Controller:8BitDo Ultimate Wireless Controller

This page is a stub: it lacks content and/or basic article components. You can help to expand this page by adding an image or additional information.

8BitDo Ultimate Wireless Controller

XInput support
Connection method
USB-C, Wireless dongle, Bluetooth
Predecessor
8BitDo Pro 2

The 8BitDo Ultimate Wireless Controllers are a series of controllers released by 8BitDo on October 28, 2022.

Essentially the wireless version of the Ultimate Wired Controller, the Ultimate Wireless have many of the same features as its wired counterpart, including remappable back buttons, macro function and customizable built-in profiles. It does not support impulse triggers like the Ultimate Wired Controller for Xbox do. It comes with a charging dock, which also acts as a USB extended cord for the included 2.4GHz wireless USB dongle for wireless connectivity.

The controller is available in three models: the Ultimate 2.4g Controller, the Ultimate Bluetooth Controller, and another simplified model released on May 31, 2023 as the Ultimate C 2.4g Controller. The Ultimate 2.4g Controller is the PC/Android/iOS-compatible model, and is available in black, white and pastel pink colors. The Ultimate Bluetooth Controller is a Switch/PC/Android/iOS-compatible model, available in black and white colors. The Ultimate C 2.4g Controller is the PC/Android-compatible, available in field green and lilac purple colors. The Ultimate Bluetooth Controller added Bluetooth connectivity to the PC, motion control and use the different joysticks in a form of Gulikit's own contactless electromagnetic hall-effect joysticks (as found in the GuliKit KingKong 2 Controller), making it last longer. The Ultimate C 2.4g Controller is the cheapest of the three as it lacks the programmable back buttons and doesn't come with an charging dock. A newer version of the Ultimate 2.4g Controller was released on January 14, 2024 with hall-effect joysticks found in its Bluetooth counterpart.

More color variants for both models were later released. The Ultimate Bluetooth Controller receives the E-shop-exclusive Blue and Red color variants, and the limited 10th Anniversary Limited Edition (in Chinese Style and Retro Celebration colors) and F40 Limited Edition (with a "I" or "II" controller number) variants which were released on July 15, 2023 to celebrate 8BitDo's 10th anniversary and Nintendo Famicom's 40th anniversary, respectively. The Ultimate 2.4g Controller also receives an limited Chongyun Edition variant (in collaboration with Genshin Impact), released on December 18, 2023. A purple color was later released with the hall-effect joysticks version of the Ultimate 2.4g Controller.

The first two models are native XInput devices on PC, meaning they are supported on games that utilize the XInput API. The Ultimate 2.4g Controller is capable of switching to the DirectInput mode via a slider switch on the back. The Ultimate Bluetooth Controller act as a Switch Pro Controller when connected to the PC via Bluetooth, but cannot pair with the smartphone for customizing the built-in profiles at the same time. Although not advertised on the Ultimate 2.4g Controller, it also has a hidden Switch Pro Controller mode that can be enabled with a button combination, but lacks any motion-sensing controls from its Bluetooth counterpart. Also, motion control is only supported on the Ultimate Bluetooth Controller when connected via Bluetooth. Both models can connect to the PC via USB Type-C. As of May 14, 2023, the Ultimate 2.4g Controller later received a v2.00 firmware update that enables Bluetooth connectivity via DirectInput mode.

General information

Ultimate 2.4g Controller

Ultimate Bluetooth Controller

Ultimate C 2.4g Controller

2.4g version inputs

• 2 × clickable analog sticks: LS, RS
• 2 × analog triggers: LT, RT
• 2 × digital shoulder buttons: LB, RB
• 4 × digital directional buttons (d-pad): ↑, ↓, ←, →
• 4 × digital face buttons: 𝐀, 𝐁, 𝐗, 𝗬
• 5 × digital functional buttons: -, +, ⌂ ʜᴏᴍᴇ, ꜱᴛᴀʀ, ᴘʀᴏꜰɪʟᴇ
• 2 × digital remappable back buttons: P1, P2
• 1 × mode slider switch: ᴅ - x

Bluetooth version inputs

• Motion sensing: Accelerometer, Gyroscope
• 2 × clickable analog sticks: LS, RS
• 2 × analog triggers (acts as digital trigger when connected via Bluetooth): ZL, ZR
• 2 × digital shoulder buttons: 𝐋, 𝐑
• 4 × digital directional buttons (d-pad): ↑, ↓, ←, →
• 4 × digital face buttons: 𝐀, 𝐁, 𝐗, 𝗬
• 5 × digital functional buttons: -, +, ⌂ ʜᴏᴍᴇ, ꜱᴛᴀʀ, ᴘʀᴏꜰɪʟᴇ
• 2 × digital remappable back buttons: P1, P2
• 1 × mode slider switch: ʙʟᴜᴇᴛᴏᴏᴛʜ - 2.4ɢ
• 1 × digital functional button: ᴘᴀɪʀɪɴɢ

