Game controller specialist CRKD has finally turned its attentions to the more premium end of the market, and on the face of it, its all-new Ult Pro promises an impressive amount of gaming tech for its relatively modest $70 price tag.

Announced this week, the Ult Pro PC and Nintendo Switch controller offers TMR thumbsticks, six remappable inputs, adjustable Hall-effect triggers, 1,000Hz PC polling, a charging dock, and more — for a very reasonable $69.99. It comes in three versions: Smoke Black with either Nintendo Switch or PC button layouts, while the real star of the show is the PAL Grey option with a Switch layout.

CRKD’s hardware has seemingly always delivered up to now — its debut Nitro Deck for the OG Switch was so good it was frankly mandatory for serious players, and the Neo S was a class-leading retro pad when it launched in May 2024. It’s quite a bold move that CRKD opted to release Rock Band guitars and minuscule Switch pads before attempting to make a mark in the standard controller market, but it’s better late than never.

The Ult Pro, which you’d mistake for a standard Xbox controller any day of the week, is really pushing its TMR thumbsticks, as it should. TMR is cheap enough and way better than Hall-effect sticks, which none of the three major consoles’ standard-issue controllers have implemented (for shame!). CRKD has paired these with a “no deadzone mode” and adjustable stick sensitivity through its app.

For PC players, wired mode supports a 1,000Hz polling rate. Most serious players won’t notice much difference from other competitive controllers, which generally offer the same, but it does the job. The triggers are also configurable, use Hall Effect sensors, and include trigger-stop switches. They work as analog triggers on PC, although Switch owners get only digital inputs because of console limitations.

The controller has six additional remappable buttons: four rear inputs and two more on the shoulders. Any button can be remapped, and CRKD supports macros, multiple profiles, and two four-way toggle controls for additional functions.

It’s an unusually substantial specification sheet for $69.99 — probably the best I’ve seen for this price in a little while, especially given its form factor and the dock.

CRKD Ult Pro Controller key specifications in full

  • TMR thumbsticks: Magnetic sticks designed to improve precision and eliminate traditional stick drift, alongside adjustable sensitivity and a No Deadzone Mode.
  • Adjustable Hall-effect triggers: Each trigger can independently switch between short and long travel.
  • Six additional remappable inputs: Four rear buttons and two shoulder-zone controls can be programmed alongside the controller’s standard inputs.
  • Three connectivity options: 2.4GHz wireless via the included dongle, Bluetooth, and USB-C wired play, with support for Switch 2, Switch, PC, mobile devices, tablets, and smart TVs.
  • 1,000Hz PC polling: Wired PC mode supports a 1,000Hz polling rate for lower input latency.
  • Charging dock and rechargeable battery: Both come as standard, while AA batteries are also supported, and the dock can charge a separately sold spare battery for hot swapping.
  • Onboard profiles: Multiple control configurations can be stored and switched depending on the game.
  • Adjustable rumble: Players can change the controller’s vibration response across what CRKD describes as a wide dynamic frequency range.
  • Swappable controls: Stick tops and D-pads can be replaced with alternatives sold separately.
  • Turbo mode and macros: Repeated inputs can be automated, and custom macros can be assigned.
  • CRKD Companion App: Handles remapping, triggers, stick sensitivity, profiles, and firmware updates, and adds the controller to CRKD’s True Collection system.

On paper, the Ult Pro might be a winner, but hopefully I’ll be able to get my hands on one for a true verdict — sometimes, these things sound too good to be true, but CRKD has a habit of pulling it out of the bag.