Scuf Instinct Pro Xbox controller review — Improvise, adapt, overcome

Recently, I got my hands on my first SCUF controller with the Reflex Pro. That PS5 controller was truly fantastic, and even if a bit pricey, made for a few spectacular performances from yours truly while gaming. When I picked up the SCUF Instinct Pro Xbox controller, I figured it’d be a similar experience. It’s nice when expectations are met, and they have honestly been raised after my time using the Instinct Pro, which is every bit as good if not better than the Reflex Pro.

Opening the box you’ll find the Instinct Pro controller, a six foot USB-C cable, and some additional thumbsticks. Two double A batteries are also included, as this is a custom Xbox Series controller made by SCUF. That said, I’d love to see SCUF make a version that has a built-in rechargeable battery in the future. The cable in the box is a nice braided one just like the Reflex Pro comes with, and as I play wired, I appreciate SCUF giving gamers a long cable. I also feel a little shorted as this one doesn’t include a carrying case like the Reflex Pro, which is a miss given how expensive these controllers can be.

Picking up the Instinct Pro, it’s very lightweight. The Xbox Series controller already was, so it’s great to see the tweaks incorporated don’t add a lot of extra weight. I went with the Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 design, but as with the Reflex Pro, there are a ton of available colors and patterns to choose from for this controller. Even better, this controller has a fully removable faceplate compared to the Reflex Pro, meaning you can customize your Instinct Pro without needing to buy a whole new controller. The Xbox design might make that easier, but I love SCUF’s choice to make this an integral part of the controller.

If you’ve used an Xbox Series controller, the layout isn’t going to be foreign to you on the Instinct Pro. The thumbsticks are offset, with a D-Pad and four face buttons adorning the face of the controller. Your Xbox button, options and menu, and share button occupy the top middle. A fantastic bonus button is a mute right above the audio ports on the bottom, with an LED indicator that represents one of the three profiles available on your controller. It’s largely standard, but familiarity will keep you comfortable as you learn how to use the extras.

Speaking of comfort, the grip is sublime. I’ll always love a good textured rubber grip, and SCUF’s build works nicely. When I play, I’m playing for long sessions at a time, so this is a much bigger deal than some understand.

SCUF’s design for the Instinct Pro brings trigger locks, back buttons, and swappable thumbsticks with it. Starting with the thumbsticks, these are similar to the Reflex Pro in that you remove the faceplate and pull off the entire stick as opposed to replacing a cap. I’m still just as anxious with this controller as with the former, but these do seem to slip on and off a tad easier.

Just like the Reflex Pro, I had to take some time adjusting to the back buttons. The Instinct Pro has four, with these built into the body of the back of the controller. This choice results in a design I’m not very fond of, with two outside buttons that sit in your grip well, but two that face the opposite direction on the inside. The picture below shows what I’m talking about, and the issue arises from these inside buttons not resting in your natural finger placement. I’ve managed to alter my grip to make things work, but it isn’t effortless. It works, but this isn’t my preferred back button solution.

Meanwhile, the trigger locks are fantastic. A switch sits below each trigger, awaiting your flipping it on or off. This allows you to enjoy the full pull if you prefer that, but also swap in seconds to instant triggers. When I say instant, I really mean it, as it moves only as much as clicking your mouse button. Something a bit funny to me: my index fingers started hurting a bit at the beginning of using these because I was so used to a full pull; that’s how quick the instant triggers are. There’s a nice mouse-like click as well when you press in, so you know your input has gone through.

After playing different games with the Instinct Pro, I came away impressed. The precision this controller offers is an example of peak performance. Hitting all of my shots in Call of Duty with the accurate tuning of the thumbsticks, using a back button when throwing a pass to a wide receiver in EA Sports College Football 25, scoping in quickly with the instant triggers with a sniper in Cyberpunk; all felt natural as this controller is an extension of you. Say what you will about the price, say what you will about it not being a fully “brand new” controller: you’ll have a hard time matching the Instinct Pro’s effectiveness.

As is with the Reflex Pro, I bemoan SCUF’s lack of software for tuning. I’ll always like a digital way to modify my inputs, and companies like Victrix have done this very well. The ability to manually customize your profile is simple however, with steps outlined clearly in their gear guides that assist you in mapping your profiles out. Given the controller’s functionality is largely tuned physically I’ll give it to them, but there’s a whole world of capability awaiting if SCUF ever decides to add this feature.

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