Review: 8BitDo Ultimate 2C – Black Myth: Wukong Edition

8BitD0 Ultimate 2C Black Myth Wukong Edition Review

Today, we’re reviewing 8BitDo Ultimate 2C – Black Myth: Wukong edition. This special edition controller was made in collaboration with the team at Game Science, which developed and published Black Myth: Wukong. It comes in two versions: wired and wireless. We’re reviewing the wireless version. In our review of the 8BitDo Ultimate 2C – Black Myth: Wukong Edition, we will compare it with similar controllers that fall around the same price bracket to see how it fairs against them as well. Considering this is a budget controller, we are comparing it with base versions of other controllers.

Price

At the time of writing, you can grab one at Amazon for $34.99, at the official online store for $29.99, or at the official store on AliExpress for $31.02. I got mine from the AliExpress store as it was convenient for me.

Box & Technical Specifications

Before diving further into the review, let’s take a quick look at the box and the controller’s specifications. Please excuse the scratches on the box, my kid managed to sneak it away and had some fun sliding it across the floor.

8BitDo Ultimate 2C Review

Compatibility

  • Windows 10 (1903) and above
  • Android 9.0 and above

Special Features

  • 1000Hz* Polling Rate (for 2.4G and wired connection)
  • Hall Effect Triggers and Joysticks
  • Custom button mapping without using software
  • Turbo function

Connectivity

  • 4G – Windows
  • Wired – Windows
  • Bluetooth – Android

What’s in the box?

The box comes with the controller, a 2.4Ghz adapter, a manual, and a USB type A to C 1-meter cable which can be used for both charging and connectivity.

Contents of the Controller package

Controller

I’ll be comparing the controller with all the different ones that I have in my arsenal but let’s take a closer look at the controller itself. The controller itself is styled like a Nintendo Switch Pro controller. It is semi-transparent which looks great, and I’m all for retro-inspired transparent plastic for the nostalgia it brings. That said, it’s not quite like those and you can barely make out the haptic motors.

8BitDo Ultimate 2C Review

It has red accents all around which highlights the letters on the face buttons and the underside of the thumb sticks. The sides of the controller have a red flaming type design. At the front, you will find the normal face buttons which are mapped in Xbox style.

Side Profile of the 2C Controller

There’s an 8BitDo logo in the middle which works as an Xbox Home button which on PC you can map with the Xbox Game Bar or open Steam Big Picture Mode. The Start and Select buttons are + and – while we have two additional buttons in the middle a star and a square which I’ll talk about a bit later.

Middle Button on the 2C Controller

You have two Hall Effect sticks which are quite firm and feel stable with soft plastic as the thumb grips. Then at the top, you will find two shoulder buttons LB and RB, two mappable buttons L4 and R4, and the two hall effect triggers. And in the middle the USB C slot for charging plus playing wired, a sync button to switch to a different 2.4ghz adapter, and a sync light. At the back of the controller is the Black Myth Wukong logo and finally a toggle for Bluetooth and 2.4ghz mode. The controller has a textured back to help with grip

Bumpers and Triggers of the 2C Controller

The star button is used for Turbo mode, which you can use to make a button press repeatedly, particularly useful for games where you need to press a button again and again to do some action, but you only need to press it once. You activate it by pressing the button you want to act as a turbo and pressing the star button together. You can also activate auto turbo by pressing the star button two times.

The square button is used for mapping the additional L4 and R4 buttons. So, you can map it to any of the face buttons, triggers, and the D-Pad. You cannot map the home button.

Now the overall feel of the controller is great and what you get for sub $30 is superb. The triggers feel nice, and I especially like the top shoulder buttons which have a small travel distance and click immediately although that gives it a feeling of being cheap. The joysticks and the triggers are extremely accurate, and you can be rest assured that they will not drift. However we do not like the placement of the L4 and R4 buttons, they are quite small. If they were at the back like the original 8BitDo Ultimate controller, it would have been perfect. But we can understand, that some folks don’t like the button at the back which they sometimes accidentally hit and accidentally hitting the top is difficult. The D-Pad is okay too, it’s clicky and better than the Xbox One S and PS5 controllers.

Rear of the 2C Controller

Controller Latency

The controller button click latency is best in class with a 1000HZ polling rate. Linus Tech Tips did an overall latency test of the controller with a bunch of other controllers in the same category and found that in the wireless mode with the dongle, it was the fastest. You can check out the video here. You can also check out Gamepadla, where they list all the controllers along with their latency details here. You’ll find it right at the top of the page so it’s one of the best. I don’t currently have the hardware to test the controller’s latency, but I’m in the process of getting it.

Comparison with Competing Controllers

I’ve been extensively using the predecessor, the 8BitDo Ultimate, which also featured Hall Effect joysticks but lacked Hall Effect triggers. In comparison, the joysticks feel quite similar, but I’ve noticed an overall improvement in the build quality of the Ultimate 2C. The plastics feel better, and the textured back is a nice upgrade from the Ultimate.

Comparison with the Previous Gen

When compared to the Xbox One S controller, which was my go-to before the Ultimate, the 8BitDo Ultimate 2C feels noticeably lighter. However, the grip and comfort will vary based on your hand size—those with larger hands might find the Xbox One controller more comfortable. That said, the plastic on the Xbox One controller also feels of higher quality.

Comparison with the Xbox One S Controller

I also use a PS5 DualSense controller for games that take advantage of its fantastic haptic feedback and adaptive triggers. In comparison, the 8BitDo Ultimate 2C is again lighter, but the plastic quality doesn’t quite match the premium feel of the DualSense.

8BitDo Ultimate 2C Review

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Final Verdict:

This is an excellent controller priced at sub $30, you get Hall Effect sticks and triggers so you can have peace of mind that it’s not going to drift. Secondly, it being lighter helps for longer sessions, however, I do wish the plastics could have been improved a bit more but again it’s priced at sub $30, and you do get value for your money. The other controllers that we compared it with are far more expensive and prone to stick drift excluding the 8BitDo Ultimate of course.

If you are on a budget for a good controller, then look no further and buy 8BitDo Ultimate 2C. We highly recommend it!

Final Score: 8.5/10

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About the Author: Humza Khalid

PC gamer and hardware enthusiastic at heart but with a soft spot for retro consoles as well.

1 Comment

  1. Unfortunately, the lack of native gyro support or any way to map the gyro to the right stick significantly limits this controller’s versatility, particularly for shooters, which rely heavily on precise aiming. On the bright side, the inclusion of Hall effect sticks and the renowned 8BitDo build quality for just $30 is impressive, even if the overall functionality feels somewhat restricted.

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