It won’t surprise you to learn we’ve always erred on the symmetrical sticks side of the fence, and while we won’t judge anyone for preferring asymmetrical sticks, we can confirm there’s a special place in hell reserved specifically for you.
Seriously, though, with PlayStation being the faraway market leader, this DualSense-style pad for Xbox makes a massive amount of sense.
The Competitor from manufacturer Hyperkin has been announced as part of CES 2025, and it’s a wired pad designed for high-level play. The analogue sticks leveraged are Hall Effect ones, which are more durable and accurate than traditional sticks. The triggers also use the same technology for enhanced precision.
Obviously, the controller lacks the more high-profile features of the DualSense, so don’t expect to find haptic feedback and adaptive triggers here. But it does have two programmable back buttons, which is a feature we’ve seen added to pro pads, like the DualSense Edge.
There’s no word on a price or a release date for the controller just yet, but its stark similarities to the PS5’s controller make it worth a mention. It’s worth noting that this pad will also be compatible PC games, so you won’t be locked rigidly to Xbox if you do decide to pick it up.
The device will be on display at CES 2025 for attendees to try, so we’re sure plenty of hands-on reports will emerge over the coming days.
[source ign.com]
Comments 58
Looks horrible if I'm honest...
It's not going to help them in the slightest. The final Xbox generation. 😔
Beyond parody LMAO
Hello there fellow gamers.
I am one of those PS users that also have an Xbox, so this is perfect for me.
I really enjoy the Xbox controller for shooters, racers and some action adventure games.
But for fighting games???
No, not really. At all. Thats why I got the 8BitDo Pro 2 Wired Controller, with Hall Effect joysticks. Just so I could play my fighting games properly...... And some other games on my PC.
It´s a pretty good controller, but this one looks even better.
Definitely considering this as a 2025 purchase for my Xbox.
Cheers and happy gaming
Removed - trolling/baiting
I mean, everything is an Xbox these days so maybe Xbox wants something Playstation so bad (and they aren’t getting the games) that they’ll take a gamepad lol.
Looks like a REALLY ugly dollar store PS5 pad... and it's wired ONLY. It's 2025 my dudes.
This looks like something from Temu
Gamesir G7 SE is where it’s at for third party Xbox controllers, I got 4 of these babies in my collection.
Xbox has the superior position for the right analog stick, so why should people buy a controller with an inferior one?
LMAO, so this is actually real? The sheer brazeness of it! I saw the images earlier and thought it was an AI image troll. It genuinely looks like a cheap TEMU PS5 knock off..
At first, I thought this was like Microsoft-official based on the headline only to find out it's from a third-party peripheral manufacturer.
I'd like something like this for pc play if it was wireless and reasonably priced
I had an xbox 360 - never liked the control pads - awful things really, and after a while of gaming they could get quite painful at times.
It's vile and unnecessary, especially when the Xbox pad layout is actually decent - I remember in the days of my 360 I preferred the comfort of that to whatever model of dualshock Sony were at back then.
But after a couple of months adapting to the DualSense (I have small hands and it felt too big holding it at first...🤭 ) it's now easily my favourite and most comfortable controller ever.
Couple upgrades with many downgrades. That being said, who thinks Sony will finally adopt hall effect controllers for PS6? I think if they don't it will be indicative of them continuing to attempt many other cost cutting, customer punching-in-the-face practices for the next gen, as they have with this one.
Max_the_German wrote:
That's ENTIRELY subjective mostly built off your own muscle memory, it isn't inherently superior.
But i'd add that though they may look very similar in terms of silhouette the PS5 and Xbox pads are subtly different in terms of both the slope at the side and the grips. That mean that when your thumb is in a completely neutral position it is in a slightly different position on each controller. It's entirely possible the sticks are in the right position on each based on their shape, though every hand is different.
"a special place in hell" 😂😂
This is why you always mute yourself in a boring meeting.
I didn't so much lol as snort when I read that.
Damn you, @get2sammyb!!!
@Max_the_German Wrong.
If it's around $100, I'll grab one for my PC. I like it, and native PC compatibility means I can just use BT instead of a 8-BitDo dongle with a DS4.
@Max_the_German Because its better especially for me and that is all that counts to me.😆
We've come a long way from the knockoff controllers of the PS2 era.
This looks pretty sleek imo! But I'm remembering those awful MadCatz controllers.
The whole symmetric vs asymmetric placements of joysticks never really registers with me, and I switch back and forth on a regular basis between the Dualsense, Switch Pro Controller and the Xbox One controller hooked up to my PC. Never understood why people feel the need to proclaim one or the other as superior. Both placements feel perfectly fine to me, and it's all just personal preference anyway.
I massively prefer the Xbox layout for playing which is why I buy pretty much all 3rd party games for my Series X.
The DualShock 4 is also my favourite PlayStation controller. It's so much more comfortable than the DualSense in my opinion and I'm really not a fan of the haptics.
