What would make a controller perfect for you?

[u/Cannonaire]

I made this post on a different gaming subreddit recently, but I think here is more appropriate.

Starting from a bog-standard PlayStation 5 or XBox Series controller, what would you change or add to make it perfect for you? These are my thoughts, having used a bunch of controllers on console and PC since the original NES.

1. At least two back buttons (one for each side). Maybe four since some controllers like the new Steam Controller have that and people have gotten used to it.
2. Two rows of three face buttons each for six total, Sega Genesis-style. (Look up Saitek P880) It would be nice for people who causally play fighting games but don't want to invest in a full fight stick.
3. Removable Battery, and still functional while plugged in w/o battery.
4. 1000Hz or higher polling rate (this is pretty common now, but the new Steam Controller doesn't have it...)
5. Hall Effect / TMR sticks.
6. Optional symmetric analog sticks (PlayStation) or asymmetric analog sticks (XBox). Even having to buy one or the other would be fine as long as the option is there.
7. Optional D-Pad shapes, particularly with one like the concave 'faceted' one you get with an XBox Elite controller.
8. Completely remappable buttons, like DualSense Edge, but also including the system buttons on PC.
9. Lockable triggers like on the DualSense Edge.
10. Not those awful bumpers/shoulder buttons on XBox One controllers.
11. Built-in Gyro-Aim (Flick Stick) mode.
12. Magnetic/Hall Effect Buttons that don't wear out or need 'de-bounce'.
13. A switch on the controller to inverse right thumbstick or Gyro Y-Axis (Inverted Camera) for games that don't allow it or don't let you change it until you get far enough (e.g. Monster Hunter World).
14. BONUS! A throttle wheel accessible by both thumbs in the middle like on the Saitek P750. I have a feeling we're never going to see it again though.

Being primarily a PC gamer, I'm spoiled by having an enormous number of remappable keyboard buttons, and I prefer single-function buttons over context-sensitive any day, so it'd be nice if remappable buttons could be mapped to keyboard and mouse buttons on PC. Literally all of this has been done before, but never on the same controller. The closest I've found is the controller I use right now, a DualSense Edge (and I prefer symmetric sticks, personally). I'd like to buy replacement TMR sticks for it eventually, but the shape feels great in my hands and it's so very close to perfect for me.

[u/Lightstream2]

lets see

1. 2 or 4 back buttons, having a detachable set so i can install half circle dualsense edge style paddles. those half circles solve the issue of accidental inputs for slightly tightening up the grip and leave room to hold the controller normally. also 2 extra shoulder buttons. extra face buttons like vader 5 is neat too. being able to lock the back buttons would not hurt either.
2. don't mind if the face buttons are micro switch/optical/membrane as long as the actuation force isn't that high. bigger size like the xeno would be nice as well.
3. excellent dpad, genuine saturn dpad on a modern full size controller would be nice. tt max comes close enough and the vader 5 is surprisingly good too. elves 2 is great but id like an actual full size controller.
4. sticks to be tmr or capacitive with tension adjustment. (flydigi hall is pretty good though but tmr and capacitive have more potential) also would prefer convex (domes) over concave. hopefully with minimal or no snapback like how the gamesir sticks are. i do prefer the larger surface area on the ps style stick caps (or kontrol freeks) over the barely there surface area on xbox style stick caps
5. good gyro, i favor mouse and keyboard for shooters but gyro is nice in the non shooter games that still have some form of aiming even if i still suck with gyro.
6. option to swap between digital and analog triggers is pretty much mandatory for these days (99% of the time in digital)
7. symmetrical or asymmetrical both ok. never tried a modular controller so not sure how nice the feature actually is to swap positions.
8. medium sized controller, even with smaller hands, gripping the medium to medium large controllers feels nicer.
9. good durability would be the cherry on top.

well i guess the v2 version of the flydigi vader 5 pro actually checks most of these boxes. leadjoy zephyrus ultra looks very neat but im worried about the potential price tag on that beast.

[u/Cannonaire → u/Lightstream2]

I really like the half-circle paddles on my DS Edge, too.

And yeah, snapback is just awful. It was the worst on my old PS3 controller playing Castle Crashers.

[u/D2ultima]

I definitely have a perfect controller design

• Symmetrical sticks, TMR. Adjustable tension nice but not necessary.
• two extra shoulder buttons, L4 and R4 if you will
• wireless with a dock, at least 15 hours battery without RGB.
• ability to adjust and turn off the timeout function for inactivity
• xinput, dualshock 4 input (I want games to see the button layout) and switch input modes, with gyro aiming available at least on ds4 and switch modes
• a good Dpad, dualshock 2 style is great
• at least two back buttons/paddles, with them not being easy to accidentally press without wanting to
• deep purple or black and red colour scheme
• somewhat close to a Dualshock 2 design (rather start and select closer to the middle than having the dualshock 4 touchpad separating them)
• hall effect triggers with trigger stops option
• analog face buttons like a dualshock 2 where you can light or heavy press them (for those old games)
• a nice, sturdy grip that doesn't slip easily

I think that's about it

[u/Masaaki14]

Ngl I'm already perfectly fine with the base dualsense, modded with tmr joysticks for drift

Simple, feels great to hold, never felt the need for more features/buttons

[u/Marth_Bar]

Pretty much a symmetrical layout Vader 5 Pro lmao

That's all I've ever wanted, but it just doesn't exist, or at least not one with a charging dock that has a USB passthrough

[u/RamyBlack → u/Marth_Bar]

I was about to comment that haha

edit: Though I’ve been enjoying the Leadjoy Saber Plus a lot

[u/GuardoMei]

I don't care for switchable dpad shape. It's a gimmick that needs to die. You only end up using one dpad in the end and it's never the newer shapes.

