8BitDo M30 Wired Controller for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows with 6-Button Layout - Officially Licensed

Context: I play on xbox and I own about 5 other diff 3rd party controllers (2 Razers, Turtle Beach, PDP, Thrustmaster) as well as multiple xbox wireless controllers. Been using this for about 1.5 months now. This thing is hands down my favorite controller for all 2d/platformer/retro style games going forward. It is also now my main for Pinball FX, thanks to the amazing remap software. D-pad feels great, face buttons are large and nice to press. Easy to remap ALL the buttons (some controller software limits you on this). Cord is 9 feet, if that matters. But I am using a diff, 10 ft usb-c and it works fine also. the triggers and bumpers are not as easy to press as some other controllers but I do not use those too much for these games. It is small. It does not bother me, despite having medium-largish hands but this would also fit a kid's hand perfectly. The audio headphone jack works well, also. It came with 1 month of Gamepass Ultimate which is like $20 value they just threw in. A+ Highly Recommend. I found it on sale but I think it is also worth full price.

The M30 Xbox version is a huge step up from the regular M30. A wired connection means there's almost no latency, and it has four shoulder buttons instead of two. The plastic has a really nice texture and the d-pad is one of the best I've ever used. The three separate profiles were a really nice addition, allowing you to edit any button, including the d-pad, to anything you want without restrictions. This M30 also has its own onboard memory to store those profiles, so you can plug it into any compatible console or PC and still have your button setup. There's only one issue, and that arises only when you changed the directional buttons. I inverted the d-pad because I'm using the controller flipped so the d-pad is on the right side. This works well when it's inputting as a d-pad, but at the time of this review, switching the d-pad to register as a left stick ignores those changes. I won't change my rating because of a really niche software issue that can be fixed by letting them know. My only other issue is with a small flaw in the d-pad. If I intend to do a non-diagonal input and hit the edge of the cross in the wrong spot, I sometimes accidentally do diagonal inputs. Diagonals are also occasionally a bit harder to hit. It's still an amazing pad, but as someone that plays a lot of bullet hells that requires tons of precision movements, those misinputs can add up. I still highly recommend picking this version up. Despite being worth more than the standard M30, it more than makes up for it.

Been a gamer for over 30 years. One of the better controllers I've purchased. I haven't liked the new age main brand controllers, XBox/PS, for various reasons. XBox for some dumb reason continue to use very stiff d-pads which aren't ideal for a lot of games, primarily fighting games. I bought the PS4 controller and the d-pad wore out after about 4 months of use and I wasn't using it everyday. I took it apart and it was ripped in two different spots, which didn't allow the connections to contact the motherboard causing missed directional inputs. My down direction was basically not functional. This controller is small, but not a deal breaker. I have small hands and even it's a bit small for me, but I don't find this to be a huge problem unless you have baseball mitts for hands. The buttons are nice and responsive and the d-pad reminds me of the old Sega Genesis controllers. Very soft and free flowing which is the most important thing for me when considering a controller like this. I have two gripes with it and that's with the odd design choice for the top row buttons. They're smaller for some weird reason. The buttons are also placed on a concave surface, which again is a weird design choice. These two gripes are why this isn't a 5*. There's no reason for the top row buttons to be smaller, a controller like this needs these buttons to be the same size. The bottom row buttons are the perfect size. The concave surface, it can cause problems. Fighting games for example some times have commands that involve two buttons. The X and RB button are right on the edge of the concave and if you need to hit A/X or RT/RB at the same time, some times the X/RB will miss because of their size and the concave design of the button area. The concave design restricts the area of the button, so if you hit the button to the side of the concave, you obviously won't be able to press the button down all the way. As someone who has gamed as long as I have, I'm sure I can deal with it, but this wouldn't be a problem had these design choices not been made. The triggers could also be extended a bit, the fin at the back of the button, but that's more of a nitpick as they're just fine the way they are. If 8Bitdo ever reads this, make all 6 buttons the same size as the bottom row and remove the concave surface from the buttons. Do that, you got yourself a near perfect controller.

tl;dr: +D-Pad feels wonderful +Buttons feel snappy and sharp on press +6-buttons, 4 bumpers (No analog triggers) +Bumpers and extra 2 face buttons can be switched between which is used for RB RT, and LSB RSB in puts, via switch on back +USB-C port is recessed fairly deep into the controller, helping prevent the usual wear-and-tear connection issues +/-Too small (Mileage may vary) -Not ergonomic, so not a great hand feel. Would benefit from having a more modern grip design -Back and Start button placement feels weird and takes getting used to -Buttons aren't aligned like a modern 4-button (Orthogonal diamond with 2 extra buttons), making it so pressing two at once with your thumb might feel less natural and take some getting used to Overall, 4.5/5, presuming the comfort issues will go away as familiarity increases with use /tl;dr Feels and controls great, being able to switch the bumpers and the 5th and 6th buttons between which is your R3 and L3 is great. My only complaint not involving the size of the controller is I would prefer if the main four buttons in diamond formation were oriented in the same way as modern 4-button controllers (Y and A directly above each other, S and B directly across), but I didn't realize this would affect my gameplay until I got it in my hands (I use X+A for throws in several games). The similarities to the Sega Saturn controller are a definite plus, but I didn't think the button orientation would be an issue at all, so that one is 100% on me. I also feel it would be better with a bit more modern ergonomic design elements, such as the grips/handles that extend into your hands, at least like what the smaller Sega Saturn controllers had, or even just copying the XBox grip design wholesale. As far as the size issue, Its too small for my hands to be completely comfortable to hold (which if larger might remove the above ergonomic issues), especially coming from a dual analog X-Box style controller (also an 8-Bitdo). The size issue is going to vary per customer, so its no reason to knock a point off this excellent peripheral.

