Review of the Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot Controller

Turtle Beach has unveiled its Stealth Pivot controller, a fascinating gadget that might first come across as gimmicky, but it actually packs quite a punch. By simply flipping two toggles and twisting certain sections of the controller, you’re able to shift it from being optimized for one gaming style to another.

When you first lay eyes on the Stealth Pivot, it bears a striking resemblance to Turtle Beach’s Stealth Ultra, featuring the same Connected Command display in the center. This built-in screen is a nifty addition, keeping users updated with social notifications, allowing profile swaps for button configurations, and showing battery life. Though the screen doesn’t boast the highest resolution compared to the Stealth Ultra, it still offers valuable insights.

Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot Controller: A Feature-Rich Experience

The Stealth Pivot comes packed with features that gamers have come to expect from high-end controllers:

• Hall Effect Joysticks: This helps avoid the dreaded stick drift, a must for any top-tier controller.
• Trigger Stops (Full and Short): Depending on your game, you can choose between the full trigger pull or a quick button-like press.
• 2 Customizable Back Buttons: Positioned on the grips and underside, these are easy to reach while maintaining a solid hold.

Holding the Stealth Pivot, you’ll notice it has a good weight to it, feeling sturdy yet comfortable. The screen does make it slightly top-heavy, but this doesn’t throw off the balance in any significant way. There’s a textured finish on the grips and back buttons which helps keep the controller snug in hand.

Stripping away its buzzword name, the Stealth Pivot stands strong as a high-quality controller that checks all the necessary boxes. Its wireless capabilities for PC (and wired for Xbox) make it an appealing choice, bringing both style and comfort. Yet, this isn’t just a conventional controller.

The real magic lies beneath. By tweaking the two toggles on the back and rotating the joysticks, the controller reveals new button modules. Flip the left module to swap in a D-pad and an RSB/LSB button configuration. The right side does a similar magic trick, sprouting XYAB buttons in place of the joystick, with P1 and P2 buttons above.

These changes open up four potential layouts, specifically attractive to the fighting and retro gaming communities. Imagine playing a side scroller that doesn’t need a second joystick—having six buttons right under your thumb can be a game-changer. For fighting games, using a D-Pad with six buttons (for various moves) might be more advantageous than your typical setup.

This extra level of flexibility positions the Stealth Pivot as a unique option for many gamers, making it quite enticing. Switching to “side scroller mode” or “fighting game mode” is appealing, but completely optional. As mentioned, it’s a robust controller on its own, and being able to pivot when needed is an added perk. Whether this feature makes it more appealing than other premium controllers will depend on how much you value versatility.

Turtle Beach has not skimped on customization, as expected. Use the Control Center app to play around with RGB lighting, adjust stick deadzones, remap buttons, or tweak audio settings for the headphone jack. With layouts offering plenty of buttons, it’s a breeze to configure them exactly how you want.

During my hands-on with the Stealth Pivot, I found the module rotation to be a delightful feature. Going from S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, where dual joysticks are critical, to a precision-heavy side scroller like Nine Sols was smooth thanks to the controller. Having distinct setups for different games noticeably enhanced both experiences.

All in all, the Stealth Pivot nails the essentials, broadening its appeal. Sure, certain gaming niches will find it more compelling, but Turtle Beach has ensured their focus on premium features keeps the core solid without letting the modular swaps overshadow its strengths. In essence, it feels like owning over three controllers in one well-built package.

The Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot controller is currently available for pre-order, and Game Rant tested a unit for this review. It’s set to stand out among customizable controllers with its unique module-swapping feature, offering both wired and wireless connectivity for a versatile gaming experience. Whether you’re playing untethered or hooked up to your screen, this controller promises a performance that matches its inventive design.