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

Update: I randomly decided to sync it up to my switch a second time and for whatever reason it worked perfectly this time with no input lag. I bought this specifically for the genesis collection on switch and it’s unfortunate that version doesn’t offer button remapping, meaning the “C” button will be the “Y” button in most three button games. It’s a minor adjustment to get used to as this controller is far better than the original genesis pad and offers an excellent dpad, perfect button layout and sturdy, high quality grip. I highly recommend this pad for retro pc and switch enthusiasts, the fact the genesis collection on switch doesn’t offer button remapping is hardly the fault of the controller. Battery lasts a good long time and recharging is easy. Note: if you do get input lag just resync the controller a second time and it should be fine. Another incredible, high quality retro controller from 8bitdo.

Okay, Im gonna start off by saying that I have reviewed 8BitDos SN30 Pro controller as well for the same criteria: 2-D fighting games on the Nintendo Switch. Neither of these controllers is a bad controller. The SN30 Pro is definitely a good controller. If I wanted the SN30 Pro controller for strictly 2-D games like Dead Cells or Celeste, then I would have given it five stars. This M30 Controller is good for normal 2-D games and I would give it a 3 or 4, but it is not for fighters. Let me explain why I, this random guy on the internet, is giving the M30 two stars: CONS -The buttons are flipped. A is B, and X is Y. Yes, I know it can be flipped some weird way, but there are no instructions for that. Thats not great. The fact that I have to read directions for that on amazon reviews is a cringy oversight. -Another thing, when you get this controller, shake it. Shake it and notice the horrible plastic hollow rattling that comes from the seemingly loose face buttons. It does not sound quality. Its an odd sound. -The controller I received, specifically, sounds very shaky when I just rattle it a little bit. I really dont like that. The SN30 Pro does not suffer from this. I recommend that controller! -Its not really that comfortable if you have big hands. I have big hands. I need handles. Looking forward to 8Bitdos SN30 Pro Plus with the handles. I will definitely be keeping that controller because the SN30 Pro is a great controller, it just needed the handles. -This was the deciding factor. Ive been playing BlazBlue Central Fiction, a 2-D Fighter, where the inputs have to be SUPER TIGHT. I thought this controller would be a godsend. I tried and tried to do a specific combo challenge for one character. Could not do it. It felt like the controller could not keep up, like the buttons were barely coming back up when I needed them to return to neutral ASAP. I tried again on my PowerA gamecube bluetooth Smash controller: that d-pad is NOT impressive. I did the combo in less than 5 minutes after barely trying it. I played with the M30 for like 2 hours. There might be some lag with bluetooth on the M30, it might be that the buttons take a while to return to neutral after pressing, it might be that the d-pad itself is not as tight as it could be, I dont know for sure. I just know that the PowerA d-pad and face buttons should NOT have beaten the M30. Thats why I have to give this controller two stars. It is not meant for 2-D fighters. PROS -I keep reading about this controller being difficult to connect via bluetooth. Never had that problem. Connected right away, never disconnected again. Thats fixed. -The D-pad is closer to what I wanted for a 2-D fighter. It can roll, its not limited to four directions, its responsive, its better. -Surprisingly good for racers. Because of the d-pad, you can hover in the center of the d-pad for quick movements left and right during races. I played it with Horizon Chase Turbo and Fast RMX. Felt good. -Love 8Bitdos packaging. Super nice and quality. Controller is stylish too. -Good for normal 2-D games on the switch. If you want it for that its a solid controller.

Really easy to set up and has a wide range of compatibility for retro gaming (pre-3d). The controller is very comfortable (and familiar) to hold and the dpad is one of the best you can experience on a modern controller. The buttons are snappy and satisfying. There are special settings for the dpad and buttons behavior. Look those up here in the reviews or somewhere else online. The manual and website do not mention these special commands. Firmware is updatable but seems unnecessary unless you are using this with the Switch. The only disappointment is that the M30 is not fully compatible with PS1 controller layouts. Theoretically, it should work with no issues (only one PS1 game requires analog sticks as far as I know). One button (usually the R button on the controller) acts like it doesnt exist when trying to map controls. So all buttons are configurable except one.

Back in February I bought 2 of Retro-Bits Bluetooth SEGA Saturn controllers over these because of SEGAs official branding, but later found what a mess I would end up with since at first they had to do a Firmware update so they can connect back to your PC after they went to sleep. After the Firmware update they then were always Connected instead of going back to Paired after going to sleep which would conflict with other controllers from acting as Controller 1 in some games and programs such as MAME. Retro-Bit still has yet to fix the issue after countless emails and tweets made out to them where they left it as their team couldnt replicate the issue. Later on the right d-pad broke, which proves theyre made cheap. So after that nightmare, I bought 2 of these by 8bitdo, and they worked like a charm on everything. They turn off when you need them to, and turn back on without any extra Firmware. It reads just like an XBOX One controller with A, B, X, Y in the same places while C & Z reads as Left & Right Trigger. L & R reads as LB & RB. These controllers dont conflict with any other controllers either. Just wish I knew all this sooner before dumbing around and falling for something just because it had SEGAs brand associated to it thinking it was a better quality when it actually wasnt.

I am an avid player of Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection on Nintendo Switch. This is the perfect controller for playing Street Fighter. The dpad is a dream! Pulling off more complicated moves like Guile’s and Balrog’s super in Super Turbo are much easier now since the dpad is so good. It is incredibly precise and it is the best dpad I have ever used. I was previously using an 8bitdo SN30 Pro for Street Fighter and while that controller is in itself awesome, this is the better controller if you play games like Street Fighter. The buttons are also quite good and the feel of the controller is great. I love the smooth matte finish. In terms of synching up with the Switch, it synchs super fast. Never had one issue. Highly recommended!

Lo compré principalmente para jugar juegos de pelea, ya que en cuanto al precio y diseño es perfecto, la cruceta flotante (creo que así se llama) es bastante mas precisa que una cruceta clásica, aparte tiene toda la calidad 8bitdo, de los cuales tengo otro control, un sn30+ y también es perfecto, pero para juegos de pelea es mejor un diseño de 6 botones. A si que eso, si busca un control con estas características y a un precio accesible no lo dude y vaya por él :)

This is a cute one. It fits in the hands as the old sega genesis controller. Ive bought one of this and one of the SNES design. This one was initially bought as back up controller to the SNES one, but sometimes I exchange both so I can have a different feeling of the game. Good price, good quality. Possibility to play in a lot of different platforms. I use it mostly for Steam, and its very accurate. Worth the buy!

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.

D Pad is terrible….feels ok but inputs for Street Fighter are about impossible with this thing. Just terrible.

Built like the timeless Sega Genesis 6 button controller; Works perfectly with Steam on PC via Bluetooth X-Input. I use it for SFV/SF Collection and other fighting games. Button layout matches with default Capcom Type A Controller settings. Many hours of strenuous use on my PC without any issues whatsoever... unlike my Retro-Bit Sega Saturn 2.4 Ghz controller. I had many issues using the Retro-Bit Saturn controller on my PC where the 1st defective item received had the d-pad shut off randomly, and the 2nd defective item received had the button layout randomly change. It was also a pain in the ass to map the buttons on Steam. 8Bitdo > Retro-Bit