**THE DPAD IS PERFECT** This is a rare dpad gem for fighting game players. Sadly thats where this controller stops. Its just TOO SMALL. I have small hands and this thing is too small. Also the weird button size difference and strange 6 button layout makes it too hard to hit multiple or kara buttons. I don't understand why every fgc fight pad that comes out either has great buttons and size with a awful dpad or a good dpad with awful buttons and size. Hori you are SO CLOSE on this one, just make the pad larger and the 6 buttons the same size PLEASE.

This controller is absolutely perfect for retro gaming and both classic and modern fighting games. The Dpad is easily one of the top three I have ever used and I say that as someone who owns over 40 controllers. It feels incredibly responsive and precise which makes a huge difference in fighters and old school platformers. I really appreciate the inclusion of two shoulder buttons on each side unlike the standard M30 controller that only has one which gives it a big edge in flexibility and gameplay. I have been using it with emulators on PC and it works flawlessly with no input lag thanks to the wired USB C connection. The build quality feels solid and the controller is comfortable for long sessions. It is a fantastic choice for anyone serious about their retro and fighting game experience. This one has quickly become a go to in my collection.

Great price, but ultimately the M30 is the most unintuitive gamepad I've ever used. The face buttons being two significantly different sizes, the way the shoulder buttons feel like they blend into one another, and the overall tiny size of the gamepad itself all lead to a rather awkward and uncomftorable experience. I have to think about what I'm doing when using the M30, as opposed to it just coming naturally, as it does with every other pad that I've used. The D-pad is okay. It'll probably be hard to find a better one at this price point, but it's not great either. If you're buying this to play fighting games competitively, you'd be better off spending more money on a more precise and consistent pad. Overall, this is a great, budget-friendly option for casual gaming. But outside of that, it's just not worth it. Spend an extra $20 for something better.

I got a few different controllers for a MiSTer build. I really, really like this controller. It feels really good in the hands. Very high quality. The buttons feel great. The dpad feels great. The cord is plenty long. The cord is also detachable, which seems odd for a wired controller but I could see how it can occasionally be handy. I bought this along side a wired SN30 controller and I like this one more. It doesn't feel too small or too light to me at all. My only nitpick on it is that the start / select buttons are in an unusual spot, but I got used to that very quickly.

The best design for retro games.

Several days into using this controller for fighting games, and it's literally just a better Sega Saturn controller. Dpad works great and is extremely responsive, 6 face buttons + 4 shoulders gives me more than enough for any fighting game I play, and it fits well in my hand. For like 30 dollars, this is a solid controller.

I needed a controller for fighting games (SF6, Tekken, etc) because the d-pad on my 8bitdo 2c and Xbox Series X controllers were too inaccurate for my liking - too many missed or accidental inputs. Was a bit skeptical about the price but since 8bitdo usually makes good stuff I decided to go for it. In the box, you get a nice USB-A to C cable (2m), an Xbox Gamepass Ultimate 1 month code, and the M30 controller itself. After about 2-3 weeks of constant use and getting used to it, I can honestly say it's one of the best controllers you can get if you enjoy fighting games. The d-pad in particular is excellent, it is larger than usual and has good tactile feedback - easily the USP of this device. Quarter/full circle inputs are so much more reliable. The X Y RB buttons being smaller than the A B RT buttons is a curious design choice, since I personally think it would be easier to use if the top row was the same size. The shoulder buttons are clicky and easy to press. The M30 is a bit on the smaller side, so if you have large hands it may take a little getting used to, since this is smaller than a regular controller. Overall, it has great build quality, a fantastic d-pad, useful 6 button layout for games like Street Fighter. If you like fighting games I would highly recommend this over other controllers on the market.

I got this for playing old school arcade games and STREET FIGHTER, and it's an absolute game changer for street fighter. I have used it for street fighter mostly, and out of all the controllers I have tried for STREET FIGHTER, this is equal best, it really comes down to preference of button shape and pad grip style. The best part about this is the customisation software available both on XBOX and on PC, allowing you to remap the controller's buttons and make multiple profiles for games that will save directly to the game pad itself, no need for the software to drive the button mappings. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. If you play Street Fighter with a game pad, this controller should definitely be in your gear collection.

Es un mando comodísimo. La cruceta es de las mejores que existen, sin duda. He jugado a varios plataformas muy precisos(Celeste, The End is Nigh, Super Meat Boy) y algún otro juego retro y el resultado ha sido espectacular. Entiendo que para juegos de pelea también será muy bueno, pero no lo he probado en ninguno porque no me gustan. Recomendadísimo