8BitDo SN30 Pro for Xbox Cloud Gaming Review

If you know of other 8BitDo controllers, then this version of SN30 Pro controller will not offer many surprises. Along with its Xbox-specific branding, sleek matte black colorway, and emphasis on game streaming through Xbox Game Streaming on Android, it’s largely the same as its predecessors. However, its weight, overall design, and very limited platform support as a phone controller may not be the best choice for most users looking to play on the go.

Design and functionality

8BitDo’s SN30 Pro controller is not only inspired by Nintendo’s Super Nintendo / Super Famicom controller, it aims to emulate and enhance the original experience by adding Bluetooth connectivity, two analog sticks and two analog triggers.

Right off the bat, you’ll notice that the controller layout looks a lot like a PlayStation-style controller with the two analog controllers running parallel, instead of the staggered layout typically found on Xbox controllers. That may be enough to turn Xbox purists away, but once you step back and see where this controller excels, it’s not that big of a deal.

For starters, the 8BitDo controllers’ D-pad is top notch, dare I say almost as good – if not better – than Nintendo’s famous D-pads in some situations. The size and shape is almost identical to that of the SNES controller, with indented arrows on each of the cardinal directions and a small concave circle in the center to rest your thumb. The pressure of the D-pad is exactly what you want: just the right amount of pressure without feeling mushy, a satisfying click that doesn’t feel overdone like the D-pad on the Xbox One controller, and a nice texture that keeps your finger in place.

The face buttons in front of the D-pad are also similar to the SNES controller in layout and spacing. They are color coordinated to match the color scheme of Xbox and labeled as such with A / B and X / Y swapped to align with Microsoft’s controllers. The actual buttons aren’t as round on top as on an Xbox controller, not surprisingly taking the design cues from the SNES controller face buttons. Although it is actually closer to the Super Famicom version of the controller because all the buttons are convex, instead of the concave X and Y buttons on the SNES controller. Individual buttons are quick to press and return to their default position. Overall they feel good.

The bumpers and analog triggers on top of the controller are the most inconvenient of all. The buttons themselves don’t necessarily feel bad, it’s more the design decision made to keep the controller’s “SNES” feel that makes things interesting. Due to the slim profile of the controller, the dual bumpers and triggers are very thin and extra wide to suit the design. This means that your fingers tend to slide off the triggers because there isn’t much surface to rest on when you press down. There aren’t many lips to keep your finger in place either, which I think has contributed to the general issues with triggers. Nevertheless, the real triggers to feel good to squeeze. There’s a fair amount of tension, and they’re definitely of a quality build. I just wish they looked like more ergonomic modern trigger designs.

As with the other SN30 Pro controllers, this one has a set of analog sticks at the base of the controller. This was one of the biggest surprises for me, as they actually feel sturdy and precise. In terms of shape, they’re a bit closer to the DualShock 4’s analog sticks, albeit a bit smaller. There is a textured grip around the outside of the poles and a comfortable pullout for your thumbs to rest. They’re a bit stiffer than most analog sticks, but are very eye-catching when moved around.

What makes this SN30 Pro controller different from the host of other options and colors are the Xbox-specific buttons. Namely, the big Xbox center button that brings up your in-game menu and also allows the controller to reconnect to the last device it was connected to. There are also the menu and display buttons in their respective places under the central Xbox button.

8BitDo also has two proprietary buttons: a star button at the bottom left of the controller below the D-pad and the profile button in front of it, below the face buttons. The star button allows you to quickly change buttons on the fly. For example, if you want to swap the A and B buttons for a specific game, you can do so by holding the two buttons you want to swap and pressing the star button. The buttons will remain personalized until the controller is powered off. The profile button allows you to activate or deactivate specific profiles which you can customize with 8BitDo’s Ultimate software for PC and Mac.

Besides the buttons themselves, the SN30 Pro has a USB-C port for charging and connectivity. It has a 480mAh lithium-ion battery that provides up to 16 hours of playtime with around 1 to 2 hours needed to fully recharge. It also preserves battery life by entering sleep mode after two minutes without connection and 15 minutes without any activity when connected.

8BitDo’s SN30 Pro controller is also extremely light. It weighs only 111 g, or about a quarter of a pound. While this is great for something you’ll likely travel with to play on the go, it does get a bit heavy when you have a device connected to it using the included phone clip.

Software

8BitDo offers a free downloadable software tool for PC and Mac called Ultimate Software.

By connecting your controller to the Ultimate Software app, you have full control over the behavior of each button, joystick, and trigger. 8BitDo lets you remap every input on the controller, create and save profiles for specific games, and even configure button macros. What’s even more impressive is the ability to adjust the range of analog sticks and analog triggers to respond faster.

Even without the software, there are still a few handy tweaks you can make on the fly. As mentioned earlier, the star button on the controller allows you to temporarily swap two buttons for a specific game, if needed. Additionally, you can toggle the triggers between analog and digital with the star button. This is especially useful for games that don’t take advantage of analog triggers and you prefer a faster response time.

Games

Alright, so how is it actually to feel when you play xbox games? I’ll be honest; it’s a little weird. This controller favors retro gaming by design, with the D-pad and face buttons parallel to each other.

During my testing, I tried out several different games in different genres. Still, I found that retro-inspired indie games that used the D-pad as Flail Holder or more relaxing narrative games like Spiritist were the sweet spot for this controller.

Get into FPS games like Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege Where Halo: The Master Chief Collection just didn’t feel comfortable playing for long periods of time. Because the controller is so small, it feels very crowded with the number of inputs crammed into its face. Also, the issues I have with analog triggers are very noticeable when trying to aim down and line up a shot. The lack of surface on the triggers makes it especially difficult when playing nervous games that require quick movements and quick reflexes. That being said, I really enjoyed the analog triggers in Forza Horizon 4 where they performed extremely well as I could gradually add and reduce the pressure on them without necessarily removing my trigger finger.

The biggest issue I had while playing was actually the weight of the SN30 Pro controller – or the lack of it. Because it’s so light, I actually got tired much faster than with other controllers. The phone I connected it to actually weighed Following than the controller, which makes it very heavy when in use. Having to constantly counterbalance the weight of the phone puts extra pressure on my hands, causing them to become sore very quickly. This is also due to the fact that the design of the SN30 Pro is not very ergonomic for gaming today. If you’ve used an SNES controller for long periods of time, you’ll understand the type of fatigue that can occur when holding it.

I found myself constantly adjusting the angle of the phone to reduce fatigue. I played a bit, started to hurt somewhere, adjusted the angle and repeated. It’s fine for short gaming sessions, but if you’re looking to spend hours playing games with this controller, I’d look elsewhere.

Oddly enough, I found this controller to be nicer when I wasn’t actually connected to the phone. If you can put your phone somewhere and play, it’s a much more enjoyable experience. And, since the SN30 Pro for Xbox works with Android tablets, it’s a great way to stream your Xbox games while someone is using the TV or traveling. In addition to streaming Xbox games with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, the SN30 Pro also works with mobile games for Android that support controller input.

Important additional information to note is that this controller alone works on Android. That’s it. This does not works with Xbox, PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac or iOS consoles.