Nacon REVOLUTION X Unlimited controller review — Unlimited power in the palm of your hand

Getting ahead of the competition can be difficult with those flimsy stock controllers. Xbox Elite controllers were a step in the right direction to give controller players more control over their games, but still left much to be desired. However, the latest contender in the Xbox pro controller market has stepped up. Our friends at Nacon were kind enough to send us their latest model, the REVOLUTION X Unlimited controller, and we’ve been hard on the sticks to see how it can take our competitive gaming experience to the next level. With a controller like this, I’m sure you’ll never go back.

Admittedly, I was a little intimidated when I first got my hands on this controller. I’m so used to the standard Xbox controller, having dabbled a little with pro-style controllers in the past, but never feeling overly confident with any of them. The REVOLUTION X Unlimited (or RXU) is built for the competitive gamer, with many features and options that let players take full control of virtually every aspect of the game. This isn’t just for shooting games as there are also options catered towards racing, sports, and fighting games as well. Getting started on this controller definitely had a learning curve, but once I figured out all of the bits and bobs, I was well on my way to amping up my controller game.

Right out of the box, the RXU is packing the heat to get us started. Everything we need is tucked away in a convenient and durable storage case, including the USB-A to USB-C charging cable, USB dongle, controller docking station, customization kit, and microfiber cloth. It all fits neatly inside the case, able to be put in your luggage if you need to take it on the go, or even to just keep everything safe when it’s not being used.

The controller itself is of a sturdy build, made with good materials that keep the controller sitting comfortably in your hands. It is a hair heavier than the standard Xbox controller, with more weight able to be added by simply popping off the back of each controller arm. There are a few different weight options to choose from, depending on how hefty you want the controller to feel. I like the controller’s default weight, so I left it alone. You have two options for the d-pad, either the disk or the plus, which are easily swappable as they are held on primarily with magnets.

The things I did experiment with right away were the thumb sticks and the triggers. Like other pro-style controllers, the RXU has the trigger switch feature, reducing how much the trigger has to be pulled to get a response. What makes this trigger switch stand out, however, is how the click style also changes. The main button presses on this controller (A/B/X/Y, d-pad, and back buttons) are like the click of a mouse. When engaging the hair trigger, it becomes a mouse click as well. Unfortunately, the main and secondary bumpers were left out of having this feature. This mouse click is a huge step up from how standard face buttons, and triggers, feel; it’s crisp and satisfying, feeling more reassuring even when I’m scrambling.

The thumb sticks feel great. Unlike the analog sticks used by standard controllers, the RXU uses Hall Effect thumbsticks. Analog sticks use electrical resistance to detect movement, which becomes unreliable over time as it relies on physical contact of moving parts, resulting in stick drift, especially when a controller’s sticks are held in a specific position for some time. Hall Effect sticks, on the other hand, use magnets and electrical conductors to determine position and movement, reducing the wear that causes stick drift. The customization kit contains thumb stick accessories, such as taller and domed thumbpad replacements and also stick shaft additions to keep the stick movements tight.

Now that we’ve unpacked the controller, it’s almost time to game. To get started with the RXU, we had to grab the new REVOLUTION X Unlimited software for both the Xbox and PC. This software will help you keep your controller up-to-date with the latest firmware, as well as being the hub where you make all your button customizations. Keep in mind, the original REVOLUTION X controller software is still out there, so make sure you download the right app. The controller will need to be plugged in with the charging cord for the application to fully open, and when it does, you will be prompted to do your first firmware update. After the update is complete, you’ll be able to dive right into the meat and potatoes of this controller. It is also important to note that your profiles for Xbox and PC are not saved to the controller directly and are therefore device-specific.

Intimidation set in again as I started digging into the app. After selecting the platform, I was met with a screen that showed four default profiles, each for different game types. Tabs along the top take us to where profiles can be created, viewed, and customized. There is a lot packed in here that the novice gamer won’t likely care to dive into too much, but it’s definitely worthwhile to check out button assignments. Also, if you have chosen to use any of the stick shafts, you will need to go in and select which one is being used on each stick as it does alter the curve of the stick movement. If you don’t make this selection in the app, your thumbsticks will not register correctly in game, making it so you can barely move or look around.

A small display on the controller shows which mode the controller is on (Xbox or PC) as well as battery life, connectivity method, button profile, and mic status. These status icons should be larger on the screen, however, the current setup has them all along the top of the display, and they’re pretty small. I know we wanna show off the cool name of this totally amazing controller, but these icons provide crucial information that I would like to be able to see better, especially since I have declining vision. A small button next to the left bumper lets you make some adjustments on the fly, such as audio settings, some additional shortcut mapping, and connectivity settings.

The one thing I would like to see with any of these pro-style controllers is the ability to individually map keyboard keys to different buttons as well. This controller certainly possesses the capability with four back buttons and the two extra bumpers, but right now that feature is not available. For now, I have all of those buttons unbound as I don’t need more than one button to do the same function.

Ok, it’s finally time to jump into a game. Those who know me know that I am a fan of the shooter games, particularly Rainbow Six Siege and (some) Call of Duty. I hopped right into some matches to test out the waters, which is also how I found out about the additional settings needed for the stick shafts, and I was surprised. While I’m not up there in skill with the likes of Shroud or Jynxi, the difference is noticeable. Talking about the features is one thing, but feeling and seeing them in action is another. The thumb sticks felt tight and on point, even if my aim really wasn’t. The hair trigger click was something to get used to, however, in comparison to how other pro-style controllers do their hair trigger as just a half trigger pull, this was a huge improvement. Everything is quieter and smoother as well, leading to fewer distractions and more confidence in my gameplay.

It is important to remember that the tool is only as good as the one who wields it. Did I feel more confident jumping into matches with this new hardware and its cool, mouse-clicky buttons? Yes. Did this controller make me a pro overnight? Absolutely not. Can it help elevate my gameplay? Most definitely! Finding the right tools for the job can certainly get you on your way to a better and brighter future.

I didn’t just use the RXU for my shooting games, however. I also played some Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Shadow of the Tomb Raider. It’s safe to say that this controller, while marketed as a tool for the competitive gamer, works in any setting with any game, rendering my current standard Xbox controller unneeded. Sorry Microsoft.

So, as you can see, the Nacon REVOLUTION X Unlimited controller comes packed with a ton of features and options for the gamer looking to take it up another notch. Of course, this does come at a cost, with this controller retailing for $199.90 USD. This is in line with other controllers in this particular market, and, when comparing it to the competition, I’ll say that it’s a pretty good value.