While there’s no shortage of “pro” controllers for the PS5, the Victrix Pro BFG is a different kind of animal, as the controller doesn’t just have back buttons, but it can be modded on the fly to suit different controller layouts. However, is this enough to make it worth the price? Read on for our full review to find out.

Design

Looking at the Victrix Pro BFG, you can see that the controller shares a striking resemblance to that of an Xbox controller, which also blends in parts of the PlayStation. While many PlayStation gamers may not be used to that shape, the Victrix Pro BFG seems to do a great job at easing users in, as it is comfortable and maintains most of the layout of a PlayStation controller. In ways, it makes the best of both consoles, though it sadly lacks some of the big DualSense features, such as adaptive triggers and haptic feedback. 

However, where the Victrix Pro BFG lacks compared to DualSense features, it makes up elsewhere, giving it an edge over PlayStation’s DualSense Edge controller. That’s because the controller is completely modular. That means you can swap (with the included screwdriver) certain components and adjust others, transforming the controller into any controller you want. If you want offset sticks like an Xbox controller, you can have that. Or maybe you fancy the inline ones like the PlayStation controllers have. Well, you can have that one too. Heck, you can even reverse the offset if you want to, with the left joystick being in and the right being upwards on the controller. I know it’s a weird setup, but hey, it’s there if you want it. 

Other modular components include different stick heights, types of D-pad buttons, and even stick gates. I wasn’t expecting there to be octagonal gates included with this controller, which work wonders for fighters. And speaking of fighters, the most surprising modular component is the fully dedicated fight pad. Yes, this comes with an entire fight pad modular, replacing the right stick with a six-button layout. It works great, too, as I tested Street Fighter 6, Tekken 8 (tech test,) and Mortal Kombat 1 (tech test.) Mind you, the Victrix Pro BFG won’t replace a full-sized fight pad, as the buttons are too close to one another, but the fact that it includes the option to turn it into one wasn’t on my bingo card. 

All these modular pieces aren’t mutually exclusive, as in you have to have it as either a PlayStation or Xbox setup. You can mix and match everything. Maybe you like the PlayStation’s inline and asymmetrical layout but prefer the Xbox’s eight-way d-pad. Ever want the Xbox’s thumbstick on a PlayStation controller, or vice-versa? Well, now you can. 

The BFG also has four back buttons, which is two more than what the DualSense Edge has to offer. I love their design, too, because they’re large buttons that sit exactly where your fingers would normally on the controller. They’ll all customizable like any controller that offers back buttons and are super easy to set up via the guide listed on their website. What I like most is that you can store up to three custom profiles on the controller, taking those settings to whichever platform you want without needing software. Taking the controller from a PS5, to a PS4, and then to a PC is as simple as plug and play. You can use a hardwire or the wireless dongle it comes with. 

The level of freedom in the customization that the Victrix Pro BFG offers is unmatched by any other pro/elite controllers available today. Though that goes without saying that there were some flaws I hope get worked on down the road. 

There are a few things I’m not too fond of about the Victrix Pro BFG design, the first being the position of where the clutch triggers are located. The clutch triggers work the stoppers in the L2 and R2 triggers, allowing you to adjust them to five different stop positions. The problem is, they’re easy to hit as they’re close to the back buttons and in the area where most typically rest their middle fingers. I’ve hit it several times during gameplay, resetting the triggers to their default stop position. The DualSense Edge, though it only offers three trigger stops, does handle this better with a slider near the interior side of each trigger.

My second complaint is the default trigger stop position. It’s too sensitive, as I often found myself accidentally pressing it during gameplay, prompting my character to perform actions in moments I didn’t want them to. During some Warzone 2 matches, I would suddenly shoot or go into ADS (aim down sights,) which, depending on the moment, would give my position away, resulting in death. 

I’m aware that the default position turns the triggers into digital buttons, but I feel it comes off as more of a nuisance than a mechanism to help you get an edge online. Most gamers, I assume, play with their index fingers resting on the triggers, and if you do, you’ll have to adjust the trigger stops immediately, as the slightest bump could cause input. 

Then there’s the weight or lack of weight. The controller is light, which is surprising considering how much it packs. I would have loved to have some weight option that either slides into where the vibration motors typically are (bottom left and right of the controller) or some weighted modules—anything to add a bit more weight to it. 

Performance 

What’s most important about pro-style controllers is whether or not they can provide a competitive edge, and based on our tests, the Victrix Pro BFG Wireless Gaming is more than capable of doing just that. I’d argue it offers more of an edge online than the DualSense Edge, considering that you can map two additional back buttons, making it possible to have all buttons accessible without ever needing to leave a finger off any of the others.

That’s a massive game changer, and anyone into competitive gaming can tell you just how useful that is in shooters like Call of Duty, Apex Legends, Fortnite, and so many others. Being able to perform slides, hops, grenade throws, etc., all without lifting my thumbs off the stick or my fingers from the other button, in my experience, provided me with a faster response to what was going on in my surroundings. It may not seem like a big thing, but I have eight fingers I can use all at once because of the design of the Pro BFB. 

But of course, there are other genres of competitive games out there, too, such as fighters. The additional buttons go a long way, but the fight pad works wonders. The octagonal gates are great, too, for those who prefer using those over traditional joystick gates. I can honestly say that the fight pad did help me play better at Street Fighter. 

As for the wired and wireless connectivity, I didn’t notice much of a difference between the two, nor did I have any wireless issues. The Pro BFG felt as responsive as my DualSense controller, and what was even more important, it even offered more battery life than it. It’s not much more than the standard DualSense, clocking in around 14-16 hours for me. But, compared to the DualSense Edge, which is typically 6 hours, the BFG blows it away for battery life while offering nearly the same competitive features. 

Verdict

Being the company’s first pro-like controller built for the PlayStation, I have to say I’m left feeling impressed by the value it offers. While it still comes in at a pretty penny (USD 179.99), the Victrix Pro BFG Wireless Gaming is jam-packed with customization, making it a well worthwhile alternative to the more expensive, official PlayStation Pro Controller, the DualSense Edge. I’d say it’s an even better controller than it if you aren’t someone who cares about haptic feedback and adaptive triggers and mainly play Esport-geared titles. If it’s a competitive edge you are looking for, then there probably isn’t a controller out there better than what the Victrix Pro BFG Wireless Gaming offers, certainly not one at its price point and with as much customization. 

Score: 9/10

Pros:

• Fully modular – I don’t think you’ll find a controller with this much customization. 
• Easily programmable back buttons with storage for profiles. 
• Plug-and-play instantly. 
• Long battery life for a pro controller. 
• Comfortable. 
• Performance delivers. 

Cons:

• Lack of weight options.
• No vibration or haptic feedback.
• Trigger stops and clutches need tweaking.