We’ve all been there: you’re on track to win a match of Call Of Duty or Fortnite, only to be outgunned at the last minute by a teenager with Spider-Man-esque reaction speeds.
Should you throw your PlayStation controller out the window in anger, you may want to replace it with one of the increasing number of “pro” controllers on the market.
Their rise in the gaming hardware world has been meteoric, with the range of high-tech alternatives to default gamepads growing year-on-year.
Sony enters the playing field later this month with its Edge controller for the PlayStation 5 (PS5) – coming in at a whopping £210, which is a darn sight more than the already pricy standard pad at £60.
Gaming giant Razer’s own new PS5 controller, the Wolverine V2 Pro, comes in at an even heftier $250 (£208).
So why would you want to spend quite so much?
Ali Homayounfar, lead designer on the Razer gamepad, explained that they are designed to give you an edge in those split-second situations.
He told Sky News: “They’re mainly used for shooting games – basically, you want to keep your thumbs on the thumbsticks at all times.
“Say you’re getting shot at – if you take your thumb off the right stick, you won’t be able to run left and right, and you’ll be shot and killed.”
Taking your thumb off the right stick, traditionally used to turn a character’s view and adjust aim, to press the jump or reload button, can cause the player to lose mobility and be vulnerable to enemies.
In a bid to alleviate the issue, pro controllers have adopted paddles on the back, allowing the player to keep their thumbs on the joysticks while simultaneously performing other actions.
The Wolverine V2 Pro has paddles on the back for extra button inputs. Pic: Razer
The Wolverine V2 Pro also breaks tradition with the design…
