Multi Love the extra buttons on my 8bitdo Ultimate 2

[Quagmire]

Rumor is they plan to stop selling in America due to Trump and his tariffs. I decided to jump on and pick one up as they are good solid controllers for the price. I was also tired of using my ps4 controller on my pc.

This one has 4 extra buttons I can duplicate the actions of other butons. I didnt need it for Clair Obscur, but playing Doom Eternal, I've cloned the throw shield and sprint button to the buttons on the back where ones middle fingers typically rest when holding a controller. It is bliss

 

[VashTheStampede]

I snagged a second 8bitDo for my Switch because of the rumors.

As an old-head it is still crazy to me that a 3rd party controller can be so good.

 

[Quagmire]

As an old-head it is still crazy to me that a 3rd party controller can be so good.

Same brother, years of awful experience

Kids these days don't know how good they have it, though the world is burning....

 

[Ben]

You buttholes made me go buy a controller that I probably didn't really need.

 

[Ben]

 

[Crystal]

It's been on my list for a bit, but...yeah...ah well. Definitely the time to grab one if you can!

 

[Fool's Requiem]

I got a controller for my Genesis because my regular controllers keep dying on me. Unfortunately, I can't get it to work with Master System games on the power base adapter. Also recently bought an NES one. Still waiting on it to arrive in the mail.

Luckily, I've already got the SNES controller and dongle for my SNES (which just really only bought to use the fight stick on it.

Speaking of which, If you like fighting games, their arcade stick is really good AND it can be easily upgraded if needed. The buttons are reprogrammable and work for most modern systems and any system that you have a dongle for (hmm... maybe I should see if Master System games work on this).

Note: I didn't know about their intent to stop selling to the US. I just bought the controllers out of need. They supposedly have another USB dongle that allows the NEOGEO controller to work with the Switch, so I might need to get it.

I dont know how many other systems I'll need replacement controllers for. I just bought another Waverbird controller for parts, and once I get my issues with my current one fixed, I dont really need another wireless Gamecube controller.

8bitdo makes really good controllers and it will be a great loss if they stop selling directly to the US. Many of their controllers have 2.4ghz options for their wireless and I prefer Bluetooth, which is what most of the cheaper wireless controllers from other companies use. I am kinda thinking of Hyperkin's NES controller because the design is MUCH more ergonomic than other NES controllers. However, if the NES dongle f
for the 8bitdo controller works with the SNES or Genesis controllers, I won't need to get it.

Edit: Lol, ok, just bought a Saturn dongle, their #2 dongle, and their Switch controller that has Hall Effect sticks and BT (which was only 30 bucks!). If the Switch controller works as intended, I'm trading in my Nintendo made one.

 

[Tommy Boy]

Pics??? Links???

Does it have hall effect joysticks? I heard of their keyboards but I am interested in a new controller - was going to get PS5 for adaptive trigger stuff, unless this is better --?

 

[Quagmire]

Pics??? Links???

https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Wireless-Controller-Joysticks-Switchable-Smartphone/dp/B0DR8V899R?crid=1W421XHUOR47F&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.lySSbNqeKP2E4kWZe312ewLbgvBbVsfzaqV-5ERUCirdNxoOeFWL870bi40tWSjDPDxuAYawvDP3wuxiii7L5Zq4RyTGPQjoVhsiuOOt_xFE2DW-GW05GxheJk2GxCt2vpv7A2G6pk3ARrlSwxlUdWlrBuSHsRPIe72HWhnXXAzLKu2tFZ71APE_RVuw87gJMnszzQCobIjrisgSPiQz7g.1xLsoZJt1lrmzRSt5fllM2vnMQvSdV8ua96yu0zEhYg&dib_tag=se&keywords=8bitdo+ultimate+2&qid=1748704764&sprefix=2bi%2Caps%2C214&sr=8-3

Does it have hall effect joysticks? I heard of their keyboards but I am interested in a new controller - was going to get PS5 for adaptive trigger stuff, unless this is better --?

TMR joysticks

 

[Tommy Boy]

Nice, I love the extra buttons for sure

 

[Ben]

Got mine delivered today. Haven't really had a chance to work out how to get the additional buttons to work, as Fortnite didn't them up automatically, but the placement of them and so on is nice. When I do work out how to get bindings to pick them up I'm sure they'll prove useful.

Dock is nice.



Controller is a little on the smaller side.



Pretty lights go drrrr, Sticks feel pretty good out the box.

View attachment 8bitdo1.mp4

I do really like having a switch to change the resistance of the triggers. Not adaptive, but being able to click the right trigger over to not have such a long pull distance feels better when firing guns.

