8BitDo Professional 3 Controller For Change 2 Will get First Value Lower, However It Will not Be Out there For Lengthy

8BitDo’s latest Nintendo and PC controller is on sale for the primary time throughout Labor Day weekend. The 8BitDo Pro 3 Ultimate Bluetooth Gamepad for Change 2, Change, and PC is discounted to $63 (was $70) till September 1. Make certain to click on the coupon field subsequent to the worth; the $7 low cost will likely be utilized at checkout. The Professional 3 simply launched August 12 and already seems like a cut price at full value, so it is attainable the controller will promote out earlier than the coupon expires. It is value noting that the Professional 3 offered out at full value throughout launch week.

The caveat to this deal is that solely the Gray and G Classic editions of the 8BitDo Professional 3 are eligible for the ten% coupon. The GameCube-inspired purple edition–the hottest of the three colors–is nonetheless promoting for the total $70. Amazon additionally has nice offers on the 8BitDo Final 2 and Final 2 Bluetooth Controllers. PC gamers can get the Ultimate 2 Wuchang: Fallen Feathers Edition for $50 (was $65), and the Ultimate 2 Bluetooth is down to $60 (was $70).

Editor’s Notice: Article up to date August 29. Learn our authentic 8BitDo Professional 3 overview and shopping for information beneath:

I’ve discovered the Professional 3 to be as huge of an improve because the Final 2 was in comparison with its predecessor. The D-pad is noticeably higher than the one on the Professional 2, and it is superior to have the additional pair of remappable claw buttons on the shoulders and the 2 set off modes. Participating the set off locks turns R2 and L2 into microswitch buttons which are nice for fast fireplace or for while you need to map face button actions to the triggers. With six buttons on the shoulders, you’ll be able to actually mix-and-match management schemes to suit your private preferences. The microswitches used for the again buttons additionally really feel nicer and sooner than those on the Professional 2.

8BitDo’s TMR sticks are smoother and extra exact than the already-good Corridor Impact sticks discovered on the Professional 2 and different older fashions. TMR electromagnetic sticks devour much less energy, and the tech is meant to carry up higher over time in comparison with Corridor Impact. TMR is usually introduced as Corridor Impact 2.0, as each function through magnetic sensors, which eliminates the danger of stick drift. For an added layer of sturdiness, 8BitDo’s sticks even have wear-resistant steel rings.

The 8BitDo Professional 3 prices $20 greater than the Professional 2, however the $70 value level aligns with the Final 2 Bluetooth, the producer’s flagship controller that helps each 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connections. The Professional 2, in the meantime, solely supported Bluetooth wi-fi and did not include a charging dock. The brand new model is the primary non-Final controller with a charging dock. A 2.4GHz USB-C dongle is saved within the backside of the dock. The addition of two.4GHz Wi-fi is actually welcome, because it provides a sooner and extra steady reference to increased polling charges.

Just like the Final 2, the Professional 3 could be seen as an alternative choice to the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller. Nintendo’s official controller feels nice and even has a pair of again buttons, however there isn’t any denying that 8BitDo’s pair of premium gamepads are extra versatile due to its suite of bodily modifications and programmable customization choices.

There are a few variations between the Professional 3 and Final 2 Bluetooth. The Final 2 collection has rings across the sticks with adjustable RGB lighting results. The Professional 3 has an upgraded D-pad with improved tactile suggestions. Curiously, the G Traditional version has a collection of raised ridges–three in every direction–whereas the purple and grey fashions have the acquainted directional arrows as a substitute. I did not take a look at the G Traditional, so I am unable to touch upon any tangible variations, however the D-pad on the purple Professional 3 feels higher to me than the Final 2’s D-pad.

The Professional 3’s coolest new customization choice is the power to swap face buttons. On the underside of the charging dock there is a storage compartment for the two.4GHz adapter. On the within of the duvet, you will additionally discover the 4 further face buttons and a small plunger-like software used to take away the buttons. It solely takes a second to swap out the total set of buttons.

Past altering up the look of your controller, you may make a sensible change: Swapping A/B and X/Y to align with the Xbox button format. Contemplating the Xbox button format is usually seen as the usual on PC, this can be a nice customization function for many who play on PC/Mac, Steam Deck, and cellular. The Professional 3 does not help Xbox consoles, however you should use it for Xbox Cloud Gaming. And since you’ll be able to absolutely remap the controls utilizing 8BitDo’s Final Software program V2, you might even the swap the buttons and alter the controls in order that when a Nintendo recreation prompts you to press Y, you might be nonetheless urgent Y even when it is up high as a substitute.

