That's peculiar. Out of curiosity, is the wire fixed to the pad itself, or does it have a detachable micro-usb or usb-c cable?
They do have a couple of versions + limited editions, xbox version, etc... and likely some revision already with minor differences, esp. in case of their older pads.

Hi Coffee. The PS2 controllers haven't seen that much hard use. Certainly not regular drivers for me for two decades. The first one developed a sticky shoulder button after some years of medium usage on first console, then PC, so I dug out a spare new one I own. Tough to say, if whoever does the refurbolyzing seems solid to you, it might be an option. If there exists a quality modern replica, I'd be willing to go that route when my stored supply of originals is gone.

It's a detachable USB-C. I mean it is wired, just, you know, optionally....

Aye I understand, cheers! That's the wireless version with optional wired mode. Most, if not all 8bitdo pads I came across were like that. There are a couple of wired-only models though, at least I know of those 4 mentioned before. The wire is rather long and it's fixed/clamped in. They also cost less (msrp-wise) and are more responsive in general.

I love Dual Shock 4 controllers and they work flawlessly with my PC, cabled or via bluetooth connection.

But only one of my DS4 controllers still okay, at the moment I have 3 gamepads, 1 has a problem with R2 button, 1 is almost new, 1 is several years old. And I bought 6 of them!
All DS4 were heavily used in fighting games if it change anything.

At the same time Dual Shock 3 worked flawlessly for all these years. Something is definitely wrong with new controllers. I had serious issues with 1 year old Switch controllers as well, but never with Gamecube controllers.

It's like some kind of conspiracy to develop new controllers out of cheap materials so they can break faster.

First and foremost, thank you for all the recommendations.

A lot of recommendations were for 8bitdo products and they also seem to be far more robust than the average gamepad. So I decided to give them a shot as well and ordered a Pro2 wired.

I have heard of 8bitdo before but I thought they only had specialty gamepads like the Nintendo gamepad imitation or the new micro (Is that thing made for mice?). At least that's what they are known for. I didn't know they also had normal gamepads.

1506932-02 that one works for last two years with all games, thanks for more options

Just a psa about 8bitdo. Some of their stick based controllers have mapping problems, as well as stick drift. This is not on all products though. It is a culprit when a company does not provide drivers for their device.

Normally, the build quality is good. Which leaves me frustrated that controllers in general usually lack company drivers.

I like them, but more for digital gamepads, not for analog gamepads. For that I prefer EasySMX.

This gem here is awesome for arcade games.

You can fix stick drift on 8bitdo controller with increasing the dead-zone in the Ulttimate Software. You won't get drift with the Switch version of the Ultimate Controller because it uses hall effect analogue sticks. Keep in mind as of this posting the X-Box version of the UC still uses Alps potentiometers.

https://imgur.com/a/PWddo4V

I don't know all the 8bitdo products, but I bought two 8bitdo Pro+ (wireless with the optional USB-C wired) specifically because they are useful with Nintendo Switch, PC (XInput) and Raspberry Pi, just the platforms where I wanted to use it.

The main thing was for Switch so that my kids can play Switch Minecraft easily on TV (without having to disconnect the Nintendo joypads from the unit every time etc.), but it was very important to me they are usable also on PC and Raspberry Pi.

For now on PC I probably keep using the wired Logitect F310 just because I already have it and being wireless gives no advantage on PC (Pro+ can be used also wired, but still), but it is nice to have a backup already.

For Rasperry Pi 4, the main idea is to use it for arcade and console emulators, and because my RPi is connected to a big screen TV in the living room (the RPi sitting next to the TV), there having the option for wireless operation is important.

Since I don't and never will have a XBox or PS5, lack of compatibility with them is not an issue to me.

That was all new information to me, so I needed to google for it:

https://www.hlplanet.com/potentiometer-vs-hall-effect/

So a reminder to myself, buy only "hall effect" joysticks/gamepads from now on.

A couple of questions about those 8bitdo Ultimate controllers (Pro+ can do these):

1. Can they also be used in a wired mode (e.g. with a detachable USB-C cable), like e.g. 8Bitdo Pro+ can?

2. Is the battery easily replaced, even with mere AA batteries? This is especially something I love about the Pro+ gamepad, even if in real life its buttons etc. will probably get broken before the battery does...

3. Any idea whether they can be used with Raspberry Pi? Since they support so many other devices including Steam Deck, probably it does...

I admit that for a long time I did not use gamepads (playing on keyboard or M&K even in games, that are supposed to be "much better" on gamepads), but aside from those old Xbox 360 pads (which are totally fine) I also own one less popular and I would personally recommend it -BrawlerGen (usb version).

Has good quality, a bit unusual buttons layout (it has only one analogue stick and six buttons on the front side, like in old Mega-Drive/Genesis six-buttons controllers), of course it has also shoulder buttons. So as long as you're not bothered with lack of second analogue strick, I would recommend it.

Do you know if they intend to change that in the future?

I really like the Logitech Cordless Rumble Pad and have been using it for over a decade.
I've got two of them and I regularly take them apart to perform some basic maintenance like spraying the board and joysticks with a mild contact cleaning oil and greasing the buttons and mechanisms.
I found it had better range than the newer F710, the only drawback the LCRP has that it hasn't got analog triggers, but imo they're rarely need in a game anyway unless the game in question has unflexible or unbindable control setup.
One thing I like in regard to racing is that it has square axis geometry.
You can use x360ce to make the pad xinput compatible, apart from the analog trigger function.
Recently I bought some thumb grips for them, they really feel comfortable and I recommend them also.