How to choose eSports controllers?

Here are the must-check features of various controller types.

Among the essentials for an eSports win, besides skill, is a good controller. It is a must-have for importers to know what main controller features players need.

1. Console controllers & joysticks

The most worn-out parts of the controller or joystick are the buttons because they tend to be pressed hard when the competition heats up. Hence, the durability of the buttons is vital for gamers and what importers should test.

Buttons are also part of game strategy as the quicker they are pressed, the more moves or Actions Per Minute (APM) a player can do. A high APM is one of the traits the top pros have, in RTS games, for example. Given this, importers should check and choose the unit that has remappable buttons, allowing the gamer to assign certain functions closer to each other for faster moves.

2. Steering wheels

Driving is better when there's a real wheel than a joystick. The things to check on the wheel are the buttons, resistance, and grip. Buttons should be quick to respond. A high resistance means the wheel is difficult to turn while low means easy. Lastly, the grip must be comfortable, with leather or soft material, like that of a real car.

3. Light guns

Toy guns aren't just for arcades nowadays. These shooting controllers are for AR and VR applications as well, growing categories in eSports. The latest must-have and -inspect features for these are quick pairing to Bluetooth devices and game compatibility. Some AR and VR guns can already work on 20 or more games.

4. Mice

Mouse clicks are like button presses. The quicker and the more the player clicks, the more strategies can be executed within a certain time limit. Importers should select the mouse with the longest click lifespans and fastest response times. There are units that last 20 million clicks nowadays, or about 10 years of use, and work within 1 ms.

5. Keyboards

The game gets more exciting as gamers feel it, literally. That's why keyboards that light up and sync with action moments, or vibrate are becoming popular. Mainstream gaming device and accessory brand Razer even released "Hypersense", a full set of gaming products, including keyboards, that vibrate and more.

The gallery below has gaming controllers with must-have features.