Xbox owners and fans of Rare Limited will want to grab Amazon’s Black Friday deal on 8BitDo’s first wireless Xbox controller before it’s gone. The 8BitDo Ultimate 3-Mode Rare 40th Anniversary Edition is discounted to $72 (was $90) while supplies last–and this deal is likely to sell out pretty fast. Released in August, this edition of the Ultimate 3-Mode works wirelessly on Xbox consoles, PC, Apple devices, and Android.
Officially licensed by Microsoft, the Rare 40th Anniversary Edition comes with a matching charging dock, premium components–including back buttons, Hall Effect sticks, and a metal D-pad–and is presented in a striking blue-and-gold color scheme with symbols and artwork nodding to the Microsoft-owned studio’s storied history. Though best known today as the studio behind Sea of Thieves, Rare has a back catalog of classics like Donkey Kong Country, GoldenEye 007, Banjo-Kazooie, Conker, and Perfect Dark.
The Rare 40th Anniversary Edition is one of numerous Xbox-branded 8BitDo accessories on sale for Black Friday. You can also save big on the new All-Button Arcade Controller, the Xbox Wireless Arcade Fight Stick, and more.
The original Ultimate 3-Mode Controller launched last spring in white and black. A transparent green model matching 8BitDo’s Retro 87 Keyboard and Retro R8 Mouse was added to the lineup in May. The “3-Mode” moniker pertained to the controller’s connectivity options: 2.4GHz Wireless for PC, Bluetooth for mobile, and wired for Xbox. All of those modes still exist on the Rare 40th Anniversary Edition, but it also has 2.4GHz Wireless on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. Implementing Microsoft’s wireless protocol combined with the special-edition theme explains the $20 price jump.
$72 (was $90) | For Xbox, PC, Apple, Android
The Rare 40th Anniversary Edition is arguably the best-looking controller 8BitDo has created–and one of the standout special-edition Xbox controllers in general. It utilizes Rare’s longtime colors with a two-tone Royal blue shell accented by yellow-gold joystick rings, face button labels, triggers/bumpers, and two remappable back buttons.
8BitDo used gold-plated zinc alloy to create the tactile D-pad; this is the first metal D-pad in the Ultimate series. Rare’s 40th Anniversary logo is on the left handle, while the darker Royal blue silhouettes are Easter Eggs referencing the studio’s history.
It comes with a matching charging dock with the studio name on the front center. The 2.4GHz USB receiver is stored in the bottom compartment on the dock. You’ll also find a USB-C cable and a pair of silicone stick caps featuring the Sea of Thieves logo on one and a puzzle piece on the other. The jigsaw puzzle piece nods to the collectibles in Rare’s classic platformers, Banjo-Kazooie and DKC.
The controller looks even better up close, and wireless performance on Xbox is excellent. The zinc alloy D-pad feels great, too. The Ultimate 3-Mode is built with premium components and has stellar ergonomics. It’s a versatile controller thanks to support for numerous devices and built-in customization options.
Check out the key specs for the Rare 40th Anniversary Edition below:
- Platform support:
- Xbox Series X|S & Xbox One – 2.4GHz Wireless | Wired
- Windows – 2.4GHz Wireless | Wired
- Apple iOS & macOS – Bluetooth
- Android- Bluetooth
- Controls:
- Hall Effect anti-drift sticks
- Hall Effect impulse triggers (Xbox/PC)
- Microswitch bumpers
- Two remappable back triggers
- Tactile metal D-pad (made of zinc alloy)
- ABXY face buttons with gold labels
- Xbox Guide | View | Menu | Star | Profile
- Mic and Input switches
- Textured handles
- Accessories:
- Matching charging dock with 2.4GHz receiver
- Rare-themed silicone stick caps
- USB-C to USB-A cable
- Profiles: Save up to 3 custom control layouts
- Battery: Up to 20 hours | Charge time: 4 hours
- Ports: USB-C, 3.5mm audio jack
- Vibration: Xbox and PC only
- 8BitDo Ultimate Software for Xbox, PC, Apple, Android:
- Remap inputs
- Set up custom profiles
- Create dead zones
- Adjust stick sensitivity
- Adjust trigger sensitivity
- Adjust rumble intensity
With support for PC, Mac, and mobile, the new controller will likely appeal to big fans of Rare who don’t even own or have a need for a wireless Xbox controller. That said, it’s worth emphasizing that the 3-Mode Controller does not have the latest enhancements found in 8BitDo’s flagship Ultimate 2 or Pro 3 Bluetooth Gamepad.