C 2.4g version inputs

• 2 × clickable analog sticks: LS, RS
• 2 × analog triggers: LT, RT
• 2 × digital shoulder buttons: LB, RB
• 4 × digital directional buttons (d-pad): ↑, ↓, ←, →
• 4 × digital face buttons: 𝐀, 𝐁, 𝐗, 𝗬
• 4 × digital functional buttons: -, +, ⌂ ʜᴏᴍᴇ, ꜱᴛᴀʀ

Controller variations

8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller.

8BitDo Ultimate C 2.4g Controller.

The Ultimate 2.4g Controller is capable of switching into DirectInput mode. It can be connected to the PC via either USB Type-C, the included 2.4GHz USB dongle, or Bluetooth after updating to firmware v2.00 or newer. A newer version with Gulikit's hall-effect joysticks was later released on January 14, 2024.

The Ultimate Bluetooth Controller has Gulikit's hall-effect joysticks. It also added Bluetooth connectivity in addition to USB Type-C and 2.4Ghz USB dongle. It is the only model whose built-in profiles can be customize using the smartphone, but requires the controller to not connect to the PC via Bluetooth due to interference. The Ultimate Bluetooth Controller is the only model to have the Switch button layout on the right face buttons, as opposed to the Xbox button layout on the other two models.

The Ultimate C 2.4g Controller is the simplified version of the Ultimate 2.4g Controller, which can only be connected to the PC via USB Type-C or the included 2.4 GHz USB dongle. It also lacks the back buttons and doesn't come with an charging dock that the other two models have.

Use with PC platforms

Connection

USB Type-C

Connect the controller
Connect the controller to the computer using either a USB Type-C to USB Type-C cable or a USB Type-C to USB Type-A cable. The controller will automatically be recognized by the supported OS and install the corresponding driver for it.

Connect the controller in DirectInput mode
Only for the Ultimate 2.4g Controller. When connected, change the controller mode by toggle the ᴅ - x slider to "D". The controller will be automatically recognized as a DirectInput controller.

Wireless dongle

Connect the controller
Plug in the included USB dongle to the computer. Power on the controller by pressing ⌂ ʜᴏᴍᴇ button. The controller should be connected to the computer via the USB dongle.

Bluetooth

For the Ultimate Bluetooth Controller only or Ultimate 2.4g Wireless Controller after updating to firmware v2.00 or newer.

Connect the controller

Ultimate Bluetooth Controller Make sure the Bluetooth functionality is enabled on the OS. Change the connection mode by toggling the ʙʟᴜᴇᴛᴏᴏᴛʜ - 2.4ɢ slider to "Bluetooth". Power on the controller by pressing ⌂ ʜᴏᴍᴇ button. After turning on the controller, press and hold the ᴘᴀɪʀɪɴɢ button for 3 seconds to switch into pairing mode, which is indicated by the status LED around the ⌂ ʜᴏᴍᴇ button blinking. Navigate to the Bluetooth settings of the host device's operating system, select "Pro Controller" and pair it. If asked for a pair code, use 0000. Note The Ultimate Bluetooth Controller will act as a Switch Pro Controller when connected this way. Ultimate 2.4GHz Wireless Controller Make sure the Bluetooth functionality is enabled on the OS. Change the connection mode by toggling the ᴅ - x slider to "D". Power on the controller by pressing the ⌂ ʜᴏᴍᴇ button. After turning on the controller, press and hold the ᴘʀᴏꜰɪʟᴇ button for 5 seconds until it vibrates (once for Bluetooth mode, twice for the 2.4GHz mode), then press and hold the + button to enter pairing mode, which is indicated by the status LED around the ⌂ ʜᴏᴍᴇ button blinking. Navigate to the Bluetooth settings of the host device's operating system, select "8BitDo Ultimate Wireless Controller" and pair it. Note The Ultimate 2.4g Controller will act as a DirectInput controller when connected this way.

Windows

Connecting the controller should automatically download and install latest drivers for the controller.

