My job as a controller reviewer is usually to look for gamepads with the highest number of pro features for as little cost as possible. But while reviewing the PB Tails Crush Defender, I feel like I have to do things a bit differently. This isn’t a controller that’s trying to give you the best Esports performance, ergonomic back buttons, and advanced customization software. One look at it will immediately make that clear.
So if it isn’t making a play for the top of our best PC controller list, what’s the point? Well, let’s ignore the fact that not everyone needs the latest and swankiest pro controller. The PB Tails Crush Defender is a landmark gamepad that signals a turning point for this fabled gaming peripheral. It’s the first to feature TMR thumbsticks, which is an upgraded form of Hall Sensor technology that other manufacturers will, in all likelihood, widely adopt in 2025.
