There is a wide variety of video games available today spanning not only different genres but also different gaming devices. One thing that is almost common to most of these is support for a gamepad or game controller, but even then there are different layouts available, depending on the platform or brand. Not only is there a divide between Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch, there are also variations of arcade cabinets in use to this date.
A single controller that can support all of these remains a pipe dream, but there have been some rather creative designs aimed at delivering a piecemeal solution. One design, for example, rotates the face buttons to switch between Xbox and Switch layouts, while this latest entry does a more complicated somersault to support not just Xbox or PC games but also fighting games with their unique control requirements.
Designer: Turtle Beach
It’s almost too easy to take for granted the difference a controller button layout makes if you simply stick to one camp. Those who have had the pleasure of playing both Xbox and PS fields, or owning a controller that caters to only one or the other, will know how confusing it can be. You could, of course, try to own multiple controllers, but not only is that inefficient, it also doesn’t take into account games that don’t strictly follow either convention.
The Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot has a rather intriguing solution. The main controls on its face are enclosed inside two oval shapes that turn around to reveal a different layout of buttons. One has your typical Xbox-compatible layout with two analog thumb sticks, a D-Pad, and four face buttons. Flip them around and you get a layout that’s more conducive for fighting games with a total of eight buttons, a D-Pad, and no joystick in sight.
That face-changing trick isn’t the only thing that’s special about the Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot. It also has a built-in display that can be customized to show different kinds of information, including chats and social feeds. Naturally, there’s also some customization involved, such as your typical gamer RGB lighting effects.
The Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot definitely pushes the envelope of game controller design without completely breaking the mold. It still doesn’t solve the biggest controller layout schism between the two biggest console giants, but that might only be a matter of time now that designers are finally daring to think outside the box.
