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Gamescom 2026: 8BitDo brings new Ultimate 3 and Ultimate 3E gamepads to Cologne9/15/2026
Should original gamepad manufacturers be worried about growing competition?
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The 8BitDo brand is becoming increasingly well known among a wider audience of gamers, while third-party game controllers have long since stopped being merely a cheap alternative to original accessories. 8BitDo brought more than just Xbox-related new products to Gamescom—it brought practically its entire portfolio, and that breadth was the most interesting thing about its booth. Displayed side by side were controllers with symmetrical stick layouts in the style of the DualShock, an entire series of retro pads for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, including officially licensed models as well as pieces visually inspired by the SNES and N64, along with miniature controllers from the 8BitDo Micro family that fit in the palm of your hand and are aimed primarily at mobile gaming and emulators. Over the past few years, the company has built its position on being able to serve even highly niche groups of players, and this was more apparent on a single table than in any catalogue.
Special attention was deserved by the arcade controllers for fighting games. 8BitDo offers them in two forms: the classic Arcade Stick with a joystick and large buttons, and the so-called All-Button Arcade Controller, a leverless “hitbox” variant in which the joystick is replaced by four movement buttons. Both feature a hot-swappable PCB, meaning you can replace the individual microswitches according to your preference, both work wirelessly via Bluetooth or a 2.4 GHz dongle, and both received Nintendo Switch 2 support through a simple firmware update, so owners of older units did not have to buy anything new. For the fighting game community, this is a detail more welcome than any new color edition.
The most interesting things 8BitDo brought to Gamescom are the hot new Ultimate 3 and Ultimate 3E models, which visitors to the show were among the first people in the world to try. Both versions are officially licensed Xbox controllers, and both are built on the same foundation: TMR stick sensors, Hall-effect triggers, and a wireless charging dock. The difference lies in what you can customize. The TMR sticks also prevent stick drift after intensive use, so the only drifting you will be doing is in racing games. The flagship model will be the Ultimate 3, whose main new feature is the so-called Force Ring. By simply turning the ring around the analog sticks, you can change the sticks’ mechanical resistance and tension, with softer settings suitable for quick movements and stiffer ones for more precise aiming. The changes are noticeable from the very first touch, representing a significant advantage over competing models that do not currently offer similar adjustments in this price category. The wireless charging dock also deserves praise, as you only need to place the gamepad on it. Total battery life should be around 20 hours, so you can handle longer gaming sessions without interruptions. There is also a pair of additional buttons on the back, while the gamepad lets you lock the rear triggers to short travel only.
In terms of build quality, the gamepad feels solid and well made, with everything fitting together neatly, while the firmness and travel of the buttons are of a high standard—subjectively better than those of the original Xbox controller. Visually, the most interesting color was Lavender Dusk, which is supposed to be inspired by the transition from daylight to dusk. Overall, however, it is a subtle purple pastel gradient. In the case of the Ultimate 3E, we saw fairly traditional black versions without any striking colors, but here the focus is on functionality. The gamepad’s sections are rubberized to provide the best possible grip, the Force Ring has been replaced by RGB elements, but the TMR sticks, Hall-effect triggers with two stages of travel, L4/R4, two rear buttons, 1000 Hz polling, 6-axis gyroscope, 3.5 mm jack, and charging dock all remain. Instead of the Force Ring, the Ultimate 3E takes a modular approach.
What can be replaced:
Compared to the Ultimate 3, however, it lasts only 18 hours, which is 2 hours less. At the same time, the charging dock includes space for storing the wireless 2.4 GHz receiver. Estimated prices should be around 100 euros for the Ultimate 3 and 150 euros for the Ultimate 3E.
