There's a web app that will update your controllers on linux without needing to install anything or using any workarounds
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The current browser does not support this tool.
Booo. I have Firefox... But wish I knew this earlier.
Yes, but beware those that refuse to install chromium when this bullshit happens.

TBF Firefox has no support for WebUSB, nothing the web developer can do
Yeah, I do not use it for browsing in general, but I consider the Ungoogled Chromium flatpak to be a necessary tool. It is what it is.
I end up installing Windows 10 on a virtual machine with QEMU/KVM, and updated the firmware there by passthrough the USB device. I didn't even try WINE and thought it might be more trouble than worth the efforts. Looks like I was wrong.
BTW there is also GE-Wine if I'm not mistaken. For non Steam games, it is recommended to use GE-Wine instead GE-Proton, but maybe that advice is as old as I am. I don't even know why that was the case.
Looking at the github for Wine-GE https://github.com/GloriousEggroll/wine-ge-custom it appears to be archived; and I can't recall where I read it, but Proton-GE replaces that functionality (Someone please correct me if I am wrong)
I have also tested using my system Wine version (11.9) as well, and same results; can use Ultimate Software V2.
I have been toying with getting V1 working, but to no avail.
Why do you try to get Software V1 working, if V2 works?
The older Ultimate Controller 1 does not work in V2 unfortunately
8bitdo does really good gamepads for good price, but their software sucks! I don't get why they don't support older controllers in the newer software...
I was trying with Ultimate Software V1, and did not have the same luck.
You're a hero! Thanks for documenting and sharing!!
Is there a sensible page in the Archwiki where this could be made findable?
I will have a look at the Arch Wiki to see if I can contribute!
Thanks for the write up
I was able to get it running but I still can't seem to get the back buttons for ultimate 2 to work
Thanks for this! I have a couple of 8BitDo products so saved this for when I inevitably need to use it.
I would have saved this but I got a steam controller that updates natively with steam in Linux.
I hope others find this and it's easy for them. I however will always avoid 8bitdo because of no native Linux support without all this bullshit to update it.
Kinda wish you posted this years ago so I didn't just never use the 8bitdo because of not being able to update it easily. Thank you though
I had bought 8bitdo controllers before switching to Linux. Was always bummed they didn't support Linux natively. My next controller will be the Steam controller.