View attachment 8bitdo2.mp4

 

[Tommy Boy]

Oh dang I like the dock

 

[Tommy Boy]

 

[Ben]

 

[Quagmire]

 

[Fool's Requiem]

I got the one I ordered this morning. I only got the 30 dollar one, so no dock. Probably no fancy lighting effects either. Don't really need that stuff, just a quality wireless controller for my Switch that is like the Pro controller. Having tried it out, but it feels good. The dpad buttons click, so that's nice. 8bitdo advertises the Ultimate 2C to have hall effect switches, so I'm holding them to it.

If these are as good as the rest of their products have been, I don't know why anyone should spend 70 on an official Nintendo Pro Controller.

Super glad we're past the awful era of shitty third party controllers.

 

[dimmerwit]

Only downside to getting the Switch 2 next week is losing my old third-party joycons (in handheld mode).

 

[Fool's Requiem]

ugh, the NES controller from 8bitdo is sold out and my order got cancelled.

 

[Crazy Jamie]

I've had a more basic wired 8bit do for years now and it's great. It got stick drift when I started playing Clair Obscur, which was really annoying, but last night I took the controller apart and fixed it. Which I have never done before. So now I get my controller back and can congratulate myself on being a functional human. Everyone wins.

 

[Ben]

Someone with more experience using this on PC, please confirm this or not, but for everything I've tried I cannot get the extra buttons to work for any mapping. It just picks it up as a basic ass Xbox controller and doesn't detect the paddle, etc.

From what I've read they only work in Switch mode, which in present state only works over Bluetooth and you cannot force it into that using the 2.4Ghz adapter on PC.

I read there's an older version of their firmware that did in fact let you change to Switch mode and that should then enable those buttons, but it's not on their site and I'm leery to download anything from reddit users. A few people suggested reaching out to 8bitdo support and just asking for the old firmware, saying they normally oblige, so I'm waiting to see if they do.

I haven't tried it through Steam to see if that picks up the buttons yet. It might, but I tried a trial of reWASD and that didn't find the extra buttons so figured it was just pointless.

Still a decent controller, but having those not function kills a bit part of how useful it is.

 

[Quagmire]

Someone with more experience using this on PC, please confirm this or not, but for everything I've tried I cannot get the extra buttons to work for any mapping. It just picks it up as a basic ass Xbox controller and doesn't detect the paddle, etc.

From what I've read they only work in Switch mode, which in present state only works over Bluetooth and you cannot force it into that using the 2.4Ghz adapter on PC.

I read there's an older version of their firmware that did in fact let you change to Switch mode and that should then enable those buttons, but it's not on their site and I'm leery to download anything from reddit users. A few people suggested reaching out to 8bitdo support and just asking for the old firmware, saying they normally oblige, so I'm waiting to see if they do.

I haven't tried it through Steam to see if that picks up the buttons yet. It might, but I tried a trial of reWASD and that didn't find the extra buttons so figured it was just pointless.

Still a decent controller, but having those not function kills a bit part of how useful it is.

Should be time stamped and he'll talk about it in a couple seconds

 

[Ben]

Should be time stamped and he'll talk about it in a couple seconds

Word. My there were literally no instructions in the box and I hadn't stumbled across that particular video.

But still, replication of another button isn't the most useful thing. I want that shit programmed to a different key entirely. I think reWASD would be able to if it could detect the button to begin with, but not yet.

 

[Quagmire]

Word. My there were literally no instructions in the box and I hadn't stumbled across that particular video.

But still, replication of another button isn't the most useful thing. I want that shit programmed to a different key entirely. I think reWASD would be able to if it could detect the button to begin with, but not yet.

Yeah I watched the video due to no instructions

I would love to be able to program it for a computer hot key sort like a quick save or something in an emulator

But still been useful, prefer it for running vs pushing down the joy stick, also using it for LB (or RB) is nice too as its not super comfortable to hit it, but I can

 

[Ben]

Oh hey, I worked it out.

I enabled the beta firmware versions within the 8Bitdo ultimate software and updated both the controller and the adapter firmware to the latest available. Support told me that this would enable the ability to change modes, and while their instructions on how to kick it into Switch mode on PC weren't the solution I needed, it prodded me into the right direction.

Basically, after taking it off the dock (which auto-turns it on) I had to hold the home button for 3 seconds to turn the controller off. Then, hold B+Home while turning it on to put it into "D-input" mode, which actually enables the 4 additional buttons as detectable inputs.

I was then able to use JoyToKey to map the back bumpers and the L4/R4 buttons to keyboard equivalent buttons. I only tried it out with City of Heroes so far, but got one of the PL back paddle bound to the alt-key to give me access to the second hotbar, PR back paddle bound to middle-click to let me control the camera, then bound R4 to space/jump, and L4 to X/descend letting me have flight control. I bound all the face buttons to 1/2/3/4, LB and RB to 5/6, and I think L3 and R3 to 7/8 giving me broad access to the abilities. D-pad got bound to F1/F2/F3/F4 to let me use Inspiration items as needed. Left trigger bound to left click, right trigger bound to right click. Left stick bound to WASD, right stick bound to mouse up/down/left/right letting me move the cursor.

