this post was submitted on 17 May 2026
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Help me choose a <€70 controller with Linux compatibility. πŸ™οΈ (p.kagi.com)
submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) by PrivateNoob@sopuli.xyz to c/linux_gaming@lemmy.world
148 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

I want to replace my old GameSir G3s with a controller preferably under €70-75. Initially I wanted an european gamepad but the only 2 options (ready2gaming and snakebyte) was so non existent or questionable that I had to swallow my EU nationalism.

Gaming style:

  • Only use controllers where it's highly recommended
  • Preferred genre for controllers would be arcade racing and JRPGs mostly
  • Will only play on wireless (2.4ghz)

Preferences:

  • Either TMR or high quality HE sticks
  • Doesn't look boring (preferably it has some amounts of LED / RGB)
  • Xbox stick position layout (I want to try it out)
  • Linux compatibility (don't care about consΓΆles)
  • Doesn't have a shit QC (8bitdo's are apparently like that)
  • I have larger hands, so maybe not a small controller

Currently these are some controllers that seems to be in my range. I'm interested if you know about even better controllers.

  • GameSir Cyclone 2
  • GameSir Supernova
  • FlyDigi Direwolf 4?
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[–] Alaknar@sopuli.xyz 1 points 2 hours ago

You'll see a lot of people suggesting 8bitDo.

I have their Ultimate 2 gamepad and I'll give them this - it's probably one of the most comfortable gamepads I've ever used. It's great.

That being said:

  1. I actually bought two of them (Xbox and Switch layouts) and thank goodness I did, because one charger just broke, the USB-C cable wobbles inside like the socket itself got damaged. I know for a fact that the device didn't fall down or anything like that.
  2. Every now and again the joysticks freeze and I start spinning uncontrollably, and then just stop working. Sometimes switching from Bluetooth to radio for a while and then back again help. Sometimes I have to turn the device fully off.
  3. More often than (2) the sticks will suddenly develop a lag. I turn the stick to one side, nothing happens. I release the stick. Then the character in the game starts moving for a while. It's, like, 500-1000ms lag easily.

If you're playing anything remotely competitive or punishing, I would not recommend 8bitDo products. If you're only playing casual games with quick and easy save options, and you're OK having to restart your gamepad every now and again, go for it.

[–] WeLoveCastingSpellz@lemmy.dbzer0.com 12 points 1 day ago (3 children)

I just got a 8bitdo ultimate 2c they go for 30 bucks and I swear it is better than my Xbox gamepad, thy come in fun colors have extra triggers amazing hall effect sticks good face buttons. Bluetooth AND dongle. I can't stress this enough it is purple.

[–] PrivateNoob@sopuli.xyz 1 points 14 hours ago (2 children)

Yeah those purple Ultimate 2 colors are sooooo catchy! I actually bought a Cyclone 2 from the comments, but honestly it just feels like this: Big hands - Cyclone 2 Small / medium hands - 8bitdo

[–] MrScottyTay@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 hours ago

I have big hands and the ultimate 2c is perfectly fine

[–] WeLoveCastingSpellz@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 11 hours ago) (1 children)

Ah I failed to recognize the bigger hand requirement as a haver if baby hands I am super happy with ultimate 2c but if ur not the same seems like you made the right choice

[–] PrivateNoob@sopuli.xyz 1 points 2 hours ago

Oh well I have just kinda made this conclusion whilst reading the comments in this post, but actually it seems that some big hand people feel that the ultimate 2 is still good for even big hand dudes.

[–] wizzim@infosec.pub 5 points 22 hours ago (1 children)

I can confirm the ultimate 2C is awesome.

Did you manage to get extra buttons working? I thought no driver could handle those buttons (tried xpad and xone).

[–] WeLoveCastingSpellz@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 22 hours ago* (last edited 22 hours ago)

Mhm! With the wire of the 2.4 GHz it uses xinput and you can map stuff that is already on the controller, on Bluetooth mode it connects in dinput mode and the extra buttons become programmable and detected by games as "controller unknown" iwhen I need them I use Bluetooth when not the adapter

[–] Rekorse@sh.itjust.works 3 points 23 hours ago

The pro2 and pro3 are awesome too, they are PlayStation style controllers.

[–] orochi02@feddit.org 2 points 17 hours ago

Xbox offset layout πŸ”›πŸ”πŸ—£οΈ

[–] mrl1@jlai.lu 14 points 1 day ago

8bitdo, no other better answer

[–] orochi02@feddit.org 1 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

Sry for hijacking but Anyone know of Any with the ability to map the back buttons on the fly? Initiale I was looking at 8bitdo but apparently you Need extra software to program extra buttons Which is kinda a bit of a Dealbreaker for me

[–] Hyperion@lemmy.zip 1 points 11 hours ago

The gamesir cyclone 2 lets you do that

[–] imetators@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Throwing a fun one in comments:

Stadia Controller.

