With the recent release of Street Fighter 6, and a new Tekken and Mortal Kombat on the way, it's safe to say fighting games are on the come up in 2023. And while modern fighting games are designed with gamepad controls in mind (and several pro players use a gamepad), virtually throwing hands with an arcade stick is still the preferred way for many. Whether it be for ergonomics and comfort or for the advantage of swifter, more accurate command inputs, the right fight stick can be a game-changer. Personally, I find they just feel right--especially when using one like the 8BitDo Arcade Stick.

I spent several hours using the new 8BitDo Arcade Stick for Xbox and PC and it performed fantastically--with springy buttons and a responsive joystick--which is the top priority of course. Beyond that, it also has a number of features that round out the package, like simple toggles to switch input modes, a steel plate to give the compact box solid weight, and smart design choices for modding. More importantly, it holds up in competitive environments when used wirelessly.

The thing is, it's nearly identical to the 8BitDo Arcade Stick for Switch and PC that came out two years ago. So if you're strictly a PC player (and don't mind the NES-inspired color scheme), you can get the previous iteration for cheaper and not miss out on much from a performance standpoint. However, $120 USD for a high-quality fight stick with great wireless capability is still a solid deal, so if Xbox is your main fighting game platform, this one should be in top contention.