I only dicked around in the starting zone testing things out, but I think once I fully learn where I put everything, it should make playing an MMO on controller wholly viable.

I've got to test whether putting it into D-input mode lets games like Fornite natively pick up the extra buttons for keybinding. That'd be easier than having to bind them to mimic a keyboard input.

EDIT: Now seems to be staying in that mode when I take it on/off the dock, so that's good.

I'd read earlier today that the Wireless USB Adapter 2 from 8Bitdo would let you put it into D-input/keyboard mode too so I'd ordered one of those before working out how to do it with the current hardware, so luckily I managed to cancel that before it shipped and I guess can save myself $20.

 

[dimmerwit]

Not really in the market for one of these, but I saw the 2.4 controller latency numbers (really low) and that seems good. Shame more stuff doesn't work with it.

I actually still use my 360 controller on PC.

 

[dimmerwit]

Oh wait, the ultimate does both? Problem solved lol.

 

[Ben]

Oh wait, the ultimate does both? Problem solved lol.

I don't know if you mean both as in "Xbox & Switch" or "2.4Ghz & Bluetooth", but the answer would be yes to both.

The USB-C adapter connector is intended for PC/SteamDeck/Android use as an Xbox controller, and Bluetooth is intended for Switch as a Switch Pro controller. But as detailed above, you can switch it around now. I'm still using the 2.4Ghz adapter (which sits inside the dock.)

 

[dimmerwit]

I don't know if you mean both as in "Xbox & Switch" or "2.4Ghz & Bluetooth", but the answer would be yes to both.

The USB-C adapter connector is intended for PC/SteamDeck/Android use as an Xbox controller, and Bluetooth is intended for Switch as a Switch Pro controller. But as detailed above, you can switch it around now. I'm still using the 2.4Ghz adapter (which sits inside the dock.)

I meant the latter. I see now that you mentioned it in a previous post but I was confused by both you talking about getting a USB adapter separately and their website listing the controller in both sections (with only one having the adapter in the picture) for maximum confusion.

 

[Ben]

I meant the latter. I see now that you mentioned it in a previous post but I was confused by both you talking about getting a USB adapter separately and their website listing the controller in both sections (with only one having the adapter in the picture) for maximum confusion.

Why say few words when many confuse dimmerwit?

 

[Tommy Boy]

The USB-C adapter connector is intended for PC/SteamDeck/Android use as an Xbox controller, and Bluetooth is intended for Switch as a Switch Pro controller. But as detailed above, you can switch it around now. I'm still using the 2.4Ghz adapter (which sits inside the dock.)

Hmmm, I think I need this, then. I am about to start BG3 with my wife and I wanted to play it on the big TV, so we thought maybe Steam Link would be the best idea. I play with a wired Xbox pro controller normally, so the controller doesn't go into the other room. Having the 2.4 wireless mode might solve this issue.

 

[Fool's Requiem]

The best wireless controller of all time, the Gamecube Wavebird, used 2.4ghz. It was a marvel of technology at the time because wireless controllers up to that point used IR which required LOS. You could play on the Gamecube with a Wavebird in the otherside of the room under a blanket and it would still work, with NO input delay.

I don't know why everyone thought Bluetooth was suddenly the way of the future.

 

[Ben]

From everything I read while looking it up, 2.4ghz mode has a latency of about 2 milliseconds. Bluetooth mode has a latency of 3-4 milliseconds.

Not drastic, but still a thing.

 

[Tommy Boy]

I don't have any USB-C slots on my PC (lol) - I am assuming the dock is USB-C, right? I have an adapter wire handy, just wanted to check.

 

[dimmerwit]

I based that on someone testing the Ultimate 2 and recording an average button latency of 2.81ms wired, 3.95ms wireless 2.4 and 12.02ms Bluetooth. The Bluetooth is much more variable though because the polling rate is much lower, leading to a much greater range in measured latency (up to 25.79ms).

That said, the guy said it was a very impressive performance all round especially for BT.

 

[dimmerwit]

Also my view is probably clouded by the fact that neither the PS5 or Xbox consoles let you connect a Bluetooth headset for audio latency reasons. I use the 3.5mm jack on the controller to use my Sony big fuckers (I can never remember the model name).

 

[Ben]

I don't have any USB-C slots on my PC (lol) - I am assuming the dock is USB-C, right? I have an adapter wire handy, just wanted to check.

The dock is actually USB, with a USB-C port that the adapter goes into. So it's basically it's own adapter.

 

[Ben]

Sony big fuckers

What do you mean? That is the model name.