This is the second leverless controller released by the company.
Last year, 8BitDo delivered its first leverless arcade controller for any fighting game enthusiasts eschewing joysticks, as well as more casual gamers who might be interested in trying the all-button approach. Be under no illusions about who the new Arcade Controller Pro is for: serious fighters, in 8BitDo’s own words.
Like its predecessor, the Arcade Controller Pro is a rectangular pad that, to the uninitiated, looks more like something you might use to make electronic music rather than play fighting games. But these buttons are used to control everything from your inputs to your movements, and 8BitDo made them smaller, with tighter spacing between them, to make the entire controller easier to access.
The original Arcade controller featured four programmable buttons, and the Pro adds a fifth on the far left of the pad. 8BitDo claims this gives you even more control options while leaving more room for your left hand to move naturally. Also new is a built-in screen that shows you your inputs and battery status, while allowing you to make quick settings adjustments.
Like the Arcade Controller before it, the Pro also has a control panel located above the action buttons, which you can use to switch between connection modes and increase the volume. It can also be used to activate a tournament lock that prevents accidental entries during competitive play.
The Arcade Controller Pro features hot-swappable switches and redesigned round button caps that you can install at any angle. You can also replace the P1-P5 programmable button caps with flat locking caps (five are included) for even more insurance against pressing a button you didn’t intend to in the heat of combat. The various customization options are designed to give you the perfect setup based on how you like to play, and you can go even further with Ultimate Software V2 from 8BitDo, which lets you customize button mappings and create macros.
If you’re gaming over cable (supported on Windows and Switch), a metal locking mechanism built into the controller ensures the USB-C cable doesn’t come out if you suddenly move it. The cable can be connected from the top or from the side. As with the previous controller, wireless playback is also an option (via 2.4G connection on PC or Bluetooth for Switch), and you should get around 15 hours of use with the RGB features disabled. The Arcade Controller Pro also comes with a magnetic wrist rest.
There is no word on a release date at the time of writing, with pricing also yet to be confirmed.
