CES 2023: ROG’s Raikiri Pro controller’s built-in screen has Dreamcast vibes

By Giovanni Colantonio January 3, 2023

Asus’ Republic of Gamers (ROG) brand revealed a new PC controller at CES 2023, dubbed the Raikiri Pro. The “tri-mode” gamepad comes loaded with customization potential and features, including a built-in OLED screen.

ROG is no stranger to creating gamepads, though the company generally specializes in ones built for mobile devices. The Raikiri Pro is a high-end PC controller, officially licensed by Xbox, that offers a lot of promise on paper.

The ROG Raikiri Pro sits on a table. — Image used with permission by copyright holder

On its surface, it’s a relatively standard Xbox controller with colored ABXY buttons, two sticks, and a standard X home button. Its biggest layout difference comes in the form of its circular D-pad, but it otherwise looks like a standard gamepad at a glance, albeit one with a unique aesthetic design complimented by some ROG logos on the front.

There’s a lot more to the Raikiri Pro than meets the eye, though. For one, it has a small, built-in OLED screen above the Xbox button which can display anything from custom images to battery or microphone status. Two small buttons on the top of the controller allow players to easily switch profiles at any time. It’s a unique feature that looks like a throwback to the Dreamcast controller’s built-in screen.

The back of the controller is where it gets more into “pro territory” as it features four programmable rear buttons and trigger locks. The back button commands can be customized via ROG’s Armoury Crate software, which can also be used to set vibration levels, joystick dead zone, and more.

The back of the ROG Raikiri Pro controller. — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Raikiri Pro features “tri-mode” connectivity, allowing it to connect via Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz RF, or USB C. On the audio front, it features built-in ESS DAC. All of that should make for a feature-rich third-party controller built with PC and Xbox in mind.

At the moment, ROG has yet to reveal a price or firm release date for the Raikiri Pro. It’s set to launch sometime in 2023’s second quarter.

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Giovanni Colantonio

Section Editor, Gaming

Giovanni is a writer and video producer focusing on happenings in the video game industry. He has contributed stories to…

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