Stick Good

Stick Good

Having to feed a machine an unending supply of quarters to enjoy your favourite video game was just one of many reasons arcades died off. But if there was one reason to actually miss arcade machines it was those fantastic buttons and joysticks that never felt as satisfying to play with once they were miniaturized to fit on a gamepad. 8BitDo’s Arcade Stick does a great job at recreating that arcade experience, and you don’t have to be a pro gamer to enjoy it.

There are few companies with as solid a track record as 8BitDo has these days. Focusing on controllers and gamepads for both retro and modern play, 8BitDo’s products rival the quality of those from larger companies like Sony and Nintendo (minus the drift) but with a cheaper price tag than first-party options, and occasionally more functionality.

8BitDo Arcade Stick

8BitDo Arcade Stick

WHAT IS IT?

A wireless or wired arcade-style customisable gamepad for retro gaming enthusiasts, particularly those who enjoy fighting games.

PRICE

$US90 ($117)

LIKE

The joystick and action buttons all feel fantastic and the arcade stick is built like a tank. It can also be remapped and customised using 8BitDo's Ultimate Software.

DISLIKE

The joystick is digital only making the arcade stick all but useless for any modern games.

The 8BitDo Arcade Stick is a follow-up to the company’s $US80 ($104) N30 Arcade Stick from a few years ago, and at $US90 ($117) it’s the most expensive controller the company currently sells. That price tag means it will probably appeal more to pro gamers or fighting game enthusiasts, but even casual retro gamers will find a lot to like because this thing feels like it was built like a tank.

The 8BitDo's joystick doesn't offer analogue controls, it's digital only, but it feels great with subtle but satisfying clicks as you move it around. (Photo: Andrew Liszewski / Gizmodo)
The 8BitDo’s joystick doesn’t offer analogue controls, it’s digital only, but it feels great with subtle but satisfying clicks as you move it around. (Photo: Andrew Liszewski / Gizmodo)

The first thing you notice about the Arcade Stick is that it’s solid and heavy — very heavy for its size — weighing in at over 2 kg. It can be used on your lap but when perched on a desk or coffee table its weight, and a set of four large rubber feet, all but ensure you’re not going to knock it over in the heat of competition. The second thing you’ll notice is how satisfying it feels to mash the joystick around. There’s a soft click as you move it in different directions and while there’s not quite as much travel as there is on the tiny joysticks you’ll find on modern controllers, it’s a more satisfying tactile experience than a four-way D-pad.

The Arcade Stick's joystick and buttons can all be easily replaced by removing the controller's back panel if you prefer the feel of arcade hardware from another manufacturer. (Photo: Andrew Liszewski / Gizmodo)
The Arcade Stick’s joystick and buttons can all be easily replaced by removing the controller’s back panel if you prefer the feel of arcade hardware from another manufacturer. (Photo: Andrew Liszewski / Gizmodo)

The arcade buttons on the oversized gamepad feel just as great with a wonderful audible ‘ka-chunk’ every time they’re pressed. Before I had even synced the Arcade Stick to my Switch I spent the first the first few hours with it out of the box just mashing on the buttons and joystick — much to the chagrin of those who were trying to watch TV with me.

Switching compatibility modes on the 8BitDo Arcade Stick is much easier than it is on the company's smaller controllers, but I would have still preferred more descriptive labels on these buttons and dials. (Photo: Andrew Liszewski / Gizmodo)
Switching compatibility modes on the 8BitDo Arcade Stick is much easier than it is on the company’s smaller controllers, but I would have still preferred more descriptive labels on these buttons and dials. (Photo: Andrew Liszewski / Gizmodo)

One of my complaints with 8BitDo products in the past has been that syncing and configuring the controllers with various devices has been a little over-complicated, requiring specific button combos to be pressed while the gamepad’s being powered on so the buttons are properly set up for a given device. (Switch vs. Android, etc.) The process is made easier on the Arcade Stick with dials for putting the controller in Switch or PC/Xbox modes, and a dial for mapping the joystick to the left stick, right stick, or directional pad inputs. But I would have definitely preferred labels that were a little more explanatory.