[–] PrivateNoob@sopuli.xyz 1 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

Stadia is a cleanly pretty controller ngl

[–] imetators@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 5 hours ago

And it works as intended on Linux. Vibration in bluetooth mode and all.

[–] Evotech@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago

Just an xbox controller?

It just works

[–] lyrial@anarchist.nexus 4 points 1 day ago

I'm still a huge fan if my DualShock 4. I've been using it for a long time now, and the battery life is still good. The track pad also comes in handy shockingly often since it acts like a normal track pad for the mouse.

[–] PonyOfWar@pawb.social 51 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (21 children)

Doesn’t have a shit QC (8bitdo’s are apparently like that)

Can't confirm. I own 3 controllers, a keyboard, a numpad and a mouse by 8bitdo. None of them have any hardware issues. Only issue is that the software is meh and Windows/Mac-only. But it's a plug-and-play controller, so you really don't need the software unless you want to do stuff like define macros (which you can just use Steam input for).

load more comments (21 replies)
[–] clav64@lemmy.world 17 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I've owned 3 different 8bitdos, and they have some of the best QC on the market.

With that, the ultimate 2 is a brilliant wireless 2.4g controller with a dock. Works out of the box, no config required.

[–] Riverside@reddthat.com 2 points 1 day ago

In love with my SN30Pro, unfortunately it's the old version with resistive joysticks instead of hall effect.

I was unfortunate enough to order an 8bitdo pro 3 and get a defective unit which had connection issues over the 2.4GHz (something I've encountered with Logitech wireless gamepads before), and I took it as a sign to wait for the Steam controller and been holding back, but seeing the price of the steam controller I should just go for the 8bitdo

[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

May I ask what QC means? I have the ultimate 2 with dock too, pretty good. Only issue is how the modes are handled, as it does not remember last mode change.

[–] Trail@lemmy.world 4 points 1 day ago

Quality control

[–] jinwk00@sh.itjust.works 15 points 1 day ago (7 children)

Really? My 8bitdo outlived any other controllers I have owned, minus some features lacking

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[–] retro@infosec.pub 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I have larger hands and have the Cyclone 2. Fantastic controller and my daily driver. I didn't like the clicky face buttons but they've grown on me. Happy to answer any questions. No really issues across Linux or Windows.

[–] PrivateNoob@sopuli.xyz 1 points 14 hours ago (1 children)

YES I HAVE! You guys convinced me to become a Cyclone 2 enjoyer.

  • Have you ever had controller support issues in any games?
  • Does the GameSir software work on Linux?
  • If you've got the white version, then how easy does it get dirty in your case?
[–] retro@infosec.pub 2 points 13 hours ago

I haven't had any issues with controller support in any games, just the same as using an Xbox controller.

There is no native Linux software, so I use Winboat to run the software. You could also run it in a VM.

I only have the black controller, so I can't comment on the white on

[–] Hadriscus@jlai.lu 15 points 1 day ago (3 children)

I own a couple of 8bitdo Ultimate 2, they're excellent and seem to tick all the boxes, but they're on the smaller end I guess.

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[–] Localhorst86@feddit.org 6 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (5 children)

I have a Gulikit KK3 Pro (NS38) and a KK2T (NS09), both are great and while I got them for free in giveaways, they go around 40€.

The KK2T is Bluetooth only, the KK3 Pro came with a dedicated 2.4GHz dongle (but Bluetooth is available as well)

Both have the Xbox stick layout, but the button layout is Nintendo (they are also switch compatible). Apparently, the buttons can be replaced, but I couldn't find a place that has the Xbox button layout in stock - at least not in my specific colorways.

The KK2T is plain black without any LEDs, the KK3 Pro I got is DMG Gameboy themed: Beige plastic, pink buttons and LED rings around the sticks that have different lighting modes (reactive to stick movement, solid, reacting to trigger pulls etc.)

load more comments (5 replies)
[–] LiveLM@lemmy.zip 12 points 1 day ago (4 children)

The 8BitDo Ultimate Wireless 2 has been perfect for me and fits all your criteria.
I know they had QC issues with their dpads on their earlier controllers but it seems they've long fixed that as I don't see people reporting it anymore on their subreddit.

load more comments (4 replies)
[–] HakunaHafada@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 1 day ago

I have the GameSir Cyclone 2 and love it.

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