The only thing preventing PlayStation controllers from being absolutely perfect (trom a design perspective) is their insistence on in line sticks. I much prefer offset sticks, but every other aspect of the PlayStation controller is exactly what I’d do if I were to design it. I understand why Sony won’t ever do offset sticks, but I don’t like it.
The dualsense is the best controller on the market by far so it makes sense they will want to copy it, but man this is ugly and wired too 😬.
They look very cheaply made.
So from the xbox elite 2 controller to this rubbish wow.
Guess Hyperkin is making this for PC users that prefer Sony controllers. Not a particularly big market.
Hahahahahahahahaha, wait there is more, hahahahaha. This cant be real? Is it?
Will it have the awful loud "clicky" sound of the original xbox one though?
@Shepherd_Tallon Yeah that got me a few looks as I chuckled away.
Looks so strange seeing a Dualsense controller with the Xbox logo smacked in the middle lol
“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness”
Oscar Wilde
Honestly, this might make me consider getting an Xbox if they weren't bringing all their games to Playstation.
@TruthClaire1
Re-read the article.
It's not an MS/Xbox product, it's 3rd party (Hyperkin).
@Apollo2212 "Oh my cat just did a thing, sorry," is my go to response 😌
It’s clear people look at pics and not read. It’s clearly a 3rd party controller and not MS.
@HonestHick
The article headline doesn't really help either.
looks like a controller wearing a white bow tie.
@GeeForce this is true. On Pure it was much more detailed to be a 3rd party controller. Gotta throw shade for clicks tho. It works, sadly!
it really doesn’t look bad at all. had it been the other way around , i wonder if the reception would still be the same
@HonestHick Xbox done something personal to these people 😂
Not gonna lie, I would probably get one for my Xbox as I hate the off-set analogue sticks on the ones I have now.
I quite like the look of it.
Ms putting games on playstation, now copying the greatest controller ever..... interesting.
It is not for me.
I have both consoles, a PS5 and a Series X.
And I doubt that I would be able to tell this new joypad apart from the DualSense.
It leaves me wondering if those in charge at Xbox still have original ideas.
But there is a saying - Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
@Max_the_German That's entirely subjective, just like someone preferring baggy clothes vs. tight fitting.
Being real for a minute, the Xbox controller murders me with cramp. The PlayStation controller (any of them), doesn't.
The smooth handles at the bottom make it vastly superior to the awful dualsense
I have thought about getting an Xbox multiple times to play some exclusive titles, but the left analog stick on the controller always put me off.
It doesn't matter much anymore, but if there were quality 3rd party controllers (not the garbage MadCatz or PDP, etc...) that had a symmetrical layout like this, I might have bought one. :shrug:
When I was on the market for a new console, my choice between Xbox and PS5 went down to the quality of the controller, because it says everything about the quality of the system and the games. I really don’t understand why Microsoft don’t put any effort to build a controller that doesn’t look super cheap and outdated.
“The Competitor” that’s chilling 🫨 Dualsense will be cuttin a glance over its shoulder button from here on
PlayStation 4 & 5 controller design are still my favorite than XBOX controller.
Wish Sony would just move the left stick, Xbox left stick pos is so much better
@__jamiie wonder if this controller has better than 6 hours of battery life, i kid i kid, no im not kidding. I’m with you. I still prefer the Xbox controller layout for most of my games. PS is mainly the exclusives. Dual Sense isn’t awful like the first 3 PS controllers. Dual Shock 4 was ok i guess. I’d give it a 6/10. But everything else i like about PS consoles. Yet i take crap on here sometimes cause i rail Sony’s controllers as being bad for my play style. It’s normally the only bad thing i have to say about Sony’s hardware tho. Now those live service games they got going on or already canceled that’s another story. I rail on those all the time. Sony don’t know how to make online games. Never have and still don’t from what i can see.
@Matthewnh you did know it’s a 3rd party controller and not made by Microsoft right? Nah you knew that!
Might get it for my Xbox, although I really don't care about the analog stick placement, as I am capable of switching between Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Controllers.
It amazes me how some people clearly spend time writing a comment and zero reading the article. 😂
This isn't made by Microsoft or Xbox!
I'll say exactly what i said over at PX cause i have both systems:
Ah good to see the discourse about stick placement is alive and well. How about whatever works for the individual? It's their own comfort surely. I've only ever known symettrical sticks since the original dual shock. Only been gaming with a xbox pad for about 10 months and didn't think i would ever get used to it, but i have. And i can appreciate the design of both controllers. This on my coffee table would confuse the hell out of me haha. I'd be picking up the wrong pad for both. At least with the normal pads there is no confusing them if you pick them up blind.
Which one do i think is better? if you must know. Dualsense. personally it feels more well made to me. BUT the xbox controller feels like a quality product as well. So no shade. And i had a LOT of crappy 3rd party controllers as a kid.... i can still remember that mega drive style SNES pad. **shudders**
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