Fight Fans Rejoice, 8BitDo Is Launching A New Arcade Controller For The Switch

I’m sad this is only built for professional use, according to 8Bit’s description. WHEN are they going to release the rumored NOOB-01 for “horribly inefficient dweebs and general *****” like me?!

Ummm, is that a Switch keyboard and 10-key?

I have their older arcade controller, the one with the joystick, so I'll be sticking with that. I doubt I could train my aged brain to use a controller that's just buttons.

Unless it's Space Invaders.

I'm might get this just for pure arcade nostalgia. I still prefer controller over fight stick/pad though when actually playing but it's fun to pull 2 of these out when a friend is over.

I have the first 8bitdo stick and I honestly prefer that over this new one.

@Teksette is your model heavy enough or should one build in some extra weight (I like to use good old lead for that)?

Wait a minute... where are the sticks?

@SirLink I'd like to see Daigo pull off a 720 rotation on that piece of crap

Not planning to get this but the two controllers I did get from 8 bit do convinced me of their high quality. Absolutely would recommend as such for those interested.

@PlayingWithPower
It feels pretty heavy, honestly, like 8Bit put some kind of thin steel plate in the base to give it some heft. The weight and the rubber footies are enough to keep it pretty stable on my coffee table at home.

I don't know how its weight would compare to other current controllers, but it's way heavier than my old Sega Genesis 1st party arcade stick.

@SirLink If I'm not mistaken this is designed for fighting games / brawlers?

Looks excellent. I have a bunch of leverless controllers already, but this is very tempting because of the aesthetic alone.

Looks nice, but I already have their older arcade stick(seen in the pictures there) which I am playing Killer Instinct Gold with now. 😁

Nice, I got their arcade stick with the NES color scheme, and it's awesome for beat em ups and schmups

Oh God... I have the old one with stick, but I'll get this as well. Guys, you have no idea how comfortable this solution is. I got to test something almost identical at my friend's place.

i really want to try one of these 👍👍

PS - "arcade controller" is still a bad name but I guess I'll take it over "kikbox" or whatever I saw before. 👍

incidentally this would be an awesome music controller to finger drum or trigger samples with ✌️

@KociolekDoSyta

see, it seems like itd be comfortable.

also, when I was a kid i got really good at certain games like tetris and nibbler on old PC arrow keys and this seems like this might be kind of like that. 👍 only better.

BET. Can't wait to binge Street Fighter and Fatal Fury/King of Fighters with this.

@-wc- Exactly! If you were raised on a keyboard, this will feel natural for you after a couple of minutes. I really recommend it.

@SirLink it is a hitbox style. Because there is less travel time (and no gate restrictions (some folks sand the gates on joysticks)) depending on your reaction time this can be more accurate. Especially when doing piano inputs. Depending on the game this can make or break for some people. Doing a massive row of kara cancels in SF3 for instance. They can also cause less fatigue for some. (I play palm style with a bat top to prevent this, personally. I know some folks that play wineglass style for the same effect.)

I can’t use them personally. I know a number of lefties that prefer these.

I started playing fighting games recently enough that I really first learned how to play on this style, aka leverless, of controller (they are sometimes called hitbox controller because they were first popularized by a brand named "Hitbox" that makes this style of controller). I've since gone on to learn how to play competently enough on a traditional stick and on your standard controller (or "pad" in the fgc) but still love playing on leverless.

This is definitely worth considering for anyone who plans to pick up Street Fighter 6 on Switch 2.

@clicky How do you pull off moves like a Hadoken or Shoryuken with just buttons? I have never seen anything like this, I'm confused haha

@TheBoilerman No, that's a normal keyboard and numpad I have both.

@OorWullie it’s basically WASD arrows in an arch that follows the hand. So if you can play on a keyboard (or a joycon) you can play on this.

Many folks will build their own so that it matches their finger spread.

No mention of Switch 2 compatibility? Or am I missing something? 🤔

@RaptorRed if it works on switch, it works on switch 2.

Yeah, see, it's cool they did this, and I'm sure it'll work great because of who made it, but looking at this over the course of a few articles about it, I can't even begin to wrap my head around movement/move inputs on a flat surface. I know I'm not alone, but I feel like I'm showing my age needing a joystick.

I am way on down with this. 8BitDo are my go-to.

By the way, leverless controllers are great for platformers in addition to fighting games. And Tetris. Well, most 2D games that don't require analogue control.

@Ryu_Niiyama ohh got it thank you! So it's a bit like playing on a PC keyboard but using more keys for the directions. Hmm I guess I could never use it, and I'm a left handed too lol

Been waiting for an all button arcade stick and I think this great, will probably get one

@SirLink so it’s still just the four directional buttons. You will notice the hand model’s pinky isn’t in use. The extra buttons are for the additional buttons on controllers now. Some layouts put those on the side.

This would almost work as a Bemani Pop n Music controller.

@Ryu_Niiyama Well, 8bitdo does allow you to modify the button remapping in their software. So for example, you could make those bean shaped buttons function as additional directions. Not sure if they allow you to make them input arbitrary angles on analogue sticks, though.

Looks good. And that CHUNK of a controller is still cheaper than Nintendos trigerless "Pro" Controller. LOL.

BTW anyone who wants to try the Anbernic Controller, go for it. It's super cheap, smooth, reliable and all of its functions can be adjusted directly on the gamepad, no shonky software needed. Highly recommended. Anbernic has a sale right now, 17 quid.

8BITDO have shown timely support, a new official firmware release for my PRO2 controller means it works on the Switch 2.