Xbox's 'Improved' Elite Series 2 Controller Is Getting Mixed Feedback So Far

Sigh. Here I was thinking about getting one. Is there a viable alternative? I've heard some guys here talk about SCUF but I am green (pun intended) as far as controllers go and only evee had the ones made by the platform holder.

@gollumb82 I've had issues with the first Elite, and prior versions of SCUF pads, but I've had the latest SCUF design (based on the series x pad) for months now with no problems and it feels really good to hold & use. I'd definitely recommend the SCUF Instinct/Instinct Pro if your budget goes that far (they ain't cheap!)

Yeh my Elite 2 has the grip pealing off and sticky buttons. Also squeaky triggers. Shame as great pad otherwise.

All I want is the Xbox to have PlayStation style buttons where you don’t have to smash them down to register. I’d also like my PlayStation controller to have Xbox sticks as every stock PlayStation controller has very slippy sticks.

@Kezelpaso Is Scuf still just selling standard controllers that are effectively modded from wholesale shells for 900% up-charges though? I haven't looked at them in a while, but they used to just use stock controllers and enhance them, meaning all the flaws of stock controllers carry over for only hundreds of dollars. They're nice in the end, but no more durable than a normal cheap controller.

Mostly the same with Elite, too, of course.

Glad I stuck eiht my Elite Series 2. Helped someone troubleshoot one of these cores and right out of the box the thumb stick module was broken inside the controller housing.

So not only did they skimp on bringing modern controller features like gyro, but they can't get the build quality rogh to save their life.

I'm just waiting for the RROD equivalent on my Series Xes now to round out the joke this gen is becoming for Microsoft. 😢

@NEStalgia Their markups are still pretty ridiculous yeah, but they've improved quite a bit imo with this latest iteration. The Instinct has a proper wraparound grip that doesn't peel, magnetic parts like the Elite, and the company has been taken over by Corsair recently and that seems to have improved reliability, because SCUFs of old were unreliable. The fact that it's based on the Series X|S pad and not the last-gen one is a nice bonus too.

Have an Elite V2 and have put hundreds of hours into it since getting it last Christmas. Zero issues. It has ruined me. I don't think I can use any other controller anymore lol

Im very happy with my standard Series X controllers...

Microsoft just sucks at making accessories.
Another example is the Xbox Wireless Headset. Mine cracked at the part where the mic button is because it fell out of my hand, about 4 inches from my table. It's made out if the cheapest plastic.

But it doesn't matter, because people will continue to buy their stuff. And they can make them worse, while charging more.

Stick drift is the problem ive had the most they should be using hall effect sensors instead of potentiometers

never thought the standard controller wasn't enough. I tried these elite controllers before, they feel pretty much the same

@trev666 bring back the Saturn 3D Pad, hall effect ftw

I moved on to Scuf Instinct Pro. Disappointing to see they refuse to make quality of life changes that this controller needs (Built in rear buttons, joystick caps that don't fall out when pressed hard, early drift issues, trigger clickers vs physical trigger stops, hand grips that are prone to peeling). They needed a new iteration for this generation and instead we got a gutted version of the Scuf 2 with removed features that practically, defeat the entire purpose of it...

@Kezelpaso
I'll take a look at those, thanks!

Well, I'm not surprised. Despite the very clear design flaws (face buttons not depressing enough to make full contact with the connectors), the Elite v2 had a lot of good reviews and praise.

The short of it is that for whatever reason, most people just didn't encounter the fault, and aren't techy enough to test for, and find, the fault.

The most annoying aspect of the whole thing, is that the Elite pads are mostly fantastic. And the face button issue would have been a really easy and cheap fix. There's no excuse for not fixing it.

@trev666 Agreed. It isn't like they're not robust. I use them for wheel speed sensors on motorcycles where they're exposed to weather and never had a failure.

The only hand up I'd see is they'd likely have to do away with magnetically swapped parts as that would goof the readings.

At its base a hall effect sensor measures changes in hyper local magnetic fields by way of moving magnets.

