Review: PDP Victrix Pro BFG Tekken 8 Rage Art Edition game controller

I’m very particular about my controllers. It takes some real effort to impress me because I’m very picky and particular. But, I think I may have met my match with the (let’s take a deep breath before we say this one) PDP Victrix Pro BFG Tekken 8 Rage Art Edition game controller.

I’m a fan of Turtle Beach controllers. So, when I found out that Turtle Beach purchased PDP, I was even more excited to see what kinds of masterpieces they had up their sleeves. 

The PDP Victrix Pro BFG line takes a page from the Victrix fight sticks that came before it but in a holdable, customizable controller. And it’s everything I’ve wanted in a good controller.

What’s in the box?

When you open up the box for the PDP Victrix Pro BFG Tekken 8 Rage Art Edition, you’re greeted with a Victrix-branded clamshell controller case. For a controller designed to be on the go for tournaments, that’s promising!

When you unzip the case, you’re greeted with multiple things. First, you’re going to see a bright pink, teal, and black controller emblazoned with the Tekken 8 logo. We’ll get back to that later.

Within the top netting, you’ll see a Victrix purple USB-C charge cable. But, you’re also going to find a ton of modular components and a hex screwdriver. These components vary from thumbsticks to D-pads to a full fight pad module. I’ll talk a lot more about how awesome they are below.

The customization options for the PDP Victrix Pro BFG Tekken 8 Rage Art Edition game controller

The PDP Victrix Pro BFG, and this Tekken 8 colored variant, come with so many modular components that listing them all out is going to take a bit. 

Starting off with the three removable modules, you’re going to see one automatically connected on the left side, one for a normal controller on the right, and a fight pad for the right as well. These are the basis for a lot of the customization going forward.

I want to bring up an absolutely unnecessary, but very welcome option, of flipping the left module between normal PlayStation mode or what I’d call a hidden Xbox mode, based on where the left thumbstick is positioned. Mine came in the Xbox-looking mode from the get-go, but pictures on the website gave me the idea to flip it and it worked!

The right module that comes automatically equipped feels and looks like a standard PlayStation controller. But, the fight pad module comes with more arcade-style clicky-clacky buttons that give me all of the serotonin every time I press them. This version also removes the right thumbstick entirely and adds the R1 and R2 buttons for an optimal fight pad.

In addition, your directional pad comes in three flavors: standard, diamond, and circular. Automatically, the controller comes equipped with the diamond D-pad, which is my favorite of the three. But, that’s just a preference.

You can also change out your PDP Victrix Pro BFG thumbsticks, which include two standard concave, one short convex, and one tall Sniper Stick, as well as different thumbstick gate options. 

Aside from the modular parts, you’re going to be able to customize even more. You can choose the depth of your trigger buttons with handy little switches as well as four programable buttons on the back. I’m used to only two on most controllers, so having four is a real treat.

There is an additional accessory that is worth considering, which I didn’t get with this review unit. But, the Turtle Beach website offers an additional module for $39.99 that includes Hall Effect anti-drifting sticks and works on any Victrix Pro BFG controller.

Connecting the PDP Victrix Pro BFG

I think the only disappointing thing about the PDP Victrix Pro BFG controller is the absolute basic software you install on your PC for it. I’m used to Turtle Beach disappointing me with their older software, but this is PDP. 

It doesn’t do anything wrong and offers some customization and configuration. But, I’m tired of downloading so many different programs for every other Turtle Beach-owned product and trying to remember which is which.

Connecting this PDP Victrix Pro BFG controller to my PC took a little extra TLC. I’m nearly 100% sure it was a previous driver issue, so I’m not going to mark any points off for it. But, I feel that buyers should be aware that it’s possible that you may have a driver issue when connecting this initially if you’ve used a controller on your PC in the past. I fixed it by deleting all controller drivers from Device Manager and restarting the computer with the dongle plugged in.

Once that trouble was through, this controller connected perfectly in both wireless and wired modes and played tons of Steam games without any issues. You can swap between the modes with a little switch on the back of the controller, directly below the profile button. 

The PDP Victrix Pro BFG is an officially licensed PlayStation product. However, I don’t own a PS5, so I can’t try it that way. One thing I want to mention is that there is a wonderful little switch at the top of the controller to put it in PS4, PS5, or PC modes for those who want to bring it to different consoles.

Is the PDP Victrix Pro BFG Tekken controller cozy?

At the beginning of this article, I mentioned that I’m incredibly picky about my controllers. I have some pretty rough carpal tunnel on my left hand and shakes on both hands. 

This means that incredibly light controllers tend to get tossed around a bit, with heavier items giving me cramps. But, the PDP Victrix Pro BFG controller is just the right weight that it doesn’t feel cumbersome and stays steady in my hands. I’d call this a Goldilocks situation.

Since I don’t have Tekken 8 on this PC, I’ve been playing various other games on it, including Halo Infinite and Brawlhalla. I never felt like I needed to put the controller down as some other, heavier options do.

Not only is it comfortable in my hands, but the tactile arcade buttons on the fight pad are so nice that I needed to mention them again. Even the normal buttons are comfortable and can be tweaked to your liking or needs.

Since mine is the Tekken 8 Rage Art Edition, the colors are vibrant and bright. You won’t lose your controller with this design. The only difference between the standard PlayStation version and the Tekken edition is the coloring. But, the Tekken 8 edition does only come in PlayStation formatting, with no Xbox options.

Final Verdict

I’m absolutely in love with this controller. Being able to customize it down to exactly what type of game I want to play, with adjustments dedicated to keeping my hands from wearing out, is the exact kind of controller I wanted in my life. Plus, it looks great.

Aside from the qualms about software, I’m a little disappointed that the PDP Victrix Pro BFG doesn’t come with Hall Effect thumbsticks standard, considering Turtle Beach’s other new similar controllers, the Stealth Pivot and Stealth Ultra, both do and the Pivot is much lower in price.

All in all, this controller is absolutely amazing and I highly recommend it for both fighting game enthusiasts and anyone just looking for a customizable controller.

You can find the PDP Victrix Pro BFG on Turtle Beach’s website for $179.99. But, the totally awesome Tekken 8 Rage Art Edition is only $20 more. But, if you’re more into playing your Nintendo Switch, you should check out my recent review of the CRKD Nitro Deck+. I really liked it as an all-in-one controller, dock, and case.