8BitDo, the popular third-party controller manufacturer, has unveiled a new gamepad, this time in collaboration with Rare to celebrate the video game developer’s 40th anniversary.
Rare is perhaps best known for its contributions to the Donkey Kong franchise, GoldenEye 007, and Banjo-Kazooie on the Nintendo 64, as well as its more recent release, Sea of Thieves, on Xbox. The company frequently partnered with Nintendo during the 1990s, but after being acquired by Microsoft in 2002, it shifted its focus to Xbox-exclusive titles.
Close up of the controller’s gorgeous blue and gold theme
Now, Rare has teamed up with 8BitDo to release an official wireless 2.4GHz controller for Xbox, featuring a striking blue and gold design inspired by Rare’s iconic color palette.
Controller Features
The controller’s overall appearance is a a callback to Rare’s logo, but also shows different patterns and silhouettes from classic Rare titles from years past. Obviously, with Nintendo owning the Donkey Kong franchise, and James Bond being owned, currently, by MGM, those two classic games are not featured within the mishmash of patterns. However the remaining icons taking centerstage still capture the iconic history Rare has developed.
Look at them paddles.
The controller supports three connectivity modes, wired, 2.4GHz wireless, and Bluetooth, allowing for broad compatibility across Windows, Android, and iOS. This multi-mode setup is consistent with 8BitDo’s other offerings.
Additional features include a matching charging dock, two programmable back paddles, a golden metal D-pad, a headphone jack, and full support for 8BitDo’s Ultimate X software.
Available Now
With Rare taking a step towards making decent controllers with a company like 8BitDo who has a long-successful history with making first class, third party controllers, it shows that the company is nowhere near their final days.
Beautiful
40 years in the gaming industry is a monumental accomplishment, and with starting years that included multiple household names, the future of Rare could not look brighter. For anyone interested in the controller, it is now available on Amazon for $89.99.
8BitDo Ultimate 3-mode Wireless Controller for Xbox (Rare 40th Anniversary Edition)
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