The Xbox pro controller market is more competitive than ever, but Nacon has finally thrown its hat into the ring, and it has an impressive track record This week’s announcement of the Revolution X Unlimited–its first-ever wireless Xbox elite-style pad–certainly has the specs to become the new frontrunner.
The Revolution X Unlimited, which looks absolutely gorgeous, is tailored for first- and third-person shooters, albeit maintaining the Xbox’s asymmetric analog stick layout. It arrives hot on the heels of Nacon’s excellent Revolution 5 Pro controller for the PS5, and the RXU’s features suggest it will offer everything that made the R5 Pro great, and then some.
Chief among its specifications is an LCD screen in the center of the controller, which lets players save and switch between game profiles without needing to access the PC or console app. Hall-effect sticks are standard, reducing stick drift, and naturally, trigger stops are part and parcel for the FPS experience.
The Revolution X Unlimited also offers six programmable shortcut buttons–four on the back, where you’d expect, but another two sit on the insides of the shoulder buttons. It’s not clear how comfortable these latter two will be to use–there’s a reason it’s not a common feature on other pads–but time will tell. You’ll probably need big fingers, though.
Nacon Revolution X Unlimited Xbox and PC controller features
- Wireless connectivity with Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC via a USB dongle;
- Multiple connection options: radio frequency, wired, and Bluetooth;
- Up to 10 hours of battery life;
- Hall effect analog sticks to reduce stick drift;
- LCD screen for profile management and audio mixing;
- Trigger blockers equipped with micro-switches;
- Six programmable shortcut buttons for customized gameplay;
- Customizable components including two alternative directional pads, six extra weights, six stick heads, and two stick rings to tailor the controller’s ergonomics.
Still, the RXU must pull out all the stops to compete with the big lads in the Xbox controller market. The Thrustmaster eSwap X2 Pro might lack the looks, but its customization options are unparalleled. Then there’s the Victrix Pro BFG, arguably the best and most complete elite controller package on the market. If value for money is your priority, the Victrix Gambit Prime is a no-brainer.
Against these rivals, the Revolution X Unlimited ironically feels, well, limited. Its standout drawback is its comparative lack of customization options; alternative sticks, stick rings, and D-pads are a good start, and those optional weights really elevated the R5 Pro, but the lack of module swapping might make people look elsewhere.
Then again, it depends on how much it’ll retail for, and if there’ll be any additional bells and whistles, like a case and charging cable; it already looks a lot like the R5 Pro, which is probably the best-built and most comfortable controller for the PS5. We’ll find out more in the coming months, ahead of the RXU’s planned launch in late 2024.