TechRadar Verdict
The 8BitDo Arcade Stick for Xbox launches on the cusp of a potential new golden age of fighting games for Microsoft’s current-gen console and PC. It’s a simple, yet robust fight stick that’s reasonably priced, highly customizable, and packs powerful features to prepare you for the best fighting games releasing this year and beyond. It’s well worth considering if you’re looking to switch up from a regular gamepad.
High quality buttons and stick
Convenient ancillary features
Supports wired and wireless connectivity
A bit on the bulky side
No PS5 or Switch support
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It’s a bumper year for fighting games, and in preparation, 8BitDo has manufactured an Xbox version of its arcade stick. Best of all, it’s a competent and affordable alternative to the competition if you’re after an entry-level fight stick that ticks most of the boxes.
With a slew of fighting games releasing this year, you may be looking at purchasing one of thebest fight sticksto up your game with. If you’re onXbox Series X|S, then I strongly recommend giving the 8BitDo Arcade Stick for Xbox a shot. Especially so if you’ve recently picked upStreet Fighter 6.
That’s because the 8BitDo Arcade Stick for Xbox is much cheaper than some of its competitors, like theNacon Daijaand Qanba Obsidian. It’s also up to 8BitDo’s high-quality standard. Here, you’re getting a more than competent fight stick with a high level of customizability, but one that’s nonetheless straightforward enough for first-time users to get to grips with.
Price and availability
The 8BitDo Arcade Stick for Xbox will be available from June 30, 2023. It can be pre-ordered fromAmazonfor $119.99 / £99 (around AU$182.99) in either white or black colorways. At present, no Australian availability has been announced, but this review will be updated with the relevant pricing in the event that changes.
Design and Features
In terms of design, the 8BitDo Arcade Stick for Xbox is largely identical to the8BitDo Arcade Stick for Nintendo Switch. However, it trades the eye-catching, NES-like aesthetic for a sleeker matte black or white (depending on your chosen color variant) matching the color of the Xbox Series X andXbox Series Srespectively.
The buttons and stick bear a glossy black finish, while ancillary buttons like Menu, Share, and the function dials share the same hue as your chosen colorway. Overall, the aesthetic isn’t too flashy, but ultimately a very fitting match for Xbox’s current-generation machines.
There are some key differences with the new Xbox version of 8BitDo’s fight stick. The back end features a USB-C port for wired connectivity, which here has been separated from the 2.4Ghz receiver port. Interestingly, that wireless receiver port already has the relevant dongle inserted and tucked behind a removable dust cover panel. That’s handy, as it means you can switch between wired and wireless connectivity at a moment’s notice should you need to.
The Xbox variant features two dials over on the top left. One lets you switch between left analog, right analog, and D-pad input for the stick itself. The other, meanwhile, supports headset functionality. You can connect a wired headset via the 3.5mm port on the front of the device, and this dial lets you disable mic and/or headset audio, or leave both enabled when a headset is connected.
Nearly everything else remains the same on the 8BitDo Arcade Stick for Xbox compared to itsNintendo Switchcounterpart. The Xbox stick has an identical button layout and weighs roughly the same. The 8BitDo Arcade Stick for Xbox is also fully customizable, so you can swap out its buttons and sticks for alternatives should you desire it.
Wanting to use a set of high-quality Sanwa buttons forStreet Fighter 6?You’re able to do that. Though you will need a screwdriver to access the stick’s innards in order to swap out the default components for your desired replacements.
Performance
While not exactly the gold standard provided by Sanwa’s excellent range of components, the out-of-box performance of the 8BitDo Arcade Stick for Xbox is incredibly solid. You’re getting a responsive, square gate-mounted joystick and a set of convex face buttons.
Said buttons aren’t particularly remarkable, but get the job done with a satisfyingly springy feel that’s well-suited to quickfire inputs. While all components are swappable, the default layout is still perfectly serviceable for beginners, and will certainly serve you well if you’re making the jump from one of thebest Xbox controllersto fight stick for the first time.
You might also be curious about the stick’s wireless performance. While I personally prefer a wired connection for minimal input delay, the 8BitDo Arcade Stick for Xbox performs about as well wirelessly as the officialXbox Wireless Controllerdoes. Additional latency isn’t particularly noticeable, meaning a wireless connection is perfectly acceptable for casual to intermediate-level play.
And as with other excellent products from the manufacturer, including the8BitDo Ultimatecontroller for Nintendo Switch, the arcade stick’s battery life is relatively impressive. You’ll get around 30 hours on a full charge. However, that drops significantly to around 15-20 hours with a headset connected. Certainly, something to keep in mind if you’re chatting with friends while ranking up online.
When connected via USB-C, the stick will take roughly four hours to charge back to full from empty, which is quite a substantial amount of charge time, so I recommend leaving it overnight if you’re needing to recharge the device.
Should you buy the 8BitDo Arcade Stick for Xbox?
Buy it if…
You’re after an entry-level Xbox stick8BitDo’s Xbox fight stick is the best for the console at its price point and is perfectly suited for first-time stick users.
You’ve just bought Street Fighter 6Street Fighter 6has done a phenomenal job onboarding new players, and its multiple control schemes complement first-time fight stick users well.
Don’t buy it if…
You’d prefer a controllerThere are controllers well-suited to fighting games’ unique button layouts, including theXbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2and theNacon Revolution X Pro.
You want something less weighty
The 8BitDo Arcade Stick for Xbox is bulkier than your average controller, so you might not get on with it for longer gaming sessions.
How we tested
The 8BitDo Arcade Stick for Xbox controller was tested over the course of a week, primarily with fighting games available on Xbox Series X|S and PC. These includeTekken 7, Guilty Gear Strive,andKiller Instinct.
The stick was tested both wired and wirelessly, to get a feel for changes to input delay and battery life. Further tests included its performance with a gaming headset connected to see how performance and battery life fared. In all cases, the 8BitDo Arcade Stick for Xbox performed to a high standard on both console and PC, with or without a headset, and with both wired and wireless connections.
Rhys is TRG’s Hardware Editor, and has been part of the TechRadar team for more than two years. Particularly passionate about high-quality third-party controllers and headsets, as well as the latest and greatest in fight sticks and VR, Rhys strives to provide easy-to-read, informative coverage on gaming hardware of all kinds. As for the games themselves, Rhys is especially keen on fighting and racing games, as well as soulslikes and RPGs.
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