Last week I tested new Razer Raiju PS5/PC controller when I'm trying to save the Earth from robots in Arc Raidersand I liked it. Out of the box the controller works great and all the button/trigger actions feel really awesome. Some of them click like computer mouse buttons, and the triggers are very smooth to press.
Because of all this, I don't know who to recommend this to. This retails in Canada for $279.which is much more than the $95 PS5 DualSense controller and $80 Xbox controller. It definitely has a lot of improvements over those basic controllers, but you really have to be an avid gamer to justify it.
What makes it so special?
First of all, it is equipped with six additional reassignable buttons. This is great for gamers like me since I can map one of these to a typical push-to-talk command that I typically use on my keyboard. There are two buttons on the underside of both sides of the controller grips, and two more on the front, next to the bumpers.
They took some getting used to, but after a while I was able to pick them up without any accidental touches. However, the two buttons next to the bumpers are a bit difficult to press quickly, so I think most people will just use the options at the bottom. There are also extra paddles in the box so you can swap them out if you want them to be flush with the bottom of the controller.
On the underside of the controller you'll also find a pair of trigger detents that allow you to pull the trigger faster while sacrificing some of the squeeze effect. I turned on the right lock so I could press the fire button as quickly as possible, but left the left unlocked so I could still press well to aim. It's a good compromise, but ultimately it's only useful for people who play competitive shooters. Personally, I'd prefer the PS5's cool adaptive triggers over this option, but I know more hardcore gamers would prefer trigger lock. You can also get a DualSense Edge controller with similar trigger lock and adaptive triggers to get the best of both worlds. It's also $10 cheaper.
Moreover, all the main components of Raiju Pro V3 are the best. There's a great D-Pad, magnetic joysticks, and even a great rubberized grip. I should also mention that there is one taller joystick and one shorter one that you can use to replace the standard joysticks that come with the controller. The idea is that the shorter one gives you more speed and the taller one gives you more precision, but the shorter one is essentially the same size as the default one, so it's only worth replacing if you've missed out on the PS3 DualShock's dome cap.
The taller cap is completely different, but I'm not sure it helped my game. It's cool and seems unique, but in the long run it won't do you any good or break you. If anything, it will just be harder to go back to a regular controller. However, for racing games such as Forza, I saw the appeal of wanting a stick that could be used to push easily. Using the Razer Synapse software on your computer or the Razer mobile app, you can also adjust the joystick's sensitivity and set up custom profiles for different games.
The controller also comes with a 2.4GHz adapter, making it easy to play wirelessly on PC. The box also includes a fairly long USB-A to USB-C cable. To pack it all in for travel, there's also a nice case that has plenty of room for everything, including the small screwdriver needed to replace the bottom buttons.
One of the big improvements this controller has over the existing PS5 model is battery life. The Raiju Pro V3 has 35 hours of battery life, which is more than double the 6 to 12 hours you can expect from a regular PS5 controller or even a DualSense Edge. If battery life is your main concern, it will last much longer. I've played 70 hours so far Arc Raidersand I only charged it once.
Overall this is a great controller, but since it's geared toward eSports there's no rumble, which is probably a good thing for most, but since it's so expensive it would be nice to have that option. If I'm going to spend almost $300 on a controller, I want it to provide a top-notch experience in all types of games, not just shooters.
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