8BitDo opens up pre-orders for its new Ultimate 3E controller, which refines one of this brand's most beloved peripherals for Xbox players - just brace yourself for the price

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Back at the start of the year, fan-favorite controller brand 8BitDo announced it was coming out with a refined version of one of its most well-received gamepads that's officially licensed for Xbox. It's felt like a long wait, but the 8BitDo Ultimate 3E is now available for pre-order, and its price could be divisive if you aren't up to date with the current slate of Xbox Series X controllers.

Compared to a price of $59.99 for the 8BitDo Ultimate 2, the updated 8BitDo Ultimate 3E for Xbox is available for $149.99 at Amazon ahead of its August 31 launch. For fans of this brand that are used to sub-$100 prices, that may come as a bit of a shock, but the best PC controllers can often end up cheaper when they don't need to make back licensing costs, which the Ultimate 3E will.

8BitDo Ultimate 3E: $149.99 at Amazon

I'm not seeing availability at any other retailer for the new Ultimate 3E, but 8BitDo says you can still pre-order through its own store. In the UK, there's no listing at Amazon, so you'll need to head straight to the 8BitDo storefront.

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You may be asking what refinements could possibly mean a near-$100 markup over the 8BitDo Ultimate 2, and I'll get to them. While there are some improvements that I for one was really hoping for in a sequel to one of the best TMR controllers on the shelves, this price is actually pretty reasonable within the Xbox market. Yes, $149 does come in above wired options like the Hyperkin Competitor and the Razer Wolverine V3 TE, as well as maybe its stiffest competition, the GameSir G7 Pro.

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But when it comes to other gamepads with the Ultimate 3E's features list, a price tag of $200 is the norm, so 8BitDo actually stands to be a value king for players who are looking for a new Xbox "Elite" controller stand-in.

I'm just happy that two of my biggest issues with the Ultimate 2 have been seen to here. For starters, the grips of the Ultimate 3E are marginally longer, allowing a bit more space for members of the big-hand gang to hold it comfortably. Perhaps the biggest sin of the Ultimate 2 in my eyes? Very slippery thumbstick textures which made it really hard to make use of the TMR tech beneath them.

Thankfully, the name of the game with the Ultimate 3E seems to be swappable parts, because interchangeable thumbstick tops really are just the tip of the iceberg. For clarity, you can choose between three distinct thumbstick tops, but when you also add in two styles of D-pad and different face button modules, you've got a controller with a really versatile outlook. It's not going to give the Victrix Pro BFG for Xbox a run for its money in terms of a modular design, but it's got more swappable parts than some of the $200 Xbox pads.

It looks as though you'll get a choice of two face button modules, one with "smooth silicone" and one with microswitches that 8BitDo says will give you distinct feels. On top of that, there are some trigger stop switches, and the same extra functionality from the Ultimate 2 carries over, giving you two back buttons and two extra bumpers. The controller will be locked to the 240Hz polling rate of any gamepad on Xbox, but on PC, it can boost up to 1,000Hz.

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While you do get a charging stand that holds the USB-C 2.4GHz wireless dongle, I'm a little miffed that 8BitDo isn't offering a carry case of any sort here. It's by no means a necessity, but when you're offering as many swappable parts as this, it'd be very easy to lose them without a dedicated place to keep them all safe.

It's also worth mentioning that if $149.99 is a little too rich for your blood, this isn't the only 8BitDo Ultimate 3 for you to choose from. 8BitDo is no stranger to launching offshoots of its flagship peripherals, with the Ultimate 2 getting a slightly more affordable 2C option, for example. The standard Ultimate 3 (in a lovely Lavender Dusk colorway) is available for pre-order at $99 but does offer less in the way of customizable features. Interestingly, it sports adjustable thumbstick tension rings, similar to the Flydigi Vader 5S.

See also the best PS5 controllers, the best Switch 2 controllers, and the best joysticks.

Duncan RobertsonHardware Editor

One of my earliest memories is playing SuperMario64 and wondering why the controller I held had three grips, but I only had two hands. Ever since I've been in love with video games and their technology. After graduating from Edinburgh Napier University with a degree in Journalism, I contributed to the Scottish Games Network and completed an Editorial Internship at Expert Reviews. Over the last decade, I’ve been managing my own YouTube channel about my love of games too. These days, I'm one of the resident hardware nerds at GamesRadar+, and I take the lead on our coverage of gaming PCs, VR, controllers, gaming chairs, and content creation gear. Now, I better stop myself here before I get talking about my favourite games like HUNT: Showdown, Dishonored, and Towerfall Ascension.

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