Victrix launches elite-style Xbox controller and wireless PS5 headset

Victrix built its name on competition. Its fight sticks and headsets made a splash for their sterling build quality and innovative touches. The peripherals are pricey but the features and the competitive edge justified the price.

Now the brand is turning its sights on the Xbox controller and PlayStation 5 wireless headset market with its Gambit series, which launches today. Its Victrix Gambit Dual Core Tournament Controller targets first-person shooter players and those who use gamepads in fighting games. Meanwhile, its wireless headset supports different varieties of surround sound including Dolby Atmos on Xbox consoles and PCs and 3D Audio on the PlayStation 5.

The most impressive of the two is the Gambit controller, which the parent company, Performance Designed Products, says is the world’s fastest controller on Xbox. The device delivers on that statement with a device that has a clear responsiveness. It credits the dual core design that improves latency by dedicating one of its systems to input processing and the other to sound.

QUICKER TO THE PUNCHLead product manager Ali Homayounfar said the quicker processing is the difference between winning a match and losing one. He showed a screenshot of a match during the Capcom Pro Tour. He was ahead in the match, but the image showed that though Homayounfar and his opponent both pressed their buttons at the same time. Fortunately for him, his fierce punch went through first because of the better latency on the Victrix technology.

Navin Kumar, PDP’s chief marketing officer, said that split millisecond to register the input is the difference between a win and a loss. The explanation is a bit technical but Kumar said the devices’s latency is so low that the console picks up the inputs faster when it polls for commands. I could feel that sensitivity in the Victrix controller. There’s no perceptible lag when I tilted the analog sticks or pressed the buttons.

That in and of itself would be notable, but PDP went even further by giving the Gambit controller 14 swappable components, adjustable trigger stops, back paddles and a carrying case. It’s the total package with functional pieces that have an impact on the gaming experience.

Take the faceplate for example. The Gambit controller comes with two. A standard white plastic one with grips and a smooth purple silicon one. The two snap on the device via magnets and give them a distinct feel. The hard plastic has better grips, which is useful if a player’s palms get sweaty. Meanwhile, the silicon feels more slippery but it also dampens the sound from the analog sticks and gives it a silky ease of movement.

FULLY FEATUREDIt features paddles that can be changed to work as two or four buttons. The gates on the sticks can be changed to the conventional circular ones or hexagonal if competitors use it for fighting games. Even the analog sticks can be switched out. PDP features a longer one for shooters and convex one for other instances. Lastly, the D-pad can be switched out for the conventional cross pattern or a flatter one that’s better for fighting games.

The Gambit controller even carries over ideas from other Elite-style controllers such as the Astro C40. It has a recessed USB-C plug so that the wired controller doesn’t get unplugged in intense situations, where players may be moving their controller around.

The most surprising part about the Gambit Controller is the price. It’s $99.99. That makes it even more of a value compared to the $169 SCUF Instinct and the $149 Razer Wolverine. I’ve been putting the device through its paces and one element that worries me is durability because the Gambit feels light. It will be interesting to see how the controller holds up over hundreds of gaming hours.

FAMILIAR SOUNDSThe Victrix Gambit Wireless Headset also has its impressive credentials. It takes several design elements from the highly touted Victrix Pro AF Headset and incorporates them into a more affordable package. It’s mainly meant to be used for the PlayStation 5 and connects via a USB dongle, but it also comes with a 3.5mm cable that makes it compatible with other consoles.

The design reminds me a little of Astro A40s but with a rounder look. It’s fairly light weight at 301 grams and has plush cushioning on the ear cups. All of this means that the Gambit Wireless headset will be comfortable for long-term gaming. Unfortunately, I haven’t had too much time to with the device, but from my initial impressions, the sound quality is much better when connected wirelessly compared to the 3.5mm jack. This feels like a PS5 headset through and through.

It has a few other extras such as the flip-to-mute mic and a button to switch from different modes. Interestingly enough, the Gambit headset is priced at $129.99, making it more expensive than its partner controller. It also puts it in a tough spot in the crowded gaming headset market.