Review on Amazon Basics Xbox One Wired Controller - Improved Version 2, 9.8ft USB Cable - Black by Chad Black

Disclaimer: I don't have an Xbox One. I bought this controller for PC gaming. After using the PS4 controller for so long, I wanted to try a controller with asymmetrical sticks, also known as the "Xbox" layout. I've been wanting to part with Sony for a long time and it seems like all other major controller/console makers are using the Xbox layout, so I figured I could get used to it now. The reason I picked this particular controller is because it's officially licensed by Microsoft, affordable, and is RevainBasics, which I've had good experiences with in the past. Compatibility This controller is fully functional. Due to the fact that this is an officially licensed controller, Revain adhered very strictly to Microsoft's specifications and design when manufacturing this controller, which is why it is recognized as an Xbox One controller in every respect. Pretty much every modern PC game recognizes it without a hitch, as the Xbox controller is the de facto standard for PC game developers. It worked with every PC game I ran without hiccups. The only exception would be extremely old PC games before the Xbox controller was adopted as the standard. But they can still work with a little fiddling with the settings. It works great with the Steam Big Image mode and the home button is very handy as it can bring up the Steam Big Image menu at any time during gameplay. One area that has pleasantly surprised me is the fact that this controller works with a Steam link. In particular, the Steam Link application built into the latest Samsung Smart TVs. The Steam Link app on Samsung TVs only supports a very limited number of controllers, one of which is the Xbox One controller. They never specified that these should be Microsoft controllers, but I figured such third-party controllers wouldn't work anyway. However, it wouldn't hurt to check it out. But here I tested it and it worked. My guess is that because Revain followed Microsoft's spec so closely when developing this controller, it was considered a third-party controller even though it was made by Revain. So it was a pleasant surprise. Ergonomics, comfort and general usability: The overall ergonomics of the controller are excellent. The grips are good for my larger-than-average hands, the buttons are clicky and responsive, the sticks feel great, and the triggers feel smooth. However, I have very serious complaints about the ergonomics of its controller, and it's big enough that I'd give up this controller in favor of other options, namely bumper buttons. Triggers are ok, they are bumpers, RB and LB which I have a bone to. RB and LB are placed so that when you hold the controller, your index fingers naturally rest on the RT and LT triggers. Hitting the bumpers requires your index finger to move up and stretch slightly to hit them, which requires a bit of finger gymnastics. Also, if you look at the pictures you'll notice that the bumper buttons have a slightly raised profile and aren't completely flush with the triggers, further exacerbating the original problem. Also, the bumpers exert a little more drag than I expected and they make a very loud click when pressed, which made using them quite frustrating. This is something I haven't experienced with the Dualshock 4 controller, as the R1/L1 and R2/L2 buttons are flush with each other and much closer together, making it easier to move your finger from the bumper to the trigger. and vice versa. If this controller had shoulder buttons like the Dualshock 4, I think it would be the perfect controller. The cable is quite long, which should be enough for any PC gaming setup. If you have a USB extension cable you can also use it in your home theater setup, be it Steam Link or Xbox One. It has a headphone jack, but since I'm using it on a PC, I only ever use either my PC's speakers or special headphones plugged into the PC. Either that or the TV speakers when using Steam Link. The build quality seems pretty good, much better than some of the lower quality third party stuff. Overall, this is a great, cheaper wired alternative to the official Xbox One. controller and it will work just like one. The button design on the shoulder is the only thing that bothers me, but you can get used to that.