8BitDo's cheaper Ultimate 3 wireless controller for Xbox is finally available after three months

The 8BitDo Ultimate 3 was announced in May 2026 as a cheaper option to the Ultimate 3E unveiled at CES 2026. It was available to pre-order immediately after its launch. Now, more than three months after its announcement, the Xbox wireless controller, which is available in a single color called Lavender Edition, is finally available to buy.

Priced at $99.99, the Ultimate 3 Controller for Xbox -Lavender Edition is available to buy on 8BitDo's eShop. There's also a listing on Amazon, but it is “temporarily out of stock”, just like the Ultimate 3E. Those in the UK will be able to pre-order the controller for £79.99 on Amazon, ahead of its release on October 23.

Sporting a paint job said to be inspired by Rococo pastels, the 8BitDo Ultimate 3 Controller for Xbox - Lavender Edition has been redesigned compared to the Ultimate 2 series. It features a wider grip that is more comfortable to hold; has a disc D-pad that's designed to make it easier for diagonal movements; and its TMR joysticks have force rings for adjusting the tension.

In addition, the controller has Hall-Effect impulse triggers with two trigger stops, extra bumpers (L4 and R4), and two back buttons. It also has six-axis motion control (PC only), an audio jack, four vibration motors, and a 1,000Hz polling rate (PC only).

The 8BitDo Ultimate 3 Controller for Xbox - Lavender Edition can connect to Xbox consoles (Series S|X, and Xbox One) and PCs via a 2.4G wireless connection using the included dongle. It can also be used in wired mode with Xbox consoles and Windows PCs, while Bluetooth connection is reserved for Android and Apple devices.

8BitDo has put a 1,000mAh battery inside the Ultimate 3 Controller for Xbox - Lavender Edition, and it has an advertised battery life of up to 20 hours of play time. It comes with a wireless charging dock with no contact pins just like the Ultimate 3 controller and is compatible with the Ultimate Software X and Ultimate Software V2 mobile app. Unfortunately, the 8BitDo Ultimate 3 Controller for Xbox - Lavender Edition isn't among the controllers whose firmware can be updated using the new web tool.