The Ultimate 2 has four remappable buttons, upgraded TMR sticks, RGB light rings, and adjustable trigger locks, among other improvements. The Ultimate 3-Mode, meanwhile, is essentially the same as the original Ultimate. A great controller, for sure, but not 8BitDo’s best. So PC players will also want to check out the Ultimate 2 for $47.69 (was $60). If you also have a Nintendo Switch or Switch 2, the Ultimate 2 Bluetooth is discounted to $56 (was $70).
8BitDo started working with Xbox several years ago, but 2025 has certainly been the biggest year for the partnership. Within the past few weeks, 8BitDo launched a new version of its Ultimate Mobile Controller licensed by Xbox Cloud Gaming as well as a leverless wireless fight stick. The controller cradles your iPhone or Android phone and is a bargain at $40 (was $50). The All-Button Arcade Controller is the second officially licensed 8BitDo Wireless Arcade Controller for fighting games. The fight sticks can connect wirelessly to Xbox, as can the Lite SE Accessibility Controller and Xbox Media Remote. So while the new 3-Mode is the first regular 8BitDo controller with wireless support on Xbox consoles, the manufacturer does have prior experience with the wireless protocol.
We rounded up a list of 8BitDo accessories licensed by Xbox, note that a number of the products aren’t actually for Xbox. The Retro 87 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard and Retro R8 Wireless Mouse, for instance, are simply part of 8BitDo’s series of retro-inspired PC peripherals. Check out more 8BitDo Xbox deals below.
Customizable controllers, keyboard/mouse, media remotes, and more
- 8BitDo Retro 87 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard – Xbox Edition — $96 (
$120) - 8BitDo Retro R8 Wireless Mouse – Xbox Edition — $49 (
$60) - 8BitDo Rare 40th Anniversary Edition Xbox Wireless Controller — $72 (
$90) - 8BitDo Ultimate 3-Mode Controller (Xbox, PC, Mobile)
- 8BitDo Pro 2 Wired Controller (Xbox, PC) — $36 (
$45) - 8BitDo Ultimate Mobile Bluetooth Controller — $40 (
$50) - 8BitDo All-Button Wireless Arcade Controller (Xbox, PC) — $80 (
$100) - 8BitDo Wireless Arcade Fight Stick – Black (Xbox, PC) — $90 (
$120) with coupon - 8BitDo Wireless Arcade Fight Stick – White (Xbox, PC) — $90 (
$120) - 8BitDo SN30 Pro Bluetooth Controller (Mobile) — $30 (
$40) - 8BitDo M30 Sega-Inspired Wired Controller (Xbox) — $25 (
$35) - 8BitDo Lite SE Wireless Accessibility Controller (Xbox, PC) — $60
- 8BitDo Ultimate Wired Controller (Xbox, PC) — $28.79 (
$45) - 8BitDo Ultimate C Wired Controller (Xbox, PC) — $27.64 (
$35) - 8BitDo Ultimate Mini Wired Controller (Xbox, PC) — $27.64 (
$35) - 8BitDo Xbox Media Remote – Short Edition — $20
- 8BitDo Xbox Media Remote – Long Edition — $22 (
$25) - 8BitDo Xbox Controller Charging Dock — $20 (
$25) - 8BitDo Xbox Dual Controller Charging Dock — $22 (
$45)