Hah, sheesh. Who could’ve guessed! I actually picked up one myself (just sent my old black Series 2 for another replacement that I intend to sell when it arrives). I have tested my Core throughly and so far it’s without faults. Yes, really!

@Relygon Hopefully you're lucky like me then. I have an Elite Series 2 with no faults myself. Babying it for dear life because if it ever does fail, my chances of getting another functioning controller for my Xbox are nonexistent with their current quality assurance.

Feeling like a pleb with my standard Series controller..

@Kezelpaso Scuf is such a strange company. I'd really like to know how their real production and supply chain works. Super expensive or not they seem to mostly sell tarted up stock controllers. They may be nicely modded, but they're still mostly just a modded stock controller it seems. I doubt they're buying whole controllers wholesale and ripping them apart (they used to do that, by hand which was part of the expense.) But they must have some kind of contract with both MS and Sony to buy parts from the same supply chain from their controller production as sort of an alternate final assembly factory with their own to-spec molded body panels with more cutouts or textures. It's a really strange setup. They obviously aren't making controllers whole to the exact spec/dimensions of proprietary controllers, so they're more of a production partner of some sort. (Though it still means you get the same cheap sticks and buttons MS sells for a fraction of the price - but Scuf makes nice caps.)

People laugh at Razer, but at least razer builds their own controllers and uses microswitches instead of membrane buttons.

@NEStalgia I have a literal box full of failed Razer controllers and 5 headsets of theirs to show why we laugh them.

Hell, the Razer headset I use now is only usable because I cut out the Godawful microphone it came wire an soldered in an antlion modmic in this place.

@InterceptorAlpha do you break everything you touch or something? Lmao

@Fishticon The Elite V1 was a travesty of QA, but the rest seems sadly par for the course. The same conversations are had about DS5, joycon, etc. Modern controllers just are not sufficiently robust. The parts are often exposed to extreme forces, and the specs for the parts are very lightweight and not nearly industrial quality to endure the forces we subject them to. I can accept that in the stock controllers, but these expensive premium controllers and "specialty" controller brands at high prices, there's really no way to accept that they don't go all out on an industrial build, especially when their marketing centers around high durability when it's the same parts as the stock model.

@InterceptorAlpha Razer gets a lot of QA flack, but I haven't really seen anything to indicate their QA is more bad than any of the 1st party stuff. They're all using the same lousy sticks, that develop the same lousy drift. They have more "sticky button" failures, but that's because they're one of the only companies using individual microswitches per button instead of a membrane pad, so the tech is more prone to individual button failure. The price you pay for clicky switches. (I'm not praising Razer quality particularly, the $100 Kishi 2 is the best device around for the job but there's no denying parts just feel cheap (and it uses the Joycon's freaking disaster sticks), just that I think the rep they get isn't quite deserved. I still have Razer mice from the '00s that are beat to heck and still click on. Scuf is still using the same stock sticks and buttons MS is, warts and all.

This far into the elite controller's history of complaints and development and this sh_t still prevalent. Simply no excuse.

Legacy issues should be nonexistent, more advanced features implemented. ESPECIALLY for the price being charge. But again, not the case. Very sad.

I just want a quiet Xbox controller. That is all.

Had the new elite 2 core controller since yesterday
All seems good and well and all operating to perfection.
Have the thumb sticks working on max tension, seems spot on.

If I was going to pay this much for a controller ..might aswell just get the black elite 2

@Carck @NEStalgia If that was the case my Elite Series 2 would be broken. Razer QA is just straight up Godawful. Atlwst with the Elite there is a chance of getting a controller that lasts. Can't say I've ever had a Razer controller last more than 6 months. And I'm very gentle with my hardware. My Series Xs, for example, are hanging so they can't even be accident bumped or suck up dust from surroundings.

Even their "high end" gaming laptops have had numerous issues from poor part fitment to battery bloat after less than a year of use. Every Razer Blade, for example, up u til the newest 2022 models had speaker screens that would literally just pop out.

The headphones I'm talking about, Nari Ultimates were released with a garbage microphone from the box. It was so bad they EOL'd the headset faster than any hardware launch I've ever seen.

I don't buy scuff controllers for that very reason.

