The standard controllers that ship with the Xbox Series X and PS5 get the job done and for most gamers, they’re more than good enough. However, if you want extra buttons and additional customizability, a pro controller is what you’re after.
Back in 2015, Microsoft kicked off the pro controller revolution with the release of the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller which launched alongside Halo 5. At the time, this $150 controller set the standard for pro controllers with its reprogrammable rear paddles, swappable thumbsticks and premium build quality. Microsoft then outdid itself with the Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 and since its release in 2019, we’ve seen a number of different first and third-party pro controllers.