With the Final 2 collection, the Bluetooth mannequin will work on the entire similar platforms because the Professional 3, however it has the Nintendo button format. To get the Xbox format, you’d must buy the Final 2 with out Bluetooth. This protects you 10 bucks, however the 2.4GHz model of the Ultimate 2 is not appropriate with Nintendo consoles. The Final collection has at all times had a separate 2.4GHz mannequin for PC gamers and a barely costlier mannequin that provides Bluetooth and Change help. There’s nothing fallacious with that launch mannequin, particularly for many who aren’t interested by Nintendo consoles. But it surely’s cool that 8BitDo created a built-in resolution for many who have points with Nintendo’s management format on different platforms.

The ball-top stick caps really feel extra like a throw-in bonus versus a function 8BitDo expects to develop into a preferred various to traditional sticks. The producer stated they designed the caps “purely for enjoyable.” After making an attempt them out, I truly suppose they’re fairly cool for brief spurts, however the spherical form naturally is not one of the best from an ergonomics perspective. Your thumbs would most likely begin to damage when you used them constantly like conventional joysticks. I additionally experimented by putting the controller on my desk and holding the stick like a (tiny) arcade stick whereas enjoying Galaga. Once more, not as dangerous as I anticipated, however the ball-top sticks actually are extra of a novelty than a sensible various for the superb conventional stick caps.

With 8BitDo’s Final Software program V2 app, you’ll be able to regulate stick, set off, and movement management sensitivities, create useless zones, modify rumble depth, and remap inputs. As much as three distinctive management configurations could be saved on to the controller, and you’ll cycle by them on the fly by urgent the profile button. I have not skilled any points mapping

8BitDo is having a giant yr

The Professional 3 is simply the most recent main addition to 8BitDo’s spectacular accent lineup in 2025. As talked about, the Final 2 and Final 2 Bluetooth each launched earlier this yr. Earlier than that, 8BitDo kicked off the yr by introducing a transparent green mechanical keyboard and mouse which are formally licensed by Xbox. The Retro R8 Mouse was 8BitDo’s first 2.4GHz gaming mouse, and an alternate NES-inspired model adopted a couple of months later.

Simply final week, 8BitDo launched its first conventional Xbox controller with wi-fi help. Formally licensed by Microsoft, the Rare 40th Anniversary Edition of 8BitDo’s Ultimate 3-Mode Controller has a classy blue-and-gold coloration scheme, a steel D-pad, two again buttons, Corridor Impact sticks, and an identical charging dock. Take a look at our restock information for extra details–the controller has offered out a number of instances since launch.

The Uncommon fortieth Anniversary Version arrived only a few weeks after 8BitDo’s final collaboration with Microsoft: a brand new model of the Final Cell Bluetooth Controller that helps iPhone and Android. The $50 Ultimate Mobile Bluetooth Controller is licensed by Xbox and might maintain all iPhone editions in addition to most Android telephones. In mid-July, 8BitDo launched a pair of all-button struggle pads for Change/PC and Xbox/PC.

8BitDo’s Professional 3 and the All-Button Arcade Controller work with Nintendo Change 2 out of the field, however when you purchase the Final 2 or one of many different 8BitDo controllers with Change 2 help, you should still must replace the controller’s firmware to get it to sync with the console. You possibly can check out the Amazon hub we created for 8BitDo’s Switch 2 controllers. We included a number of of the identical mannequin as a result of 8BitDo controllers typically have a number of retailer pages hosted by completely different respected sellers with Amazon achievement, and the costs can fluctuate from each day.

The most recent addition to the hub is 8BitDo’s reimagined N64 wi-fi controller, which was designed in partnership with retro {hardware} producer Analogue. The 8BitDo 64 Bluetooth Controller can also be appropriate with Change, PC, and Change 2 (with a firmware replace).

If you wish to evaluate the Professional 3 and Final 2 Bluetooth to Nintendo’s official controller, Amazon finally has the Switch 2 Pro Controller in stock for $89–one buck beneath the controller’s new $90 MSRP.