@Fishticon how much you getting paid by Sony…lmao

@NEStalgia
Come on fellow xboxers let have some fun and play predication, whoever is right next year gets bragging rights.
The big 3 all due by the end of June 2023, according to Xbox showcase:
My prediction:
Redfall, on time, released by end of June 2023
Forza, delayed, September 2023
Starfield, delayed, November 2023.
Only one prediction each no cheating please 😊

@c14nhl yikes didn’t those recently release? In the last year or am I way off

Edit: just checked and seen they dropped a couple years ago. Sucks that it’s deteriorating, I’d want something like that to last for a lot longer

@Cikajovazmaj you totally shouldn’t. A lot of the high dollar stuff fails, as many of the comments attest. As long as you’re not buying those trash Rock Candy controllers you’re gonna be ok for a while.

@Dezzy70 lol, IDK, Starfield just seems prone to another delay. It's Bethesda...when do they ever release by the third delay (or when do they release a working game if they do? ) Redfall will arrive on time, go under the radar, be forgotten, PS fanboys will use it as an example of "weak" first party, but it will be a cult classic people will be demanding BC enhancements on 15 years from now and calls for a sequel will be like Mother 3. Forza will be on time and critically acclaimed and great. Because that's how Forza rolls.

And this is why I don't bother wasting money buying these PRO ELITE... EDGE... Whatever... etc controllers. If companies can't release a decent base controller without issue. I don't expect them to release a high end one without issues.

Microsoft also isn't a hardware company. Expecting them to release a decent hardware accessory is not going to happen. We've been lucky that the Xbox One/One S/ One X and Series X|S haven't had major issues.

@NEStalgia
I’m liking the look of Redfall and just right now play deathloop and enjoying so should be good.
I don’t think Forza will make June 2023.

@Dezzy70 Forza's been in the oven a long time with a pretty solid dev and only the one delay. I don't think there's too much reason to expect a delay on that one. Forza and the Forzatech engine changes for Playground to use are their only real projects, and they don't have a history of missing.

i can't figure out how to change the color on my elite. it says everything is updated

@NEStalgia
Hope you right and yes you do have a good point about Forza and also FH.
Looking forward to Redfall most so far.
FH is great for me, but not a natural at track racers
But of course will give it ago on GP.
Starfield has the chance to be a megaton AAA, but we shall see.

I've always been satisfied with my Elite V1, in fact I prefer it's design over the V2 as it's got removable batteries. I just use it on my PC as my dedicated PC controller plugged in with the batteries out. It's always felt great to use and it's got a nice weight to it.

That said I have always preferred the standard controllers for my Xbox consoles, especially when they're special editions with rubber grips.

@NEStalgia Those people don't care much for gameplay or challenge, they care about graphics and spectacle. Sony knows this, so that's what they focus on.

@Reptilio It only works on the Elite V2 and Core.

Open the accessories app, it is in the same spot you've always been a Le to adjust brightness at.

@JayJ I use my Elite Series 1. The only issue was after my nephew dropped it on hardwood floors. The left trigger motor would buzz loudly. I thought it or another part had broken loose. Turns out the motor was damaged, and I recently replace it myself.

I've shied away from the elite series 2 because of negative reports. The recent Core release probably means no Series 3 for another year.

@Reptilio I struggled to find this option. If you go into the edit profile section, at the top you have options to amend/delete. Once you enter the amend section, where you change the button config, there is now an option at the top right to change the colour. I’ve found it really useful!

@Dusk_Actual yeh, released a couple of years ago, not the newer “core” version. For the price I’d expect better. Hearing the “core” having similar issues. To be fair I’d purchase a new one if confident the quality issues had been addressed, doesn’t seem to be the case though.

@Cthulhu18 Just because I'm telling my
bad experience doesn't mean I'm being paid by the competition.
I don't have to like everything Xbox. It's not a cult.
How much you being paid by Microsoft?

@Fishticon right very witty or half so, Mr. itsucks—- why would you even be here if all of Microsoft sucks—- might want to hire Camille Vazquez

@c14nhl Thank you my man