The 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Bluetooth Controller has been launched for the Nintendo Switch.

8BitDo’s recently released Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller–its best and most advanced pro-style gamepad yet–is now available for Nintendo Switch. Like 8BitDo’s original flagship controller, the Nintendo version is called 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Bluetooth and costs $10 more than the 2.4GHz Wireless model for PC that launched in February. The Ultimate 2 Bluetooth is largely the same from a technical perspective, and it still supports PC.

Notably, the Ultimate 2 should work on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 via Bluetooth and possibly with the 2.4GHz dongle, too. So if you plan on getting the Switch 2 when console and accessory preorders open, you may want to compare the new official Switch 2 Pro Controller to 8BitDo’s Ultimate 2. Nintendo’s controller adds two remappable back buttons, but the Ultimate 2 has four remappable inputs, upgraded analog sticks, trigger locks, and a bunch of internal customization features.

• 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Bluetooth Controller (Switch, PC)
• 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Controller (PC, Android)

The Ultimate 2 is 8BitDo’s most feature-rich controller yet. We’ve tested the PC edition and view it as a meaningful upgrade over the original. It’s the best controller in 8BitDo’s lineup, but we haven’t had the chance to test the Bluetooth edition for Switch yet. The original Ultimate was already our top pick in our best PC controllers list, so the Ultimate 2 will take the top spot from the original in our next update. I’ll have a full review of both models in the coming weeks, but I would be surprised if the Ultimate 2 Bluetooth doesn’t replace the Ultimate Bluetooth as GameSpot’s pick for the best third-party Switch controller.

$70

The Ultimate 2 Bluetooth Edition adds support for Nintendo Switch via Bluetooth as well as 2.4GHz Wireless. The dongle is USB-C, which is worth mentioning here because the original Switch, when docked, does not have an open USB-C port. The Switch 2, on the other hand, has a USB-C port on the top of the console. Bluetooth Switch controllers will be compatible with Switch 2 out of the gate, but it’s possible the Ultimate 2 will also work wirelessly with the console via the 2.4GHz dongle.

The Ultimate 2 Bluetooth retains compatibility for PC in wireless mode via the dongle and wired with the USB-C cable. That said, the motion controls and rumble only work on Switch with this model, according to 8BitDo.

The listing doesn’t mention Android support, but we’d suspect it is also compatible with Android smartphones and tablets.

Key Features

• Nintendo Switch: Bluetooth, 2.4GHz Wireless (USB-C dongle), USB-C wired
• PC: 2.4GHz Wireless + USB-C wired
• TMR electromagnetic analog sticks
• Hall Effect triggers with adjustable stop point
• 2 remappable back triggers
• 2 extra remappable shoulder buttons
• Tactile bumpers
• RGB lighting rings
• 1,000Hz polling rate for 2.4GHz and wired
• 6-axis motion controls (Switch only)
• Rumble (Switch only)
• Turbo button
• 1,000mAh battery
• Available in white and black
• Includes matching USB-C charging dock

Customize with 8BitDo Ultimate Software V2

• Remap inputs
• Set up three custom profiles
• Set up dead zones
• Adjust motion control sensitivity
• Adjust stick sensitivity
• Adjust trigger sensitivity
• Adjust rumble intensity
• Adjust lighting effects

$60

If you don’t need compatibility with Nintendo consoles, the original Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller designed for PC and Android saves you $10. Notably, it supports motion controls and rumble on PC. Otherwise, the feature set and customization options are the same.

Key Features

• PC: 2.4GHz Wireless (USB-C dongle)
• Android: Bluetooth
• TMR electromagnetic analog sticks
• Hall Effect triggers with adjustable stop point
• 2 remappable back triggers
• 2 extra remappable shoulder buttons
• Tactile bumpers
• RGB lighting rings
• 1,000Hz polling rate for 2.4GHz and wired
• 6-axis motion controls
• Rumble
• Turbo button
• 1,000mAh battery
• Available in white, black, and purple
• Includes matching USB-C charging dock

Customize with 8BitDo Ultimate Software V2

• Remap inputs
• Set up three custom profiles
• Set up dead zones
• Adjust motion control sensitivity
• Adjust stick sensitivity
• Adjust trigger sensitivity
• Adjust rumble intensity
• Adjust lighting effects

The Ultimate 2 is the first controller in the series to feature four extra buttons. 8BitDo essentially combined the designs of the original Ultimate with the Ultimate 2C, the manufacturer’s latest budget wireless controller. It has two remappable back triggers (like the Ultimate) as well as two extra shoulder buttons (like the Ultimate 2C).

8BitDo also added another common pro-style customization feature to the Ultimate 2: trigger locks. The Hall Effect analog sticks can instantly convert to linear buttons by flicking the switches on the back.

In addition to the physical modifications, the controller supports 8BitDo’s proprietary app on PC and Android. With Ultimate Software V2, you can create up to three profiles and make adjustments to stick, trigger, and motion control sensitivity, modify rumble intensity, and program analog stick dead zones.

Like 8BitDo’s other premium controllers in its flagship series, the Ultimate 2 comes with a matching USB-C charging dock with a compartment to store the USB dongle. While it’s unclear how much game time you can get from a full charge, the Ultimate 2’s battery is substantially larger than the original’s battery. Both models of the Ultimate 2 have 1,000mAh batteries, whereas the Ultimate and Ultimate Bluetooth for Switch each have 480mAh batteries. That said, the new lighting rings will drain the battery faster when enabled.

Prospective Switch 2 buyers who want to stick with the first-party option can take a closer look at the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller below:

• Official Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller — $80 | Releases June 5