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8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller

8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller

Based on 181 comments across 3 communities
TL;DR
Owners overwhelmingly love the Ultimate 2 for its smooth, drift-free TMR sticks, premium build quality, comfortable feel, and packed feature set (dock, extra buttons, 1000hz polling, trigger locks) at around $60. The recurring gripes are weak Steam Input/gyro integration that forces you into 8BitDo's own software, the inability to map keyboard keys to the extra buttons, and a few mushy-feeling trigger and face-button switches. It also won't run on macOS, and firmware updates aren't possible on Linux.

72% of 181 verified owners recommend the 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller.

What 181 owners say
2,539 comments reviewed · scored on the 181 clearest verdicts
72%
Recommend
130 owners
9%
Neutral
17 owners
19%
Don't recommend
34 owners
Last 6 months:82% recommend(51 recent verdicts)→ holding steady vs older reviews
Source
Score
N
Counted in the score
Reddit
72%
179
Independent blogsino affiliate links
100%
2
Reviewed, but not counted — and why
Affiliate blogsipaid commission
100%
2

Affiliate blogs here say 100% recommend, while the owner-based score is 72%. They earn a commission on every sale — so we show them for transparency but never let them move the score.

The headline score reflects owners (Reddit, enthusiast forums), independent lab tests, and blogs with no affiliate links. YouTube and affiliate blogs are shown for perspective but kept out — hover the i for why.

What owners like
  • Smooth, accurate TMR/Hall effect sticks with no drift · 20 · 11%
  • Excellent build quality that feels more premium than first-party controllers · 12 · 7%
  • Loaded feature set: charging dock, extra shoulder/back buttons, 1000hz polling, and trigger locks · 12 · 7%
  • Comfortable ergonomics and a great-feeling D-pad · 9 · 5%
  • Great value at around $60 with reliable auto-connect wireless · 9 · 5%
What owners flag
  • Weak Steam Input integration; gyro and extra buttons need 8BitDo's own software · 7 · 4%
  • Connectivity quirks and double/multiple inputs for some owners · 5 · 3%
  • Mushy-feeling trigger and face-button switches that lack a clicky feel · 5 · 3%
  • Cannot map keyboard keys to the extra buttons, only other controller buttons · 4 · 2%
  • No macOS support, and firmware updates can't be done on Linux · 3 · 2%

Top quotes, sourced

2,539 reviewed · 183 shown
Sentiment
Community
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Reddit— neutral

The 8BitDo ultimate 2 feels just as good as the cyclone 2 in game, if not better. It's just the shape of the controller that I'm having trouble getting used to.

Reddit▼ don’t recommend

I just got an 8bitdo controller today, and I couldn't be less happy with it. I paid for the ultimate wireless 2 and so far I can't use any of the wireless functionality

Reddit▲ recommend

I’ve been loving the 8BitDo ultimate 2 since the day I bought it. It has really nice ergonomics, 1000hz polling, TMR sticks, trigger locks, extra shoulder buttons, and a really nice D-pad reminiscent of classic SNES pads.

Reddit⚠ product link▲ recommend

the Ultimate 2 has one of the better gyro implementations that 8bitdo has done so far

Reddit▼ don’t recommend

you can't map keystrokes (from the keyboard) to controller buttons on the 8BitDo Ultimate 2. The Vader has 6 buttons on it that you can map keyboard keys to.

Reddit— neutral

Recent alternatives, like the 8bitdo Ultimate 2, are well built and technically AAA hardware-wise but the software and integration into other stacks (Steam Input, for instance) is very, very, very weak

Reddit▼ don’t recommend

I'm using the 8bitdo Ultimate 2 wireless controller and in either Bluetooth/2.4ghz mode I am experiencing multiple inputs with a few different buttons

Reddit— neutral

The 8Bitdo Ultimate 2 controller also have 4 extra buttons, two back paddles and two additional shoulder buttons, but it CAN NOT map these buttons to keyboard keys, only other controller buttons. It has gyro control, but gyro is not recognised nor directly supported by Steam

Reddit⚠ product link▲ recommend

the extra money for the Ultimate 2 line (not 2c where "c" might stand for cheaper?) is worth it to me because I love the more accurate TMR joysticks, the cradle, gyro, profile switching and trigger switches

Reddit▲ recommend

The 8bitdo dpad is undefeated

Reddit— neutral

personally for me with large 19cm hands 8bitdo feels more comfortable than cyclone 2

Reddit▼ don’t recommend

Controller has so much snapback the amount of misinputs i had compared to a Gamesir or Gamecube controller. i just refunded both of them today

Reddit▲ recommend

I really love the 8bitdo Ultimate 2. Works on PC and android over bluetooth/2.4 ghz USB c dongle/wired

Reddit— neutral

I got the controller yesterday and I really can't find a use for the extra buttons, especially since the software can only map them to existing buttons on the controller.

Reddit▼ don’t recommend

the controller turns on by itself and keeps trying to reconnect, even when the PC is off. I've tested the controller on other computers and the problem persists in the same way, so I believe it's a defect in the controller itself

Reddit▼ don’t recommend

Went for an 8bitdo Ultimate next. Felt good, played good. Sadly after 2 months the right back button came loose and just fell off

Reddit▲ recommend

I just received the 8bitdo ultimate 2 and it has been excellent. Amazing wireless quality with the adaptor, controller feels good, nice features. Zero complaints.

Reddit— neutral

I cant get it to connect to the Ultimate Software v2 on PC or Android. I have to assume it needs to be updated. It feels good in the hands though.

Reddit— neutral

dpad feels extremely inaccurate for games that need precision. It’s very good outside of things like fgs tho

Reddit▲ recommend

I got the 8bitdo ultimate 2 recently and it feels pretty good with a nice easy to use dock

Reddit▼ don’t recommend

I returned my Ultimate2. Yes, the hair trigger switches are very mushy. I also disliked the shoulder button switches - felt too tactile to press. I got a Supernova and the trigger stops feel great despite not being an actual switch.

Reddit— neutral

I just wish it would continue to start in Switch mode after doing it once, but nbd. at least it works!

Reddit▲ recommend

my everyday driver atm is the 8bitdo Ultimate 2 Wireless just an awesome controller

Reddit▼ don’t recommend

I've had this happen to my Ultimate 2 as well. At first, it was just my RT, then the LT followed a few days after

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