8BitDo Pro 3 Gamepad Impressions
I recently purchased the 8BitDo Pro 3 gamepad. I wanted a controller that would be a good long-term investment because I play a lot of games on PC with a controller, whether via Steam or emulating retro games. I had been using an Xbox 360 controller for a while, and it had developed severe joystick drift that made playing games that require precision frustrating. Plus, I've just never been a huge fan of the Xbox controller aesthetically.
I did some research on gamepads that were made with anti-drift technology since that's a problem I've often had in the past. I landed on the 8BitDo Pro 3 because I love the way it looks. It reminds me of the old SNES controller combined with the original PlayStation DualShock controller. It also purported to have TMR joysticks with extra precision and high durability, and I liked that it came with a charging dock. I read some reviews and was sold on it, so I made the purchase.
So far, I'm very happy with it! I went with the gray version, as I'm a PlayStation nerd at heart. I've been using it since the 28th to play Dark Souls Remastered on my gaming laptop, and it's honestly been a dream. The buttons and joysticks are way more responsive than I've ever experienced before. I'm not afraid of stick drift because the joysticks feel so smooth and well-made, I can hardly imagine that happening.
One of my favorite features is that the buttons are customizable and magnetic so you can easily swap them around. I'm using the color-coded buttons in an Xbox configuration because that's what works with Dark Souls, but if I need to change them to comply with the PlayStation or Switch layout, I can easily do that.
Although it may not be some people's preference, I personally love having a charging dock. I have a bad habit of just setting my controller down wherever, which sometimes results in me losing track of it or accidentally knocking it off a surface. Having a designated place for the controller prevents that from happening. I don't trust myself not to have a charging dock anymore.
I haven't tested it with the Switch yet, but I have a Nintendo Switch Pro controller that I use, so I might make the 8BitDo my dedicated PC controller unless I start having problems with the Switch Pro. It's not as good as the 8BitDo, but I don't use my Switch as much as my PC and it's more for casual gaming, so it's okay.
The only real downside I saw from a few of the 8BitDo Pro 3 reviews is that it might have connectivity issues, where it will have trouble pairing with a system or randomly disconnect. I haven't any problems with that on my laptop and Steam, but I can't speak to connectivity on Switch yet since I haven't tried it. I may add to this post in the future once I test it on Switch.
All in all, my first impressions with this gamepad are quite exceptional, and I'm glad I finally made the leap and purchased what I hope will be a long-term controller. So far, I can highly recommend it to anyone looking for a gamepad with high precision, easy button customization, ease of use, and retro appeal.