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

Victrix Gambit unbox Source: Windows Cardinal

With a relatively modest range, I felt a sure level of skepticism about 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 bill as their sole controller, designed for tournament-level play. Physically it resembles the Xbox Aristocracy controller, consummate with a share button. The dual-core processor inside uses one core for near-zero (2.1ms) input latency, and the other handles Dolby Atmos sound. The Gambit is compatible with Windows PC, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One.

Entering the tertiary-political party Xbox controller scene is catchy, with Corsair owning patents relating to wireless engineering. Victrix pricing their controller cheaper than the Xbox Elite Serial 2 seems bonny but losing that wireless liberty is a caveat that requires consideration. The Gambit advertises itself as the "world's fastest licensed Xbox controller." So if wireless isn't an option for Victrix, how does the Gambit compare to the all-time 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 functioning.

The Skillful

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

The Bad

No wireless
Back paddles are too sensitive
Weak trigger resistance

Victrix Gambit: Cost and availability

Victrix Gambit box Source: Windows Central

Victrix sells the Gambit through its official store and major retailers, including Amazon, Best Purchase, and Walmart. Enjoying skillful stock availability, the Gambit comes in 1 unmarried configuration with white and majestic colors.

Victrix Gambit: The positive

Victrix Gambit Parts Source: Windows Fundamental

Initially dislocated as to why anyone would need so many interchangeable components for a controller, trying out each piece gradually convinced me. Having never dipped into the waters of due east-sports gaming myself (ranked Halo: Space multiplayer is about as far as I might go), I didn't see the benefits right away. After spending a few days playing various games, I finally understood.

The Victrix Gambit is customizable in many ways, including four thumbsticks and gates (the round plastic surrounding the sticks). The Gambit is uniform with Xbox and PC with the Victrix Control Hub software bachelor on both platforms, so I spent nearly of my time using it with my PC. The software allows y'all to calibrate the Gambit, adjust dead zones, and set custom audio profiles if you lot choose to connect headphones directly to the controller.

Non all PC games officially support controllers, often choosing to emulate keyboard input through the buttons and thumbsticks. Usually, this will work fine, but dead zones need a lot of adjustment to move the player in a straight line without wavering side to side. Using an octagonal thumbstick gate has a feeling much like my babyhood Nintendo 64 did, restricting the analog movement to eight sharp directions. I found this much easier to control my motility in commencement-person shooter games, leaving the right thumbstick on a rounded gate for precision aiming.

Victrix Gambit holding Source: Windows Central

The Gambit includes two magnetic faceplates swapped via an indentation on the bottom of the controller. The first plate is a white-colored plastic compatible with the thumbstick gates, which click into place from the rear. The other is a imperial-colored "match silencer" rubberized plate, not compatible with any gates. Designed for improved grip and reduced noise, this rubber plate adheres to a rounded gate style. Both faceplates are comfy, but the white plate is superior, still offering a textured grip around the palms and more customization options than the rubber alternative.

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 smoothen. 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 craft 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 move between directions. Striking the crucial quarter-circumvolve rolling movements in fighting games felt super piece of cake without over-shooting.

Victrix Gambit holding Source: Windows Primal

The rear of the Gambit features interchangeable back paddles, a choice of two or iv paddles assigned using the "function" button at the front of the controller. A signal 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 condition that restricts her finger move, so binding the two back paddles to LB and RB meant she could go on 2 fingers permanently on the triggers. Having four paddles attached would undoubtedly be an reward for competitive play, keeping all fingers firmly in place while accessing critical inputs.

Keeping the Gambit and its parts safe is the difficult-trounce "tournament carrying case" included in the box. Flaunting a gorgeous design, it serves a groovy purpose in neatly holding the tiny accessories and detachable USB-C cable. The Gambit carrying example pattern mirrors that of the Xbox Elite Series 2 merely without the same charging dock functionality since information technology lacks wireless engineering science. Non exactly the error of Victrix, including the case helps justify its price point and promote a premium feel to start the reliance on its USB cablevision.

Victrix Gambit: The negative

Victrix Gambit rear Source: Windows Central

We take to talk almost the elephant in the room: the lack of wireless technology. Again, this is not the fault of Victrix since Corsair owns patents for wireless controllers and limits what other companies tin practice.

Though the included cablevision is lengthy (3m), it certainly has its downsides. If you live in a dwelling similar to mine with rambunctious pets who meet trailing cables as toys, then y'all might find disconnections are more than frequent than you lot would like. The heavy-duty USB-C cable does lock fairly firmly into place, but being tied to the console even so feels like a downside for the asking toll.

In terms of practicality, the back paddles on the Gambit certainly accept their uses. Unfortunately, I plant myself as well often pressing them by mistake whenever I held the controller in i mitt. For actions like jumping and melee attacks in games, at that place were multiple times where I leaned on the paddles past accident. A accomplish for refreshments during stealthy sections in sneaking games had my grapheme all of a sudden jumping for the ceiling or punching walls considering 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, and so perhaps taking breaks was never in the pattern document. A flat panel replacing the back paddles would have been profoundly appreciated, instead of having to choose between ii paddles or four since I plant them to exist also sensitive to an unintended printing. The Gambit is a inexpensive way of obtaining an Xbox controller with paddles, only if yous have no intention of using them, yous will find them more cumbersome than convenient.

The triggers might offer adjustable stop positions with the "clutch button" having five settings, but the springs are just likewise weak. Pulling each trigger feels like polish plastic with barely whatsoever resistance, something a stronger jump could have fixed. For racing games, the triggers are as well loose to command the pressure of your acceleration and braking. Better to stick to the shortest trigger finish if y'all plan to play shooters since the slightest pull counts as a shot.

Victrix Gambit: Should you lot purchase information technology?

Victrix Gambit display Source: Windows Central

The Victrix Gambit is a refreshing alter from the usual third-political party bargain-basement controllers, offering solid and comfortable construction. With its calibration software available on both Xbox and PC, setting upward the Gambit exactly how y'all want it is super easy. Its potential for customization is gigantic, and the support for Dolby Atmos extends its usefulness to some of the best headsets available.

Y'all should buy this if ...

Y'all want a competitive edge in gaming
Accessibility helps you lot play

You lot shouldn't purchase this if ...

You don't need extra dorsum paddles
Abaft cables would be an outcome

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

The Victrix Gambit serves all-time as a wired culling to the Xbox Elite Serial 2 controller or a cheaper version of the Razer Wolverine V2. Adjustable 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 then low that you tin can forgive its cable tethering you to the console or PC. Competitive gamers will have a field 24-hour interval with the components and back paddles, all for a reasonable price.

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