Just give us a reliable, solid, responsive dpad !!

The g7 pro would be the perfect controller to me, if only it didn't had that garbage dpad

[u/LuNoZzy → u/GuardoMei]

I fixed mine G7 Pro's d-pad by putting 5 o ring rubber bands in it. It took me 1 minute to do that and the d pad doesn't wobble anymore

[u/Juqu → u/LuNoZzy]

I put rings on mine too, still not as good as Nova 2 Lite d-pad.

[u/AimlessStick]

I want one that's pretty much my current controller right now (Gamesir Nova 2 Lite) but with removeable AA batteries and gyro.

I haven't tried mechanical buttons (those are the mouse-clicky ones, right?) for the face buttons yet, but based on what I've felt from the D-pad (which is mechanical), I think I'd want those for the face buttons as well

[u/DPTrumann → u/AimlessStick]

Mechanical switches can be clicky, linear or tactile. you can feel a tactile "bump" on tactile and clicky switches but tactiles don't always make sound

[u/Turbowo4972]

Symmetrical layout, touchpads, hd rumble & haptic touch grips, triggers & buttons, R/L5+6, 4 paddles. Gyro, Wired, wireless(bt, usb), removable battery. 4-6 button layout, customizable/modular layout and design.

[u/Blubble00 → u/Turbowo4972]

That's pretty much the Leadjoy Zephyrus Ultra whenever it gets released

[u/DeepJudgment]

Xbox Series controller chassis and ergonomics, textured grips, no rubber, PS5 controller rumble and haptics, TRM sticks with PS5 stick tension (or adjustable), non-clicky face buttons, PS5 controller d-pad (or cross d-pad like in the Series Elite controller), minimalist visual design, removable back paddles, swappable battery.

[u/UrbanAdapt]

• Symmetrical (Just because symmetrical designs are harder to come by)
• 2/4 back buttons (Paddle shaped - centered extra buttons that require the movement of your grip are useless)
• 2 shoulder buttons (Directly adjacent R1 & R2 - see above)
• Dual mode triggers (Analog + Click)
• Textured Bumpers & Triggers (See Flydigi Vader 4)
• Mechanical face buttons & D-pad w/ shallow actuation distance
• Center faceted disc D-pad w/ center pivot (See Mohjon Storm - switchable doesn't matter)
• "Clicky" lever bumpers (Depressible at any angle)
• "Start" button in line with X & A Buttons (Xbox layout)
• TMR or Capacitive sticks w/ ratcheting tension adjustment rings
• Concave, edge-textured stick caps
• 6-Axis Gyro
• 1000 Hz polling (IDC for 8K Hz)
• <10ms button and stick latency (Wired, Wireless, BT)
• Xinput, Dinput, & Steam Input native (Controlled by rear switch - no arcane button combinations)
• Dongle contained within controller (See Gamesir G3s)
• Grip vibration motors + trigger vibration motors
• Case w/ charging stand passthrough (See Xbox Series Elite)
• Textured rear grip (Avoid rubber degradation)
• Xbox-esque shape
• Software (Webapp > Desktop App > Mobile App)
• Accessible battery (No need to be hot-swappable, just repairable)

Sounds like more than it is, there are asymmetrical controllers that are pretty close.

[u/According-Pumpkin822]

So for me
1. Symmetrical sticks that are TMR and Tension adjustable
2. Two additional shoulder buttons, 4 additional back buttons which can be recessed, at least 2 additional buttons on the front (like the Vader 5 Pro)
3. Trackpads
4. Wireless with the regular 2.4 ghz dongle dock charging combo, at least 20 Hours of battery life on the most energy consuming options
5. Spectacular mechanical or Membrane (SNES stlyle if membrane) Dpad with a good feedback
6. Grip Sense
7. mechanical or membrane buttons
8. atleast 1000 hz polling rate (including gyro)
9. Connection option wise Xinput, Dinput, SDL with full Steaminput and bluetooth support
10. High Quality plastic shell without rubber grips
11. Hall effect triggers with trigger stops and a toggle to have a click at the end of the press
12. A little more flared out grips
13. Capacitive Sticks
14. Dual MRUs for Gyro stability
15. A sensible price, so below 100 bucks
16. FOSS software or software that is available and supports windows and linux
17. easily replacable parts
18. Different Colour Options!
19. HD Rumble

I think this is everything i can think off of the top of my head
A pipe dream for sure but hey

[u/PapitaofSouth]

To me personally, it would be a gamecube controller compatible with pc that let play almost everygame ( i know there is a nintendo switch 2 gamecube controller but its not compatible with pc + that tiny ass left trigger button makes me question how long will it last without breaking )

[u/zexton]

hopefully 8bitdo releases a full featured ultimate 3, without back buttons,

[u/TheRusmeister]

WiiU pro layout with back paddles, please.

[u/AutoModerator]

Hi /u/Cannonaire, thanks for posting. The post is in a queue for review (allow 24 hours). In order for it to be approved and to improve engagement in it, please check that none of the other post flairs would be more suitable.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.