The best fighting game controllers help players kick and punch more quickly and accurately. Most gamers are comfortable using PS4 and PS5 controllers but they lack an authentic arcade feel. The durable PDP Victrix Pro FS caters to hardcore fight game enthusiasts. It relies on the same high-quality components found in arcade cabinets. While normally expensive, the Victrix Pro FS is now affordable for more virtual brawlers.
In its purple colorway, the Victrix Pro FS becomes the focus of any gaming setup. Lighting on the sides of the peripheral adds even more flair. However, the shiny metallic fight stick is about more than looks. Cheaper competitors use fragile connecting plastic panels. PDP’s controller is built from one piece of aluminum molded to survive grueling tournaments. At 7.8 lbs, the Victrix Pro FS isn’t as thin or light as the leverless Razer Kitsune. Still, PDP added handles and cord management to enhance their fight stick’s portability.
Victrix Pro FS PlayStation Fight Stick
$272 $400 Save
$128
The Victrix Pro FS transforms a fighting gaming experience in popular series like Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat. Like in the best arcades, players have a highly tactile joystick and Sanwa Denshi face buttons for instant and accurate inputs. Made from a singular piece of aluminum, the Victrix Pro FS is lightweight and easy to carry but incredibly resilient. The back panel effortlessly flips open, making stick and button modifications straightforward. The Victrix Pro FS has mode switch buttons for PS5, PS4, and PC compatibility.
- Brand
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PDP
- Compatibility
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PS5, PS4, PC
- Buttons
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Sanwa Denshi
- Connectivity
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USB Wired
- Customizable
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Buttons, Joystick
Are Fight Sticks Comfortable to Use?
PDP went to great lengths to design an ergonomic stick. Fight pads provide a solid base for hands to rest on. Even so, the bottom of the Victrix Pro FS slopes to encourage healthy wrist angles. Its face buttons are positioned so that resting fingers activate them without strain. Since console owners often don’t have gaming desks, the cushioned bottom of the Victrix Pro FS is a relief.
Leverless fight pads with directional buttons in place of joysticks are trending. The Victrix Pro FS has a related leverless controller called the Pro FS-12. I’m currently testing the newer Victrix Pro KO, but these controllers can require a lengthy adjustment period. The Victrix Pro FS has an easy-to-grasp joystick and a control scheme familiar to arcade junkies. With the stick’s eight-way gate, players execute moves and combos precisely in Street Fighter 6 or Tekken 8. Gamers will find a touchpad and large circular buttons that match the DualSense layout. The only exception is the lack of L3 and R3 inputs, which aren’t essential in fighting titles.
Esports combatants have very particular demands about how sticks and buttons feel. The Victrix Pro FS makes swapping out its most critical parts easy. The bottom of the fight pad flips open, allowing access to the default 30 mm Sanwa Denshi buttons. When reaction times decide matches, these reinforced buttons register commands without hesitation. If gamers prefer buttons of a different shape, the Victrix Pro FS accommodates all tastes.
The Victrix Pro FS works with fighting titles on the PS4, PS5, and PC. Toggling a mode switch button, the controller becomes compatible with mulltiple platforms. Without mods, PC titles will recognize the Victrix Pro FS as an X-input device, which could lead to mismatched button labels. Nevertheless, the fight pad perfectly complements low-latency, high-refresh-rate gaming monitors.
PDP’s fight stick is facing increasing competition. I frequently recommend the Mayflash F500 as a value-packed fight stick. It supports many platforms but requires adapters for some consoles. Even if it’s not as glamorous as the Victrix Pro FS, the F500 offers the same modular construction. The PDP Victrix Pro BFG is a sensible compromise if you prefer a standard controller. With a replaceable fight pad module with extra face buttons, the Victrix Pro BFG becomes a miniature fight stick.
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