It’s hard not to notice that Turtle Beach’s Stealth Pivot controller leans heavily on a unique gimmick, but let me tell you, it’s quite an impressive one. With a quick flick of a couple of toggles and a twist of its sections, this controller seamlessly shifts from one gaming setup to another, catering to different gaming experiences effortlessly.
If you take a look at the Stealth Pivot, you might immediately think it looks a lot like its sibling, the Stealth Ultra, especially with the Connected Command display right in the center. This display, though lower in resolution compared to the Ultra, still offers handy info like social media alerts, button mapping profiles, and battery status. It’s packed with functionality right where you need it.
All the Right Features Are Here
The Stealth Pivot doesn’t skimp on features, boasting some high-end traits such as:
- Hall Effect Joysticks – Essential for dodging the dreaded stick drift that plagues many controllers.
- Trigger Stops (Full and Short) – Whether you want a full, responsive trigger pull or a snappy button-like press, you’re covered.
- Two Customizable Back Buttons – Ingeniously located to be easily accessible without sacrificing grip stability.
Holding the Stealth Pivot, you’ll notice a reassuring heft. The screen does make it slightly top-heavy, but it doesn’t throw things out of balance. A textured finish on the grips and back buttons keeps everything nicely in place during intense sessions.
Without a doubt, the Stealth Pivot marks itself as a stylish and comfortable premium controller. Its wireless capabilities on PC and wired connection for Xbox ensure versatility across platforms. But this controller is far from ordinary.
By adjusting two toggles and switching up the joysticks, you unlock the magic of modularity with the Stealth Pivot. You can rotate the two front modules to reveal brand-new layouts. On the left, a quick twist can transform the joystick area into a D-Pad setup, complete with RSB and LSB buttons. On the right, the joystick can be swapped out for the XYAB buttons with P1 and P2 buttons positioned above.
With four potential configurations, it’s clear Turtle Beach designed the Stealth Pivot with fighting and retro gaming fans in mind. Imagine playing a side scroller where an extra joystick isn’t needed, and instead you have six buttons at your fingertips. In a fighting game, a D-Pad’s precision paired with strategically placed buttons could really give you an edge over standard setups.
The added flexibility of the Stealth Pivot makes it a really tempting choice for gamers who enjoy diverse genres. The ease of swapping between different configurations, while entirely optional, adds something special to the controller’s feature set. If you’re eyeing other high-end controllers, the Stealth Pivot’s unique modular design might just set it apart depending on how much you’d utilize it.
As with other Turtle Beach offerings, you can dive into the Control Center app to tweak RGB hues, adjust stick deadzones, map buttons to your liking, and even set audio preferences for the included headphone jack. Should you choose an orientation that includes additional buttons, setting them up just how you want is a breeze.
When I put the Stealth Pivot to the test, the convenience of its module rotation shone brightly. Switching from a dual-joystick required shooter like "S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2" to a precise side scroller like "Nine Sols" was a snap. Using different layouts for different games substantially enriched each gaming experience.
The Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot cleverly nails the essentials, broadening its appeal. Sure, certain gaming niches will find it more enticing, yet knowing Turtle Beach hasn’t skimped on quality or overused the gimmick provides reassurance. In essence, it’s like having a collection of controllers in one, each functioning admirably.
You can pre-order the Turtle Beach Stealth Pivot controller now. Turtle Beach kindly sent me a unit for this review, and it left a great impression.