees may vary due to tariffs.”
