Review of the Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot Controller

If you’re in the market for a controller that goes beyond the ordinary, Turtle Beach’s Stealth Pivot brings an intriguing concept to the table. This device is built around a captivating transformation feature—one that lets it reshape from favoring one gaming style to catering to another. A quick flick of the toggles and a twist, and you’ve essentially got a new controller in your hands.

At first sight, the Stealth Pivot might remind you of the Stealth Ultra, especially with its central Connected Command display. This screen efficiently packs in utility by showing social media notifications, enabling profile swaps for button mapping, and keeping you informed about battery life. It’s true, the resolution here isn’t quite up to par with the Ultra’s display, but it delivers all the essential info without breaking a sweat.

Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot Controller Comes Packed With Features

Among its many features, the Stealth Pivot offers several hallmark perks typical of high-end controllers:

• Hall Effect Joysticks – Essential to avoid those pesky stick drifts every gamer loathes.
• Adjustable Trigger Stops – Whether you need the full pull or a brisk, button-like press.
• Two Customizable Back Buttons – These are thoughtfully integrated across the grips and underside, staying effortlessly accessible.

The device boasts a comforting weight to it, and despite its top-heaviness due to the screen, it remains well-balanced and snug. The added texture on the grips and buttons keeps it firmly in your hands, ensuring it doesn’t slip during intense gaming sessions.

In essence, even devoid of its transformative prowess, the Stealth Pivot stands firm as a competent high-end controller. It especially suits PC gamers with its wireless capability, while Xbox users can enjoy a seamless wired experience. Stylish and ergonomic, it holds its ground against its peers. However, what makes it truly stand apart is its ability to morph.

By simply adjusting the two toggles underneath and twisting the joysticks, gamers can switch up the controller’s layout entirely. On the left side, you can swap out the joystick for a D-Pad module with additional buttons, while the right side can trade out the joystick for the classic XYAB buttons. This innovation allows for four different configurations, aiming particularly at those passionate about fighting and retro gaming. Imagine the advantage of handling a side-scroller with six handy buttons or the precision of a D-Pad in a nail-biting fighting game scenario.

This versatility means the Stealth Pivot will be a desirable option for a diverse range of gamers. Switching to "side scroller" or "fighting game" mode is an exciting feature, but it’s also completely optional. On its own, the Stealth Pivot is a stellar controller, with its transforming ability as the cherry on top. When choosing a controller in this price range, the value of these customizable features is a key consideration.

As you’d expect from Turtle Beach, their Control Center app lets you tweak just about everything, from RGB colors to stick sensitivity and button mapping, along with audio settings for the headphone jack. It’s quite handy to be in control, especially when dealing with the variety of configurations that the additional buttons allow.

During my hands-on time with the Stealth Pivot, the ease of transitioning between different gaming styles was a game-changer. Effortlessly switching setups for a shooter like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 and then to a precision-demanding side-scroller like Nine Sols improved my gameplay incredibly. Each setting was optimal for the type of game I was diving into.

Ultimately, the Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot nails the basics—and more. While its design might particularly entice specific gaming subcommunities, the universal appeal remains strong, thanks to its well-rounded features. Essentially, it presents the dynamic functionality of multiple controllers bundled into a single, efficient unit.

For those who are captivated, you can pre-order the Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot controller now. This review comes courtesy of a unit provided by Game Rant.