I’m a massive fan of smaller technology that doesn’t offer compromise on the experience. I love the idea of packing a tech bag for a road trip in the way an ultra runner packs for his race.
So the idea of a bluetooth game controller from the retro masters at 8BitDo, which squeezes 16 buttons into a dinky Micro controller that’s about the size of a Penguin biscuit, warms my cockles.
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The 24.8g supports Nintendo Switch, Android devices and homemade Raspberry Pi rigs is just 24.8g (again about as much as a Club biscuit) and is designed for 2D games.
That’s because it only has a standard directional pad rather than a thumbstick required to quickly move characters in all directions within open world 3D games.
Still, if you love the idea of dominating the Switch Online library of NES and SNES games, or watch to add a physical controller for touchscreen Android games, this sounds like a marvellous option.
What it lacks in size it makes up for in battery life, with 8bitDo promising 10 hours of play from the 180mAh battery before it’ll require a recharge via USB-C. Two hours later you’ll be back in action. The Micro connects to the device via Bluetooth, but there’s also a wired mode.
It costs $25 and is available from Amazon right now. We’re not seeing it on the UK store quite yet.
8BitDo has released smaller controllers before, with controllers like the Lite SE (which was designed with gamers with limited mobility as all the buttons were on the front) and the Zero 2, which doesn’t have as many buttons.
