8Bitdo M30 Bluetooth Controller for Switch, PC, macOS and Android with Sega Genesis & Mega Drive Style

Now theres something you dont read everyday. This controller is an improvement on the original Genesis/Mega Drive controller in so many ways. The original controller could feel too big, hollow, occasionally clunky and often marred by a thick cable. This wireless bluetooth controller is nice and smooth in your hands, compact but not too tiny. There is an added weight to it, likely due to the internal battery, that really gives it a quality feel. Best of all is the big beautiful mushy buttons and 8-way directional pad that are perfect for Segas iconic brawlers like the Streets of Rage and Golden Axe series and run and gun classic Gunstar Heroes. Highly recommended for any retro Sega fan.

Ive had these controllers for a few months to see how they handle. Its a solid choice for mobile gaming and pc emulation. Pros: - solid feel - excellent battery life - works well with phone or pc emulation via bluetooth. Zero noticeable latency with HD TV. Cons: - hypersensitive when mapping/key binding. - does not work well with other non-sega emulators. That could be due to the emulators. I had difficulty using them with SNES ans NES. Not a deal breaker but it takes more time to get it to work. Super easy to use and excellent quality!

I purchased this along with the Genesis-Style Retro Receivers by 8bitdo. I have been a fan of 8bitdos products since the beginning, but the quality of these two products just wasnt up to their usual standard. I am posting this review on the Retro Receiver page as well. The Retro Receiver was using firmware v. 0.21. The M30s were on firmware v. 1.10. They were being used with Analogues Mega SG. There were no major electronics between myself and the console that could have caused interference with the signal. The controller was fully charged. I was approximately 6 feet away from the console. The bad: - One of the Receivers I purchased did not sit nicely into the socket and had to be forced in. - The controller/receiver would periodically drop the signal and I would lose all control over the game I was playing. I could visibly see that the retro receivers status light was blinking, so I know it lost the signal. - Often, the inputs I made would cease but then catch up later on. So, my character would stop moving for about 2 seconds and then would start respond to all the commands that it had been ignoring. - I did not initially notice much in the way of general lag (when it wasnt dropping the signal), but when I gave up on the 8bitdos and plugged in my original genesis controller, I could instantly notice a huge difference. There is an obvious ever-present delay when compared with wired controllers that make gameplay with the M30s seem sluggish. The Good: - The build quality on the M30s was phenomenal. The buttons and d-pad are perfect and the texturing on the plastic has a premium feel. Overall: The product may end up being good at some point due to firmware updates but at the time that I had them, they simply did not work properly. I bought a pair of both and both exhibited the same issues (though one was arguably less reliable). They have been returned for a refund.

The headline says it all. If youre someone who prefers playing games with a D-Pad instead of a control stick, this controller has the best D-Pad of 8Bitdos entire product line in my opinion. Its very comfortable to use for extended play sessions and an absolute joy to hold.

Fantastic for playing shmups on my PC. Connects via Bluetooth to my Fire HD 10 tablet. The touch control emulation doesnt work, but it does play games which otherwise have controller support. Unfortunately, after using this I couldnt go back to using the d-pad on the Sn30 Pro controller for anything requiring precision. The face buttons do feel a bit cheap, but thats pretty normal even for the original Sega controllers. If youre looking for the best d-pad this M30 is worth considering.

I love this thing, its a bit smaller than a retro Genesis controller, but thats a good thing, it feels much nicer to hold. Build quality is fantastic. Buttons feel perfect, maybe even better than genuine Sega controllers. I dont notice any input lag at all, and amazingly it works with their other bluetooth receivers. Yes, you can play Super Metroid on SNES with a Genesis/Saturn style controller if you want to anger the gods, and it works perfectly fine.

I initially ordered the 2.4ghz version for my Sega Genesis. I ended up returning it due to the fact it is currently plagued with connection issues. I bought the Bluetooth controller and receiver instead as 8Bitdos SNES & NES Bluetooth controller/receiver combo worked quite well for me in the past. Im happy to say the M30 + Genesis receiver have worked flawlessly since I received them. My only complaint is the use of USB-C to charge the controller instead of micro USB. The M30 2.4ghz uses micro, so not sure why they decided to change it up with the M30 Bluetooth. Its just another cable I have to keep handy.

Seriously could not be happier with this controller for fighting games specifically. Switch and PC are what I typically play on and this works flawlessly. Its very usefully that on the back of the controller it says what to press depending on which system you are plugging the controller into. Works sooooooo well with street fighter games. Dragon Punches are not a pain anymore. I was using the switch pro controller and a dualshock before when i played on pad, but those days are finally over. I will most likely buy more of these controllers just to have and im interested in checking out the d-pads on other 8bitdo controllers. THANK YOU FOR MAKING THIS CONTROLLER!!! 4 Month Update - Still works like a champ! I really love this controller! The Dpad is the best I have found in any controller so far. Also, this works perfectly with the Mayflash Magic S (for PS4) Rev 1.1 This converter allows you to use the M30 on PS4. So now im able to use the same controller for Switch, PC, and PS4! I just bought another one of these controllers so when I play with friends, we have 2 great fighting game controllers. The only improvement I could hope for in the future, is a version with a headphone jack. Thanks again 8bitdo!

I didnt have a great controller for 2d games, and ended up going with this. Ive heard generally good things about 8Bitdo and the saturn-style d-pad seemed nice. Theres very little to complain about. It feels comfortable in the hands, has a reasonable amount of weight to it, and the buttons and d-pad feel good to press. The way the shoulder buttons are put together, they wont depress if you try to press them from the inner edges. Not much of a problem though, just had to adjust to it. Switching the d-pad and input modes is pretty seamless and the button combos are easy to remember. Its been totally compatible with everything Ive thrown at it. Strangely, in x-input mode the right shoulder button is mapped to a full left analog press, while the Z and C buttons are mapped to the right shoulder and a full right analog press. The star button also didnt seem to be recognized at all. I can only assume these are due to x-input limitations or something, and so far they havent caused any issues outside of having to remap some controls occasionally. Of course, the most important thing for me is the d-pad and it delivers. Feels great to use and I havent had any issues with inaccurate inputs like, for instance, the Switch pro controller has. Ive mostly used it for platformers so far, so I cant really say how well itd hold up in something more demanding like a fighting game, but for what Ive used it for its held up great.

Great for all your 2D games. I use mine to play SNES/Genesis ROMs and the Sonic 1/2 mobile ports; have been for well over a year now. The Bluetooth connection is always reliable, the range of use is good, the battery life is more than satisfactory, and the overall feel of the controller is great. The face buttons feel just like the classic Sega 6-button Genesis controller. If any improvements were to be made, they should be fixing the D-pad such that you cant press the entire thing down at once, like the original controller. I would also advocate for a longer cable to be shipped with it; even one extra foot would make a big difference to me, since my PC doesnt support Bluetooth for some reason and I have to connect via USB to play. (The cable that comes with it is, what, 3 feet or so?) Neither of these issues are that big of a deal and they dont affect my opinion of the product much. 8bitdo kicks ass and I will be picking up their SN30 Pro+ controller as soon as I can. Just one question: is it 8-bit-dough, or 8-bit-doo?