Question Help and info regarding some PC Gamepads / Controllers ?

[Me000]

I've done lots of research on controller / gamepad manufacturer 8bitdo's website, review articles, reddit, videos, gaming forums, etc. but I still am confused and have questions regarding their controllers. I have also contacted them last week but with no reply yet so I figured I'd ask around for some input, opinions, thoughts, etc.

My Goals

• All controllers are to be used with PC gaming ONLY. Some games are old (early 2000s), some games are new. No other "systems" matter, only PC.
• 1x 8bitdo wireless Ultimate Controller (hall effect sticks) and 1x 8bitdo wireless Pro 2 controller (hall effect sticks) for majority of games. I'd like 1 of each so that others (myself included) have the option to choose if they like better the XB or PS style left-stick / d-pad layout and overall controller shape.
• 2x 8bitdo wireless M30 controllers. I need these mainly for fighting games (Eg. Street Fighter 2).

Requirements or preferences

• all controllers must be capable of Dinput and Xinput since, I think, lots of older games work with Dinput and not Xinput and vice-versa for many newer games.
• I'd prefer if all wireless modes are 2.4 GHz

Questions (all questions are only regarding the Ultimate, Pro 2, and M30 models)

1. I've heard so many conflicting reports about features and capabilities regarding 8bitdo controllers, one of them is that the Bluetooth feature is useless for PC gaming since the Bluetooth is "locked" to only Stream Decks, some mobile phones, and the Nintendo Switch. Is that true?
2. I also heard that the 2.4G-only controllers can, now in fact, also be connected using BT via a firmware upgrade. Is this true? I know the BT Ultimate also comes with 2.4G but does the 2.4G-only version now also allow BT connection (via firmware upgrade)?
3. Why are the X,Y and A,B buttons reversed on the 2.4G/BT and 2.4-only Ultimates (and possibly other models)? Is it just a cosmetic thing (the physical button top itself) or will games actually think the buttons are reversed too?
4. I noticed that the 8bitdo web site states Xinput and Dinput capability on lots of the 2.4G-only controllers but only states one or the other on many of the BT controllers. Does that mean BT models are forced to use only 1 or the other?
5. I also heard that question 4 is false and therefore BT controllers can also switch between Xinput and Dinput, the only difference is that 2.4G-only controllers have a convenient button/switch to do so while the BT controllers require a special button-press combination to do so. Is this true?
6. I found the "perfect" 6 button controller with 8bitdo's M30: classic 6-button layout with 4 shoulder buttons: 2 being analog triggers, 2 being standard shoulder buttons. The problem is that the wireless version removes the 2 analog triggers, you are forced to buy the wired version if you also want the 2 analog triggers. Is this some sort of mistake with the website or??? Why would the more expensive, wireless version "cut off" the analog triggers and make them only available for the wired? Other than the feature of 2.4G, and a higher price tag, why wouldn't everything else remain identical?
7. Why can't I find the 2.4G-only or BT/2.4G version of the Pro 2 anywhere?

Please help me with my questions, concerns, and confusion. I'd really like to get some controllers / gamepads for PC. I love using a keyboard-and-mouse setup but some games, for me personally, are "better" with a gamepad/controller.

 

[hotaru.hino]

For reference, I have an SN30 Pro, which is a Bluetooth controller

I've heard so many conflicting reports about features and capabilities regarding 8bitdo controllers, one of them is that the Bluetooth feature is useless for PC gaming since the Bluetooth is "locked" to only Stream Decks, some mobile phones, and the Nintendo Switch. Is that true?

No. You can't lock Bluetooth to certain systems.

I also heard that the 2.4G-only controllers can, now in fact, also be connected using BT via a firmware upgrade. Is this true? I know the BT Ultimate also comes with 2.4G but does the 2.4G-only version now also allow BT connection (via firmware upgrade)?

No. Those controllers have been out for a while and there's probably a Bluetooth equivalent version. Why would they suddenly activate Bluetooth on the non-Bluetooth ones?

While I'm not willing to go out and buy one for science, you could likely prove they're incapable of Bluetooth period by opening one up and identifying the chips they used.

Why are the X,Y and A,B buttons reversed on the 2.4G/BT and 2.4-only Ultimates (and possibly other models)? Is it just a cosmetic thing (the physical button top itself) or will games actually think the buttons are reversed too?

It's a cosmetic thing. One is how Nintendo controllers are laid out. The other is how Xbox controllers are laid out. The data the controller sends to the computer, game console, or whatever, is the same.

I noticed that the 8bitdo web site states Xinput and Dinput capability on lots of the 2.4G-only controllers but only states one or the other on many of the BT controllers. Does that mean BT models are forced to use only 1 or the other?

You can only use one or the other on any controller at one time. XInput and DInput are controller APIs and it tells the game how to interpret controller data.

I also heard that question 4 is false and therefore BT controllers can also switch between Xinput and Dinput, the only difference is that 2.4G-only controllers have a convenient button/switch to do so while the BT controllers require a special button-press combination to do so. Is this true?

They can switch and you have to press one of the face buttons while powering it on to switch to that.

I found the "perfect" 6 button controller with 8bitdo's M30: classic 6-button layout with 4 shoulder buttons: 2 being analog triggers, 2 being standard shoulder buttons. The problem is that the wireless version removes the 2 analog triggers, you are forced to buy the wired version if you also want the 2 analog triggers. Is this some sort of mistake with the website or??? Why would the more expensive, wireless version "cut off" the analog triggers and make them only available for the wired? Other than the feature of 2.4G, and a higher price tag, why wouldn't everything else remain identical?

Assume this isn't a mistake, because otherwise it'd open them up to legal issues with marketing.

Wireless controllers tend to be more expensive because for one, it's more components, and for another, there's lots of things you need to do with RF to either meet government regulations and/or making sure the thing doesn't interfere with anything else. The last thing you'd want is a Bluetooth controller, which Bluetooth operates in the 2.4GHz range, that causes everyone to lose their 2.4GHz WiFi connection. Also Bluetooth is not a royalty free standard.

Why can't I find the 2.4G-only or BT/2.4G version of the Pro 2 anywhere?

If they didn't make it, they didn't make it. Unless you mean why can't you find it in stock, in which case they probably stopped manufacturing them at some point.

Please help me with my questions, concerns, and confusion. I'd really like to get some controllers / gamepads for PC. I love using a keyboard-and-mouse setup but some games, for me personally, are "better" with a gamepad/controller.

I've found the best PC controller overall are the official Xbox ones. Most games have switched to XInput (which is what Xbox controllers use) and button prompts, at least for games made before a few years ago, assume you're using an Xbox style controller anyway. Plus you can use them wired or wirelessly, with standard AA batteries or with a rechargeable battery pack.

The next best one I've found is the DualShock 4 or DualSense, but you'll need an app to get it to work with games that expect XInput.

The major reason I got an SN30Pro was because I was getting back into retro style games and emulation, and I prefer that layout.