8BitDo Rare 40th Anniversary Edition Xbox Wireless Controller Gets First Big Discount
13.1k
Steven Petite
2025-11-20
8BitDo's first wireless Xbox controller and charging dock bundle is on sale for $72 in Amazon's Black Friday 2025 sale.
8BitDo Ultimate 3-Mode Wireless Controller: Rare 40th Anniversary Edition
$72 (was $90) | For Xbox, PC, Apple, Android
Xbox owners and fans of Rare Limited will want to grab Amazon's Black Friday deal on 8BitDo's first wireless Xbox controller before it's gone. The 8BitDo Ultimate 3-Mode Rare 40th Anniversary Edition is discounted to $72 (was $90) while supplies last--and this deal is likely to sell out pretty fast. Released in August, this edition of the Ultimate 3-Mode works wirelessly on Xbox consoles, PC, Apple devices, and Android.
Officially licensed by Microsoft, the Rare 40th Anniversary Edition comes with a matching charging dock, premium components--including back buttons, Hall Effect sticks, and a metal D-pad--and is presented in a striking blue-and-gold color scheme with symbols and artwork nodding to the Microsoft-owned studio's storied history. Though best known today as the studio behind Sea of Thieves, Rare has a back catalog of classics like Donkey Kong Country, GoldenEye 007, Banjo-Kazooie, Conker, and Perfect Dark.
The Rare 40th Anniversary Edition is one of numerous Xbox-branded 8BitDo accessories on sale for Black Friday. You can also save big on the new All-Button Arcade Controller, the Xbox Wireless Arcade Fight Stick, and more.
8BitDo Accessories Licensed by Xbox
Customizable controllers, keyboard/mouse, media remotes, and more
The original Ultimate 3-Mode Controller launched last spring in white and black. A transparent green model matching 8BitDo's Retro 87 Keyboard and Retro R8 Mouse was added to the lineup in May. The "3-Mode" moniker pertained to the controller's connectivity options: 2.4GHz Wireless for PC, Bluetooth for mobile, and wired for Xbox. All of those modes still exist on the Rare 40th Anniversary Edition, but it also has 2.4GHz Wireless on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. Implementing Microsoft's wireless protocol combined with the special-edition theme explains the $20 price jump.
The Rare 40th Anniversary Edition is arguably the best-looking controller 8BitDo has created--and one of the standout special-edition Xbox controllers in general. It utilizes Rare's longtime colors with a two-tone Royal blue shell accented by yellow-gold joystick rings, face button labels, triggers/bumpers, and two remappable back buttons.
8BitDo used gold-plated zinc alloy to create the tactile D-pad; this is the first metal D-pad in the Ultimate series. Rare's 40th Anniversary logo is on the left handle, while the darker Royal blue silhouettes are Easter Eggs referencing the studio's history.
It comes with a matching charging dock with the studio name on the front center. The 2.4GHz USB receiver is stored in the bottom compartment on the dock. You'll also find a USB-C cable and a pair of silicone stick caps featuring the Sea of Thieves logo on one and a puzzle piece on the other. The jigsaw puzzle piece nods to the collectibles in Rare's classic platformers, Banjo-Kazooie and DKC.
The controller looks even better up close, and wireless performance on Xbox is excellent. The zinc alloy D-pad feels great, too. The Ultimate 3-Mode is built with premium components and has stellar ergonomics. It's a versatile controller thanks to support for numerous devices and built-in customization options.
Check out the key specs for the Rare 40th Anniversary Edition below:
With support for PC, Mac, and mobile, the new controller will likely appeal to big fans of Rare who don't even own or have a need for a wireless Xbox controller. That said, it's worth emphasizing that the 3-Mode Controller does not have the latest enhancements found in 8BitDo's flagship Ultimate 2 or Pro 3 Bluetooth Gamepad.
The Ultimate 2 has four remappable buttons, upgraded TMR sticks, RGB light rings, and adjustable trigger locks, among other improvements. The Ultimate 3-Mode, meanwhile, is essentially the same as the original Ultimate. A great controller, for sure, but not 8BitDo's best. So PC players will also want to check out the Ultimate 2 for $47.69 (was $60). If you also have a Nintendo Switch or Switch 2, the Ultimate 2 Bluetooth is discounted to $56 (was $70).
8BitDo Ultimate 2 Bluetooth Controller (Switch 2, Switch, PC, Mac)
8BitDo Ultimate 2 Wireless Controller (PC, Apple, SteamOS, Android)
8BitDo started working with Xbox several years ago, but 2025 has certainly been the biggest year for the partnership. Within the past few weeks, 8BitDo launched a new version of its Ultimate Mobile Controller licensed by Xbox Cloud Gaming as well as a leverless wireless fight stick. The controller cradles your iPhone or Android phone and is a bargain at $40 (was $50). The All-Button Arcade Controller is the second officially licensed 8BitDo Wireless Arcade Controller for fighting games. The fight sticks can connect wirelessly to Xbox, as can the Lite SE Accessibility Controller and Xbox Media Remote. So while the new 3-Mode is the first regular 8BitDo controller with wireless support on Xbox consoles, the manufacturer does have prior experience with the wireless protocol.
We rounded up a list of 8BitDo accessories licensed by Xbox, note that a number of the products aren't actually for Xbox. The Retro 87 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard and Retro R8 Wireless Mouse, for instance, are simply part of 8BitDo's series of retro-inspired PC peripherals. Check out more 8BitDo Xbox deals below.
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