8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wuchang Edition Review – Premium Style Meets Pro-Level Performance

8BitDo has been one of those companies that consistently earns my respect. They don’t just throw a product out there and call it a day. No, instead, 8BitDo listens, tweaks, refines, and in some cases, evolves its products with every release. The 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller – Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is a testament to that mindset. It’s not some wild redesign that changes everything you know, but rather a tastefully designed controller based on the recent Soulslike title. After spending a good chunk of time with it, I can confidently say this is one of the best controllers in its price range, especially if you care about feel, precision, and customization.

Product: Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller – WUCHANG: Fallen Feathers
Manufacturer: 8BitDo
Price: $64.99
Platforms: PC (Tested), Android

What’s in the box

Included inside the 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wuchang: Fallen Feathers box is a USB to USB-C cable, a charging dock, a 2.5GHz dongle, and one sexy-looking controller. This is easily one of the best-looking controllers I’ve seen in a while.

What makes this controller really pop is the attention to detail, and that it also matches the theme of Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, with a gold and crimson red theme, black and gold face buttons (X, Y, A, B), gray (or is it black?) bumpers and triggers, and glowing LEDs surrounding the analog sticks. It doesn’t stop there, as the charging dock looks equally as good, and there’s a graphic of Wuchang on the controller that completes once you dock it. It’s some good stuff.

That said, I do question the choice to change the dongle from a full-size USB to USB-C. I’ve been singing the praises of USB-C for a while now, and while I think everyone should move on to it, not everyone has. This means there could be issues for computers or laptops without USB-C ports, requiring an adapter, or forcing someone to pass on this controller.

More buttons, more options

The 8BitDo Ultimate 2 has more buttons than you might expect, and I mean that in a good way. You’ve got your standard four face buttons (A, B, X, Y), a solid D-pad, a square button used for mapping buttons without the software, a star button for switching the LED theme and activating turbo, and two clickable analog sticks that pull double duty as L3 and R3.

Sitting up top are the usual LB and RB bumpers, plus LT and RT analog triggers with hall effect sensors and adjustable trigger locks, so you can shorten the pull for quicker shots or keep them full-range for racing games. For the analog stick duty, 8BitDo swapped out the Hall Effect Sensors for TMR (Tunnel Magnetoresistance) sensors, the evolution of Hall Effect Sensors. More precise, less power-hungry, and, well, just better overall.

But 8BitDo didn’t stop there. There are two extra shoulder buttons (L4/R4) and a pair of back paddles underneath. That’s four extra inputs to map however you want—whether it’s for pulling off combos, swapping weapons, or doing something ridiculous like binding jump to every button just because you can. It’s a nice mix of familiar and pro-level controls that gives you far more options than most controllers in this price range.

The 8BitDo Ultimate 2 boasts a 1000 Hz polling rate over both wired and 2.4 GHz wireless, although when using it via Bluetooth, it runs at a much slower rate. Testing this myself, I noticed that it averages about 2–4 ms of latency for button presses and around 7–8 ms for analog stick movement when using the controller wired or with the 2.4 GHz dongle. Bluetooth, on the other hand, is noticeably slower and less consistent.

The feel that makes the Ultimate 2 stand out

The first thing I noticed when picking up the Ultimate 2 was how satisfying the face buttons feel. They’ve struck that perfect middle ground between being too soft and too stiff. Each press is snappy and deliberate, with enough travel to prevent accidental inputs without feeling sluggish. The slightly raised profile compared to other controllers, such as the Ultimate 1 or Xbox Series controller, gives them a more pronounced feel, which is great for quick taps in fighting games, platformers, or my current obsession, Soulslikes.

The bumpers (LB/RB) have been subtly improved with a more tactile click. They’re responsive without requiring too much force, which makes them great for games that require rapid presses.

The analog triggers (LT/RT) feel more refined this time around. They have a smooth, consistent pull with no dead zone issues, meaning your input registers immediately from the start of the press. That’s a big deal for racing games, shooters, and anything that relies on precise trigger control. The tension is balanced just right. Firm enough to feel substantial, but not so heavy that it tires your fingers during long play sessions.

The D-pad remains one of 8BitDo’s strongest features, and the Ultimate 2 continues that tradition. It’s smooth, precise, and isn’t as mushy as so many other modern controllers. If you play retro-style games or anything where directional accuracy matters—such as performing special moves in a fighting game, you’ll appreciate how easy it is to hit diagonals without overshooting. That said, I still prefer the D-pad on the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro, if only it weren’t so damned expensive.

Ergonomically, the Ultimate 2 is a joy to hold. The grips are shaped to naturally fit your hands without forcing your fingers into an awkward position. Even after multi-hour sessions, there’s no noticeable hand fatigue. The only possible issue is that, just like the Ultimate 1, the Ultimate 2 is a bit on the smaller side, so if you have large hands, it may not be as comfortable as it is for someone with smaller hands.

Honestly, the only thing that could have made the controller better is a rubberized textured grip, which would help you keep hold of it during those moments when your palms are getting sweaty.

Ultimate Software 2.0 customization

8BitDo’s Ultimate Software 2.0 remains one of the most powerful controller customization tools out there if you want to get the most out of the controller. With it, you’re able to remap every button, adjust stick sensitivity, change trigger actuation points, and set custom dead zones. This means you can create a setup tailored for whatever game you’re playing.

The macro function is surprisingly deep for a third-party controller, letting you chain multiple inputs to a single button. While I’ve only dabbled with it, since I don’t need it. Still, there are plenty of opportunities for it to be incorporated into your gaming sessions.

Best of all, your profiles can be saved directly to the controller. This means you can plug it into another platform, like in my case, from one PC to another, and keep your settings intact.

It can be a bit confusing, perhaps even overwhelming at first, but you’ll feel much better once you’ve dialed in the settings you want. At least, I know I did after using the software.

Long-lasting battery for those longer gaming sessions

The battery life is solid, offering hours of playtime on a single charge. While 8BitDo states that the charge can provide anywhere from 20 to 25 hours of playtime, so far I’ve gotten at least 19 hours out of a single charge with the LEDs disabled, which is fantastic.

I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve been mid-battle and my Xbox controller blinks and then goes limp, leaving me scrambling to either find some batteries or swap out my battery pack, but not before I end up staring at the game over screen. It’s not a good feeling. So, even at 20 hours, that’s a blessing I’ll take.

Ok, I admit it, I’m Impressed

The 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless Wuchang Edition isn’t here to reinvent the controller, but it does exactly what it should, and that’s improve on an already solid foundation of amazing controllers. The refined button feel, smoother triggers, and deep customization options make it a top-tier choice for gamers who value both comfort and precision. And if you’re a fan of Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, this controller is a must-have for your collection.

Seriously, I’m never going back to those Xbox controllers. I’ve already ordered another Ultimate 2, so that I’ll have one for my other setup; I don’t like switching and moving dongles because Windows can act funky when you do.

If you’re looking for a controller that blends great hardware with powerful software customization, the Ultimate 2 deserves a spot in your setup. It’s another win for 8BitDo and proof that they’re continuing to push their hardware in the right direction.

Review Disclosure Statement: A review sample of the 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wuchang Edition Controller was provided to us by 8BitDo for review purposes. For more information on how we review video games and other media/technology, please review our Review Guideline/Scoring Policy.

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