While I once would have told you that PlayStation controllers were my favorite, I’ve found myself reaching for my 8BitDo controllers more and more over the years. They’re reliable, comfortable to hold, and are typically more affordable than what Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo offer. When the Ultimate 3 in Lavender Dusk was announced this week, I was head over heels instantly, as it combines my favorite color with the form factor I’ve grown to love. I’ll have to wait until August for its release, but preorders are open now. At $100, this will be one of the pricier controllers in my collection, but I think it’s well worth it.
This officially licensed controller is not only luminously beautiful, but delivers a high level of responsiveness and customization so you can bring your best game. The TMR joysticks feature 8BitDo’s Force Ring technology, which allows users to adjust them to favor speed or control (or hit a perfect balance of both). If you want to get even more specific, pop open the 8BitDo Ultimate Software X on PC, and you can tweak all you like.
The body of the Ultimate 3 has a new mold with a wider grip angle, making it even more comfortable to hold than previous iterations, but the change is subtle, so the controller isn’t overly large. The D-pad is disc-style, making diagonal movements easier. It’s equipped with hall-effect impulse triggers with two trigger stop options that can be selected to fit whatever genre of game you’re playing. In addition to the bumpers you’re used to on most controllers, you get the R4 and L4 buttons on the Ultimate 3, which you can configure however you want for lightning-fast reaction time.
What’s on the inside counts, too: the controller is powered by a 216MHz high-performance processor and features a 12-bit ADC sampling chip, so you can count on it to be snappy and enjoyable. It also has four sets of vibration motors for when the game calls for a bit of rumble. As for the wireless connection, the controller comes with a USB-C adapter to ensure your playtime is uninterrupted–no hiccups here.
And while there’s nothing wrong with plugging a controller in to charge, the Ultimate 3 offers a luxurious extra in the charging dock. Not only does it match the controller perfectly, but it has built-in overload protection and foreign object detection for added protection.
This is the newest Ultimate 3 controller 8BitDo has announced since January 2026, when it unveiled the Ultimate 3E Modular Controller at CES. If you’re not as obsessed with all things opalescent and purple as I am, this may be a better pick for you, as it comes in black. However, the Ultimate 3E is a more advanced controller than the Ultimate 3, being fully modular and comparable with Microsoft’s Elite Series 2. It will retail for $150 when it opens for preorder on May 26, so it’s also worth considering which one best fits both your needs and your budget.
8BitDo Accessories Licensed By Xbox
- All-Button Arcade Controller (Xbox, PC) — $85 (
$100) - Charging Dock For Xbox Wireless Controllers — $20 (
$25) - Dual Charging Dock For Xbox Series X|S/Xbox One — $25 (
$45) - Lite SE Wireless Controller (Xbox, PC) — $45
- Media Remote For Xbox One (Short) — $20
- Pro 2 Wired Controller (Xbox, PC) — $45
- Retro 18 Mechanical Numpad, Xbox Edition — $45
- Retro 87-Key Wireless RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard — $102
- Retro R8 Mouse With Charging Dock — $51 (
$60) - Ultimate 3-Mode Controller In White, Jade, and Black (Xbox, Windows, Mobile) — $50 (
$70) - Ultimate 3-Mode Controller Rare 40th Anniversary Edition (Xbox, PC, Android) — $59 (
$90) - Ultimate C Wired Controller (Xbox, PC) — $28 (
$35) - Ultimate Mini Wired Controller (Xbox, Windows) — $35
- Ultimate Mobile Controller — $42 (
$50) - Wireless Arcade Stick For Xbox Series X|S — $105.58 (
$120)
