Victrix Gambit Xbox / PC controller review: Customization comes with a catch

Victrix Gambit unbox Source: Windows Central

With a relatively pocket-sized range, I felt a certain level of skepticism nigh the quality of Victrix products. The California-based company was founded in 2022 to create gaming hardware for e-sports competitors. The Victrix Gambit fits that neb as their sole controller, designed for tournament-level play. Physically it resembles the Xbox Elite controller, complete with a share button. The dual-core processor inside uses one core for near-nada (2.1ms) input latency, and the other handles Dolby Atmos audio. The Gambit is compatible with Windows PC, Xbox Serial X|S, and Xbox One.

Entering the third-party Xbox controller scene is tricky, with Corsair owning patents relating to wireless technology. Victrix pricing their controller cheaper than the Xbox Elite Series 2 seems attractive but losing that wireless liberty is a caveat that requires consideration. The Gambit advertises itself as the "world'southward fastest licensed Xbox controller." And then if wireless isn't an option for Victrix, how does the Gambit compare to the best Xbox controllers in the game?

Victrix Gambit

Bottom line: The Victrix Gambit is a formidable wired controller for Xbox and PC, with an impressive range for customization and accessibility. The downside is ultimately the lack of wirelessness and its disappointing trigger performance.

The Good

Customizable components
Back paddles requite a competitive edge
Long, heavy-duty USB cable

The Bad

No wireless
Back paddles are too sensitive
Weak trigger resistance

Victrix Gambit: Price and availability

Victrix Gambit box Source: Windows Central

Victrix sells the Gambit through its official store and major retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. Enjoying practiced stock availability, the Gambit comes in one unmarried configuration with white and purple colors.

Victrix Gambit: The positive

Victrix Gambit Parts Source: Windows Central

Initially confused as to why anyone would demand so many interchangeable components for a controller, trying out each piece gradually convinced me. Having never dipped into the waters of e-sports gaming myself (ranked Halo: Space multiplayer is near as far equally I might become), I didn't run across the benefits right away. Subsequently spending a few days playing various games, I finally understood.

The Victrix Gambit is customizable in many means, including iv thumbsticks and gates (the round plastic surrounding the sticks). The Gambit is compatible with Xbox and PC with the Victrix Command Hub software available on both platforms, so I spent most of my time using it with my PC. The software allows yous to calibrate the Gambit, adjust dead zones, and ready custom audio profiles if y'all choose to connect headphones directly to the controller.

Not all PC games officially support controllers, oft choosing to emulate keyboard input through the buttons and thumbsticks. Commonly, this will work fine, merely expressionless zones need a lot of adjustment to motion the histrion in a straight line without wavering side to side. Using an octagonal thumbstick gate has a feeling much like my childhood Nintendo 64 did, restricting the analog movement to eight sharp directions. I constitute this much easier to command my movement in showtime-person shooter games, leaving the correct thumbstick on a rounded gate for precision aiming.

Victrix Gambit holding Source: Windows Central

The Gambit includes 2 magnetic faceplates swapped via an indentation on the bottom of the controller. The first plate is a white-colored plastic uniform with the thumbstick gates, which click into place from the rear. The other is a purple-colored "lucifer silencer" rubberized plate, non compatible with whatever gates. Designed for improved grip and reduced noise, this rubber plate adheres to a rounded gate style. Both faceplates are comfortable, only the white plate is superior, still offering a textured grip effectually the palms and more than customization options than the rubber culling.

On the plus side, the paddles helped immensely with accessibility.

Moving away from shooters, I tried out some fighting games where the diamond D-pad started to shine. The default D-pad is no different from the official Xbox controller, with eight directions of digital input. Since I never learned how to play fighters in the arcades, I honed my arts and crafts on the D-pads of home consoles and never felt comfortable on the sticks when inputting combos. The diamond D-pad on the Gambit has a rounded convex shape, comfortably sitting your pollex in the middle, making information technology easier to motion between directions. Striking the crucial quarter-circle rolling movements in fighting games felt super easy without over-shooting.

