8bitdo comes with cheaper version of Ultimate game controller

8bitdo, maker of controllers for computers and consoles, has unveiled a cheaper version of its Ultimate controller. It lacks certain features in exchange for a suggested retail price that is $20 less than that of the Ultimate with 2.4 GHz communication.

The 8bitdo Ultimate C 2.4G Wireless Controller has a suggested retail price of $30. For this, owners receive a wireless game controller that operates at 2.4GHz and has its own dongle. A wired operating mode is also possible thanks to the USB-C port, which is of course also used for charging. There is also one for $20 permanently wired version of the controller.

Compared to the ‘regular’ Ultimate controllers, there is no charging docking station. In addition, the built-in profile switcher is gone and the Ultimate software is also not supported. This makes it possible to adjust button mappings, set macros, adjust the sensitivity of sticks and triggers, adjust the vibration strength and manage profiles. Finally, the extra buttons on the back are gone and the Switch is not supported. However, the turbo function for fast, repeated button presses and the asymmetric rumble in Windows are present.

Presumably the Hall effect sticks are also absent. On 8bitdos Amazon product page for the regular Ultimate, for example, you can read that they are present on the bluetooth variant, but the same does not apply to the Ultimate C product page. This type of stick is a bit more expensive, but should not suffer from drift, which the Nintendo Switch is known for, for example.

8bitdo offers the controller in ‘lilac purple’ and ‘field green’. The battery should last 25 hours and the controllers are compatible with Windows, Android, SteamOS and various Raspberry Pi operating systems.