{"id":126955,"date":"2026-06-10T14:25:55","date_gmt":"2026-06-10T12:25:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mygaming.co.za\/news\/?p=126955"},"modified":"2026-06-10T14:25:57","modified_gmt":"2026-06-10T12:25:57","slug":"buying-a-pc-controller-what-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mygaming.co.za\/news\/features\/126955-buying-a-pc-controller-what-you-need-to-know","title":{"rendered":"Buying a PC controller – What you need to know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

PC controllers have come a long way over the years, and gamers now have several reliable options to choose from.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PC gaming is generally associated with keyboard and mouse, but many games available on Steam and other PC platforms are better played with controllers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This includes games such as souls-like games, the Monster Hunter titles from Capcom, and a variety of sports and racing games – where the keyboard layout feels less natural than a controller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you also have a console, the easiest solution is to simply use that controller for your computer, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if you don’t already have a suitable controller, there are a wide range of PC controller options with varying levels of quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to avoid<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When buying a controller, the primary concern should be build quality<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A poorly made controller will fail very quickly and force you to buy a new one – or stick with a sub-par, unenjoyable gaming experience using a broken controller. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the biggest problems that controllers encounter is stick drift. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is when the controller registers movement on the screen even when you\u2019re not using the thumbsticks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is usually due to most standard controllers using the traditional potentiometer joysticks, which use small metal components to track and measure movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, these components wear down over time due to friction, and microscopic debris or dust can also accumulate – interfering with operation and leading to inaccurate sensor readings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A controller’s bumpers and face buttons can also cause problems if they are not well-made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shoulder bumpers are frequently the first to go, with them either not working or registering false inputs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most low-quality controllers use cheap, tactile micro-switches to register inputs, which are soldered directly to the switch board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since most players press shoulder bumpers at a slight angle rather than straight down, these micro-switches deform, crack, or lose their springiness over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Face buttons have a similar problem, with most controllers using a silicone rubber conductive pad, which can tear or crack from heavy use over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This all means that it is better to pay a little more for your PC controller if it means you will get a reliable piece of hardware. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond this, you can choose from factors such as comfort and design – picking the controller that best suits your fancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have outlined five popular PC controller brands below – all of which are available on Takealot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft (Xbox)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An Xbox controller<\/a><\/strong> is an obvious choice – and for good reason. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to Windows and Xbox being built by the same company, these controllers feature almost seamless native integration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means that virtually every PC game that supports controller input can use an Xbox controller instantly, without requiring third-party software mapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, because Xbox is a console brand, its controllers have a standardised build quality, so you won\u2019t need to worry about them breaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you aren’t particularly picky, and just want something that works instantly, it is difficult to go wrong with an Xbox controller.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8BitDo<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

8BitDo<\/strong><\/a> is positioned as an affordable alternative to many popular controller brands. at reasonable prices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, the 8BitDo Ultimate C Wired Controller is available on Takealot<\/a><\/strong> for only R789 – making it meaningfully cheaper than many traditional choices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A key reason for the brand\u2019s popularity is its Hall Effect thumbsticks, which use magnets instead of physical contact components to eliminate stick drift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, many 8BitDo controllers feature customizable back buttons that greatly enhance the gaming experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sony (PlayStation)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Buying a PlayStation controller<\/a><\/strong> for your PC gaming has historically been a poor decision, with limited support for Sony’s hardware.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These days, however, many recent titles support using the PlayStation 5 DualSense controller on PC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, Steam offers native support for PlayStation DualSense controllers, and some games even support its haptic feedback and adaptive triggers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GameSir<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

GameSir<\/a><\/strong> offers high-quality controllers that prioritise performance and often feature Hall Effect technology to eliminate stick drift.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The brand specialises in officially licensed layouts with highly clickable, mechanical-feeling face buttons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depending on your preferences for the feel of a controller, this design could make a GameSir controller a top pick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Razer<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Razer<\/a><\/strong> is a well-known brand in the PC gaming space, and its Wolverine line of controllers offers excellent features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This includes mech-tactile action buttons, interchangeable thumbsticks, and additional remappable triggers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These controllers are also great picks for gamers who enjoy esports, as they come with a hair-trigger mode for shooters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Razer is a fashionable brand – so if you want a controller that looks cool, this is a brand worthy of consideration.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There are a wide range of PC controller options in South Africa.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":250,"featured_media":126959,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sma_x_autopost_enabled":true,"_sma_x_custom_text":"There are a wide range of PC controller options in South Africa.","_sma_x_autopost_status":"posted","_sma_x_autopost_error":"","_sma_x_post_id":"2064685769692782622","_sma_x_attempts":1,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[9148,15397],"class_list":["post-126955","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","tag-controller","tag-pc"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mygaming.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126955","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mygaming.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mygaming.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mygaming.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/250"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mygaming.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=126955"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/mygaming.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126955\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":126972,"href":"https:\/\/mygaming.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126955\/revisions\/126972"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mygaming.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/126959"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mygaming.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=126955"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mygaming.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=126955"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mygaming.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=126955"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}