Skip to main content

8BitDo created a console-agnostic controller for players with limited mobility

8BitDo, a Hong Kong-based gaming hardware company, has announced that it is launching the 8BitDo Lite SE, a Bluetooth controller specially designed to make gaming more accessible to gamers with limited mobility.

The controller was made possible by a collaboration between 8BitDo and Andreas Karlsson to help his son Oskar, who has spinal muscular atrophy type 2 (SMA2), a rare neuromuscular disorder that affects the nerve cells controlling motor neurons. In other words, the disorder doesn’t allow him to stand or walk independently, so he uses a wheelchair as a means of navigating the world around him. It also makes playing video games with regular controllers difficult, so Andreas reached out to 8BitDo, who helped the father-son duo test out various prototype controllers before settling on the Lite SE design shown in the video below.

8BitDo Lite SE. Made for Gamers with Limited Mobility.

The Lite SE controller took everything the Xbox Adaptive Controller had and shrunk it down to the size of the iPhone SE. Instead of the DJ turntable-esque gamepads, the compact controller still has the analog sticks but makes up for it with every individual button being placed on the face. The L2 and R2 buttons that are usually embedded on the shoulders of a regular controller are respectively placed above the D-Pad and letter buttons. The L3 and R3 triggers, which are normally activated by pressing down on the analog sticks, also have their own special buttons just above the analog sticks to make it easier to press with less physical resistance and more sensitivity.

The one thing the Lite SE controller has in common with the Xbox Adaptive Controller is the non-slip rubber matt, which allows players to place the controller on a flat surface, like a table or tray, without it sliding off if they press on the buttons too hard. The matt can be removed if they intend to hold the controller in their hands the whole time.

Despite the earlier size comparison to the iPhone SE, the Lite SE controller is only compatible with the Nintendo Switch and Android devices. It’s available to pre-order for $35, and is expected to ship out July 15.

Editors' Recommendations

Cristina Alexander
Cristina Alexander has been writing since 2014, from opining about pop culture on her personal blog in college to reporting…
How to get Murmuring Obols in Diablo 4
Still from Diablo 4 cinematic.

Loot and gear are the most important things in Diablo 4. One item you'll want to get your hands on is the Murmuring Obols, which will, in turn, lead to some potentially high-value loot. But what exactly is this a Murmuring Obol and where can you farm them? Here's what you need to know about the Murmuring Obols in Diablo 4.
What Murmuring Obols are for

Murmuring Obols is a form of currency that can be spent at the Purveyor of Curiosities shops. These are denoted on the map with a sack of coins icon and can be found in main hubs such as Desolate Highlands.

Read more
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is so big that it’s coming out on two discs
Cloud and his friends overlook a scenic field.

The grand finale of Summer Game Fest 2023 went out on a high note with brand-new footage of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, which is now slated for an early 2024 release date. The game is so big that it'll release on two discs.

Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth is the second of three planned games in the Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy, starting with 2020's Final Fantasy 7 Remake. That game only covered the initial Midgar section of the game, though it expanded upon and added new content and features to flesh it out. With the conclusion of that title, as well as the Episode: Intermission DLC, we've only had a small glimpse as to how Rebirth will handle the game once going to the open world.

Read more
Fortnite gets a ‘wild’ new trailer featuring Optimus Prime
Optimus Prime reveal in Fortnite Chapter 4 Season 3 WILDS trailer

The new Fortnite season has finally been shown off in earnest at Summer Games Fest, where we also got a look at the cinematic trailer for the upcoming Wilds update, which coincides with Fortnite Chapter 4, Season 3.

Set to launch on June 9 across all platforms, the new update seems to introduce a whole new theme for the island. An early section of the trailer depicts the ground ripping apart, revealing a tropical jungle filled with ancient temples and grind-able vines -- as well as rideable dinosaurs.

Read more