If the pricier Xbox controllers are out of your price range, but you’re looking for something to take your gaming experience to the next level, then the Nacon Pro Compact Controller may be just the one for you.
We got to grips with the device - which is specifically designed for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and Windows 10 - to see if the relatively cheap price tag of £49.99 means that you’re not getting enough of a quality product in exchange for your cash…
The first thing you’ll likely notice about the controller, is that it promises a lot! You are told you can have either standard or personalised controls via an app; button customisation; joystick customisation; trigger sensitivity adjustment; 3D Dolby Atmos audio, a four or eight way direction pad and; vibration motor adjustment.
What you’ll want to do before anything else, is download the Pro Compact app. It’s your one stop to personalise everything about your controller, so you’ll want to make sure you’ve got it ready to go as soon as you plug in and are ready to play. It’s extremely easy to use and you’ll be playing around with your settings in no time, tweaking them until you’ve found just the right style of play for your personal enjoyment.
When you do grab ahold of the controller, those who play on both Xbox and PlayStation consoles may feel it’s a hybrid of an old DualShock from Sony’s range of controllers, mixed with something from the Xbox One’s earliest days. It takes some getting used to if you’ve only recently been using a Series X|S pad but, that’s not to say it’s uncomfortable.
The layout of buttons seem to have been worked meticulously so that you can play your games on as close to a professional level as possible when on a budget; your clicks will be precise and should flow with relative ease. Your joysticks should also feel smooth to control and, the rumble function can be ramped up to such a level that you’ll feel as close to the action as possible without a virtual reality headset.
Unfortunately, you cannot use this controller wirelessly. There is a 3-meter cable included though, so unless you’re playing in a gigantic room in the middle of a mansion, you’re not going to yank the USB out of your console partway through your adventuring.
So, if you’re looking to enter the high-end world of pro-gaming on a budget, you honestly can’t go wrong with this controller. It’s one heck of a pad, with what looks to be a great amount of durability after being put through our paces over the past month or so.
It's also a fine example of how Nacon are building on the foundations they've laid with the products of their past, fine-tuning what worked and stripping out what didn't, for some genuinely exciting end-results.
The Nacon Pro Compact Controller is available now.
Tagged in Xbox