Based on my searches, I could only find 3* controllers that have this feature (and interestingly, they all do it differently). There’s the new 8BitDo Pro 3, where the face buttons are magnetic, the GameSir Supernova, where you have to remove the faceplate to swap the buttons, and the GameSir Tarantula Pro/T3 Pro, where there’s a motor that swaps the ABXY layout.
This seems like a pretty simple feature that would be really useful for multiplatform controllers. Lots of controllers advertise that they work with PC, Xbox, Switch, Android, etc., but very few of them give you the option to physically swap the ABXY layout. They usually have one layout or the other. I would get not having these features on a really budget controller, but there are some controllers that are really expensive and don’t have this neat little button swap thing (instead opting for gimmicky things like a screen)
edit: * There’s actually 4**, I forgot about the Nyxi Flexi!
edit 2: ** Nope, it’s five***, the Gulikit KK3 Max has replaceable button caps! Very cool!
edit 3: *** Actually, the older KK2 Pro also seems to have this feature too, as well as a few other older Gulikit controllers, so I guess it’s >6? That’s cool. With four different companies (GuliKit, 8BitDo, GameSir, and Nyxi) offering at least one controller with this feature, I guess it’s not as rare as I thought. Who knew?
There’s certainly a market for physically swappable buttons, otherwise why would the 8BitDo Pro 3 release with that feature (and advertise it), or the Supernova and the Tarantula Pro. It is definitely a desired feature for some, and I think it’s a bit odd that very few controllers have it, especially given some controllers have very niche (but still useful to some) features (see the numerous controllers with screens, Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot that lets you swap to d-pad centric layout, etc.).
I’m still at a total loss as to the purpose.
The button positions never move, only the letters or colours. You don’t look at your hands when you’re playing, so I don’t get why you’d need to swap buttons at all, outside of a game menu.
If you’re used to blue being left or X being bottom or whatever, do that in the menu. Your thumbs can’t see the buttons so it makes no difference. You have bought a controller to do what a menu does for free at the click of a button (a button that means whatever you assign it to mean).
It’s probably just more costly on the manufacturing side. More molds, more pieces to work with, modular structure etc etc. I also think it’s not as impactful, not sure about you but I’ve developed enough muscle memory to not even look at the front facing buttons, as long as I have Xbox button layouts in games, even with playstation controllers lol
That’s fair. Although it is a bit confusing when playing an Xbox game, since I grew ip with the Nintendo layout as a kid, I instinctively think that “A” is to the right and “B” is at the bottom.
I know this is a software solution but if this is for steam there’s an option under controller settings to use a Nintendo layout. I can appreciate the issue more though when you predominantly grew up playing a different platform from the one you’re playing now
I think it’s good that there’s at least a few good controllers that offer physically swappable buttons. The GameSir Supernova looks pretty good for the price, while the Tarantula Pro and 8BitDo Pro 3 look like decent symmetrical stick options.