Orion: 8BitDo presents new 2.4 GHz wireless controller with Hall effect triggers and haptic feedback

8BitDo has released a new wireless controller in China, having teased a 'one-of-a-kind' mobile gaming accessory earlier this month in partnership with Viture. While the 8BitDo Orion is not the latest tie-in with Viture, it could well be a new revision of the 8BitDo Ultimate (curr. $49.99 on Amazon) that 8Bitdo will eventually release globally.

Official pictures suggest that the Orion and Ultimate are physically identical, with the same control layout and design. Comparing 8BitDo's specifications reveals that the Orion is marginally smaller and lighter than the Ultimate at 146.7 x 103.6 x 61.3 mm and 236 g compared to 147.0 x 104.0 x 61.5 mm and 245 g. Compatibility now officially extends to macOS too, which the Ultimate misses out on for some reason.

According to ITHome, the 8BitDo Orion contains Hall effect joysticks with a 1,024 resolution that may be unchanged from the most recent 8BitDo Ultimate. The website reports that 8BitDo has equipped the Orion with Hall effect triggers that the Ultimate lacks. Allegedly, these triggers provide haptic feedback when the controller is connected to a device running Windows, unlike the 8BitDo Ultimate. The 8BitDo Orion retails for CNY 219 (~$30) in China; there is no word on global availability yet.