Supported features	reWASD	Steam	Gamepad Phoenix
Vibrations	✓	✓	✗
LEDs	✓	✗	✗
Dead-zone adjustment	✓	✓	✓
Multiple controllers	✓	✓	✓
Keyboard & Mouse input emulation	✓	✓	✗
Virtual Xbox controller emulation	✓	✓	✓
Virtual DualShock emulation	✓	✗	✗
Virtual Nintendo controller emulation	✓	✗	✗
Motion Control	✓	✓	✗
Retro DInput/WinMM compatibility	✗	✗	✓
Battery status	✓	✗	✗

XInput wrapping

The controller can acts as a DirectInput controller when set to specific mode, so it's possible to use any of the generic wrappers. See the controller article for those.

reWASD

xʙᴏx button can be remapped.

Can supports motion control via gyro on the Ultimate Bluetooth Controller (via Bluetooth connection).

Can emulate the DualShock 4 to play PS4 Remote Play, PS Now or DualShock 4 compatible games.

Can emulate the Xbox 360 controller to play XInput-compatible games.

Not free of charge. 7-day trial.

Custom configs for can be found in official Community Configs Library maintained by reWASD users.

macOS

Use the 360Controller driver or Xbox One Controller Enabler when set in XInput mode.

Linux

Natively supported in XInput mode by distros using Linux kernel 3.17 (or later).

Steam

When set to XInput mode, both controllers are recognized as the Xbox 360 Controllers via Steam Input. Use in DirectInput mode/Bluetooth connection vary, with the Ultimate 2.4g Controller acts as a generic DirectInput controller (thus requiring remapping in Steam) and the Ultimate Bluetooth Controller acts and recognized as a Switch Pro Controller.

When connected to the PC via Bluetooth, the Ultimate Bluetooth controller has support for gyroscope and motion controls via Steam Input.

Steam Link compatibility

Works without any drivers on any operating system that supports Steam.

Works via USB and Bluetooth. Includes gyroscope and motion controls on the Ultimate Bluetooth Controller to the mobile device via Bluetooth.

Can be used just to send input from a controller to a PC. Go into Streaming options, hit 𝗬 and disable video and audio streaming.

May not work great unless the streaming device is connected to LAN or a low latency Wi-Fi.

Controller profile and remapping

Customizing the built-in profiles requires the use of 8BitDo Ultimate Software.

On PC, both models requires the desktop version of the 8BitDo Ultimate Software.

Android and iOS version of the 8BitDo Ultimate Software, which support the Ultimate Bluetooth Controller, can be downloaded from Google Play Store and Apple App Store. The mobile app requires Android 8 and iOS 11 and later.

Setting up and pairing to the smartphone

Setting up and pairing to the smartphone

For Ultimate Bluetooth Controller only. Make sure the controller was not connected to the host device via Bluetooth, as it can create interference. Install the 8BitDo Ultimate Software app on the smartphone and open the app. If asked, grant the app the permission to use the smartphone's Bluetooth. Powering on the controller by connecting to a powered USB port. Press the ᴘʀᴏꜰɪʟᴇ button. The controller should be detected in the app.

Remapping the buttons

Remapping the buttons
In the profile tab of the app, select one of the 3 built-in profiles. In the mapping tab with the selected profile, select any of the buttons, including the back buttons. Select any of the button inputs to bind them to the selected button. Click "Sync to device" to apply the change to the profile.

Switching the built-in profiles

Switching the built-in profiles
Press the ᴘʀᴏꜰɪʟᴇ button to cycle through the 3 built-in profiles. Notes The number of status indicator LED light up vary depending on which profile was selected. This feature is not available for the Ultimate C 2.4g Controller.

Support in games

Natively supported by most modern games via the XInput API where the controller will be recognized as Xbox 360 Controller. It is also natively supported by games that only use the DirectInput API when set to DirectInput mode.

Games with motion control support

For a list of games, see List of games that support tracked motion controllers in non-VR gameplay.

For Ultimate Bluetooth Controller when connected via Bluetooth only.

Thanks to Steam Input and reWASD application, gyro control can be remapped to mouse or right stick in any game.

Number of games which natively support motion controls is limited and gyro support is still not a PC standard.

Games with XInput button prompts

List of games with Xbox button prompts

Games with Nintendo button prompts

List of games with Nintendo button prompts (For Ultimate Bluetooth Controller when connected via Bluetooth)

Other information

8bitdo Pro 2 and 8bitdo Ultimate comparison

Related accessories

• 8BitDo Wireless Adapter - Enables Bluetooth connectivity for Xbox Wireless Controller, DualShock 3, DualShock 4, DualSense, Wii Remote, Wii U Pro Controller, Joy-Con, Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, and other 8BitDo-branded Bluetooth arcade sticks and controllers on PC with support for the Ultimate Software.

Firmware updates

Firmware update on both models can be done via the 8BitDo Firmware Updater for Windows and MacOS.