The game accessory company 8BitDo announced on May 16th the release of a new arcade controller aimed squarely at retro gaming connoisseurs. The 8BitDo Arcade Controller is designed for old school arcade fans as well as fighting game aficionados. The controller, which comes in Xbox (X/S/One models) and standard versions, both compatible with PC and the latter compatible with the Nintendo Switch is also being marketed to competitive fighting game players
The main design innovation of the Arcade Controller is its unusually thin structure. It’s only about the size of an A4 paper, as thin as 1.6 centimeters, a third the size of a standard 8BitDo Arcade Stick, making it unusually well-suited to travel compared to larger traditional controllers which tend to take up quite a bit of bag space. It was not immediately clear from materials provided by 8BitDo how durable the controller is. However, the Chinese company is famous for producing durable products, and the 8BitDo Arcade Controller seems unlikely to defy that longstanding reputation.
The controller offers both wired and wireless options, the latter via a 2.4G connection. The standard version also features Bluetooth options. The rechargeable Li-ion battery of the 8BitDo Arcade Controller has between 20 and 40 hours of use in wireless mode. All versions of the controller have button remapping options, as well as button lock caps to guard against accidental presses.
SOCD (Simultaneous Opposing Cardinal Directions) cleaning and tournament lock features are also included for use in esports and tournament contexts. Magnetic foldable feet allow multiple control angles for better comfort and stability as per user preference, and the fingerprint-proof Tempered Glass Faceplate resists smudging. A non-slip Silicone Mat underneath the controller allows for secure and stable placement during gameplay. The PCB also has a hot swappable PCB with sixteen low profile mechanical switches.
The 8BitDo Arcade Controller is confirmed for a July 15th release in the United States and an August 15th release for Europe. The European distribution is being handled by Game Outlet Europe. Preorders are currently open. In the United States the standard controller has a price of $89.99 and the Xbox version $99.99. The Europeans versions of the controller are expected to retail for €89.99 / £74.99 and the officially licensed Xbox version is expected to retail for €99.99 / £84.99. The 8BitDo Arcade Controller Xbox and 8BitDo Arcade Controller is available for purchase on Amazon.com. They’re also available on Amazon.co.uk, where you’ll find the 8BitDo Arcade Controller Xbox here, and the 8BitDo Arcade Controller right here.
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