Victrix Gambit holding Source: Windows Primal

The rear of the Gambit features interchangeable back paddles, a choice of two or four paddles assigned using the "office" button at the front of the controller. A point of contention for me, the paddles felt simultaneously handy and frustrating, something nosotros will get to later. On the plus side, the paddles helped immensely with accessibility. My partner has a genetic status that restricts her finger movement, then binding the two back paddles to LB and RB meant she could keep two fingers permanently on the triggers. Having four paddles attached would undoubtedly be an advantage for competitive play, keeping all fingers firmly in place while accessing critical inputs.

Keeping the Gambit and its parts rubber is the hard-vanquish "tournament carrying example" included in the box. Flaunting a gorgeous design, it serves a great purpose in neatly holding the tiny accessories and detachable USB-C cablevision. The Gambit carrying case blueprint mirrors that of the Xbox Aristocracy Series 2 but without the same charging dock functionality since it lacks wireless applied science. Non exactly the error of Victrix, including the case helps justify its price point and promote a premium feel to get-go the reliance on its USB cablevision.

Victrix Gambit: The negative

Victrix Gambit rear Source: Windows Central

We have to talk about the elephant in the room: the lack of wireless technology. Once more, this is non the fault of Victrix since Corsair owns patents for wireless controllers and limits what other companies can do.

Though the included cablevision is lengthy (3m), information technology certainly has its downsides. If y'all live in a home similar to mine with rambunctious pets who see abaft cables equally toys, then you might find disconnections are more frequent than you would like. The heavy-duty USB-C cablevision does lock adequately firmly into place, but being tied to the console all the same feels similar a downside for the asking cost.

In terms of practicality, the dorsum paddles on the Gambit certainly have their uses. Unfortunately, I found myself also often pressing them by mistake whenever I held the controller in ane mitt. For deportment like jumping and melee attacks in games, at that place were multiple times where I leaned on the paddles past accident. A reach for refreshments during stealthy sections in sneaking games had my grapheme suddenly jumping for the ceiling or punching walls because the paddle rested also firmly into my palm.

Pulling each trigger feels similar smooth plastic with barely any resistance.

The Gambit, admittedly, was designed for intense competitive gaming, so perhaps taking breaks was never in the design document. A flat panel replacing the back paddles would have been greatly appreciated, instead of having to choose between two paddles or iv since I found them to exist too sensitive to an unintended press. The Gambit is a cheap way of obtaining an Xbox controller with paddles, but if yous take no intention of using them, you lot will find them more cumbersome than convenient.

The triggers might offer adaptable stop positions with the "clutch button" having five settings, merely the springs are just too weak. Pulling each trigger feels like smooth plastic with barely any resistance, something a stronger spring could take fixed. For racing games, the triggers are too loose to control the pressure of your acceleration and braking. Better to stick to the shortest trigger stop if you program to play shooters since the slightest pull counts every bit a shot.

Victrix Gambit: Should you buy information technology?

Victrix Gambit display Source: Windows Central

The Victrix Gambit is a refreshing change from the usual third-party bargain-basement controllers, offering solid and comfortable structure. With its calibration software bachelor on both Xbox and PC, setting upwardly the Gambit exactly how you desire it is super like shooting fish in a barrel. Its potential for customization is gigantic, and the support for Dolby Atmos extends its usefulness to some of the best headsets available.

Yous should purchase this if ...

You lot desire a competitive edge in gaming
Accessibility helps yous play

You shouldn't buy this if ...

Y'all don't demand extra dorsum paddles
Trailing cables would be an issue

There's no getting effectually the lack of wirelessness. As far as wired controllers go, the Gambit is a fantastic contender. Nonetheless, you lot should seriously consider how practical the private components will be for you earlier splashing out on this $100 controller.

The Victrix Gambit serves best as a wired alternative to the Xbox Elite Series 2 controller or a cheaper version of the Razer Wolverine V2. Adaptable paddles, sticks, and triggers mean anyone looking for a competitive edge in gaming will benefit from the Gambit.

Victrix Gambit

Bottom line: What the Victrix Gambit lacks in wirelessness, it makes up for with build quality and customization. The USB-C cable provides a latency so depression that you can forgive its cablevision tethering you to the console or PC. Competitive gamers will have a field day with the components and back paddles, all for a reasonable cost.

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