8BitDo, the company behind several game controllers like the SN30 Pro 2, has just announced that it will be releasing a budget-friendly version of the Ultimate Controller. The new wired and wireless controller will come with a price tag of $29.99 (~Php1,700) and will be compatible only to select platforms, namely Windows, Steam Deck, Android, and Raspberry Pie.
Unlike its more expensive iteration, which supports a wider number of platforms, including the Nintendo Switch, via Bluetooth, the Ultimate C 2.4G wireless controller is dependent on a dongle to link wirelessly to another device.
The gamepad maker describes its latest offering as a “simplified” rendition of the Ultimate Controller, which is essentially a wordplay for the controller lacking the charging dock that came with the original and support for profile switching in addition to the Ultimate Software for customizations.
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Everything else about the new Ultimate C controller would be the same, with 8BitDo claiming to be “offering the same ultimate quality.”
The gamepad can charge to full in just two hours and have a total running time of 25 hours. Additionally, it supports asymmetrical rumble as well as vibration feedback, albeit exclusively on Windows.
Although the product is marketed as “wireless,” the controller’s built-in charging slot can be used to physically connect the controller to another device, which also serves as a constant supply of energy for the gamepad.
Apart from the Ultimate line-up of controllers, 8BitDo made a name for itself in the industry for coming up with hardware that draw inspiration from gamepads of the bygone era, like the NES or SNES.