Alongside the teaser of its flip-style controller, 8BitDo has officially unveiled the new Ultimate 3E gamepad. This is an officially licensed wireless Xbox controller that builds on the company’s popular Ultimate 3-mode unit, adding a suite of features aimed squarely at serious, competitive players. While an exact launch date hasn’t been locked in yet, 8BitDo has confirmed the Ultimate 3E will arrive sometime in Q2 2026 with a price of $149.99 shipped. Head below for a closer look and more details.
8BitDo Ultimate 3E controller is now official
The Ultimate 3E is being positioned as one of the most customizable controllers in 8BitDo’s lineup. It ships with two standard-size joysticks that can be easily swapped for taller variants, a “thick-neck” option, or even a dome-capped stick similar to what you’ll find on the brand’s Pro 3 controller. The preinstalled metal D-pad is also interchangeable, with an alternate circular option included. The customization extends beyond sticks and the D-pad, too, and the users can replace not only the AXBY face buttons, but the entire button modules themselves – choosing between soft, squishy silicone membrane buttons or crisp, clicky micro-switch modules. Both options are accessible simply by removing the controller’s faceplate, making hardware-level tuning quick and straightforward.
The 8BitDo Ultimate 3E is equipped with Hall effect triggers, complemented by two sets of shoulder buttons, a pair of remappable rear bumpers, and six-axis motion controls that are supported on PC. You’ll find RGB lights around the joysticks that light up and react to movements, and the controller even offers tri-mode connectivity via the included 2.4GHz USB dongle, Bluetooth for connecting to Apple and Android devices, or a USB cable tether to consoles and PCs for low input lag. This gamepad is rated to last for up to 18 hours of playtime between charges on an included dock.
While 8BitDo has shared far more details about this gamepad than it has about the FlipPad, an exact release date still hasn’t been announced. Pricing, however, is locked in at $149.99 shipped when it launches – making the Ultimate 3E the most expensive controller in the company’s lineup to date.
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