Toggling between Switch and PC/Xbox modes automatically changes the labels on all of the action buttons. (Photo: Andrew Liszewski / Gizmodo)
Toggling between Switch and PC/Xbox modes automatically changes the labels on all of the action buttons. (Photo: Andrew Liszewski / Gizmodo)

Switching between the S (Switch) and X (PC/Xbox) modes causes the light-up labels on the Arcade Stick’s buttons to automatically change making it slightly easier to adapt to different button layouts if you’re regularly using it with multiple devices.

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There are three ways to connect the Arcade Stick to your devices. Bluetooth is the most compatible, but some gamers feel that introduces too much lag and reduces their competitive edge. As a wireless alternative with less lag, a compartment on the back of the gamepad hides an included 2.4 GHz USB dongle which works with the Switch, PCs, and most devices with a USB port. Alternately, a USB-C cable can be used to physically tether the Arcade Stick to a device for lag-free gaming, while the USB-C port is also used to charge the gamepad’s battery which promises 30 hours of gameplay on Bluetooth, or 40 hours when using the 2.4 GHz dongle.

The 8BitDo Ultimate Software is compatible with the Arcade Stick, but customizability is limited to remapping the buttons and programming the controller's P1 and P2 buttons with custom macros. (Screenshot: Andrew Liszewski / Gizmodo)
The 8BitDo Ultimate Software is compatible with the Arcade Stick, but customizability is limited to remapping the buttons and programming the controller’s P1 and P2 buttons with custom macros. (Screenshot: Andrew Liszewski / Gizmodo)

What really sets 8BitDo’s gamepads and controllers apart from the competition now, and the reason I tend to recommend them to people so often is the company’s Ultimate Software. It was first made available for the SN30 Pro+ in 2019, followed by the SN30 Pro for Xbox released earlier this year, and is now compatible with the Arcade Stick. It’s a desktop app that allows these select 8BitDo controllers to be completely customised, including remapping button functionality, creating macros, and even tweaking the sensitivity of analogue joysticks.

For the Arcade Stick, the level of customizability in the Ultimate Software is limited, and it mostly allows for the red action buttons to be remapped, and custom combos to be programmed into the gamepad’s P1 and P2 buttons. (Yes, you can make either one easily execute the Konami code with a single tap.) This expands the functionality of the Switch vs. PC mode dials for gamers who prefer a very specific button layout that differs from the two defaults.

Is the 8BitDo Arcade Stick worth the $US90 ($117) investment for most gamers? No. Most are better off going with the $US50 ($65) SN30 Pro+ which offers the same functionality and customizability as the Arcade Stick with the addition of analogue joysticks, vibration feedback, and motion controls. The Arcade Stick is a very basic controller by comparison and is targeted at gamers looking for a very specific arcade-like experience. Without an analogue stick, it’s all but useless for any game that came after the 16-bit era.

That being said, 8BitDo’s Arcade Stick is a very satisfying alternative to a compact gamepad for classic beat-’em-ups like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time. I’m not particularly fond of fighting games, which is where arcade-style gamepads have found their niche, but almost right out of the box I understood why many gamers still prefer playing with this kind of hardware, and why this one tiny aspect of the arcade experience refuses to die.

README

  • It’s about as close as you can get to an arcade gaming experience without filling your house with actual arcade cabinets covered in spilled soda.
  • Offers wireless connectivity over Bluetooth or through a 2.4 GHz USB dongle offering reduced lag.
  • A hefty rechargeable battery promises anywhere from 30 to 40 hours of continuous gameplay depending on connectivity.
  • The joystick and action buttons feel fantastic, with satisfying clicks and ka-chunks as you play.
  • The joystick is digital only, making the controller mostly useless for playing games that rely on analogue controls.
  • Compatible with 8BitDo’s Ultimate Software allowing all the buttons to be remapped and custom macros to be programmed.
  • At $US90 ($117) it’s not for every gamer, and most will be better served with 8BitDo’s $US50 ($65) SN30 Pro+ controller.