Why is the Razer Wildcat controller for Xbox One not wireless? Well, the main reason given by Razer is that the controller is designed for eSports, and that means that a stable connection and minimum latency are top priorities… and you need a wire for those. Besides which, keeping a wire handy also makes it easy to use with a PC (which it can be) but that doesn’t mean it couldn’t be wireless as well. And (to be all glass half full) the generous 3 metre cable means never having to change batteries…
Being wired is really the Wildcat’s biggest weakness. Some of its strengths may, however, be seen as a matter of taste when compared to its direct competitor, the Xbox Elite controller. It also, for example, offers additional controls but, instead of having four removable paddles at the base of the unit, it has two additional triggers at the base (which are removable) and two auxiliary shoulder buttons just on the inside of the triggers. Those positions (in my opinion, at least) are a bit better than Xbox’s offering, because they’re easier to find when you’re not looking at the device.
Additionally, it has a much better audio connection system, thanks to an integrated volume control button set at the base of the controller. You won’t need an audio adapter here, and the system for adjusting audio on the Wildcat is far better than the Xbox adapter in every way. The buttons serve as a “shift” function while the D-Pad controls levels. It’s a great, intuitive way to handle volume control.
Like the Elite, the Wildcat also offers hair trigger settings. But on the Elite, these can only be set mechanically, while the Wildcat allows for either mechanical or profile based stings to be made. That means if you switch profiles, you don’t have to unlock the mechanical switches to change to or from hair trigger mode – the controller does it as part of its profile saving function. It saves two profiles, by the way, just like the Elite.
The Wildcat doesn’t come with interchangeable sticks or D-Pads, but it does come with stick caps and stick-on grips (although these are a total pain in the butt to apply). Additionally, the face buttons follow the standard Xbox colour coding, rather than the black buttons the Elite opted for, making it easier for those used to those colours.
Performance wise, it’s sublime, probably due to that permanent wire and, pound for pound, it dukes it out very well with the Elite. What it comes down to then, is a matter of price and, perhaps more importantly, whether you’ll be able to live with a wired controller. For some, that won’t be an issue – and they will likely love the Wildcat.
While being wired might hurt the Wildcat for some users, it has a practical application. And it’s a great controller if you can get past that.
SPECS
- 4 extra buttons
- 3m cable
- Integrated volume control
- 2 profiles
- Hair trigger technology
- Wired