What it is
8BitDo describes the Ultimate 3 Controller for XBOX – Tomb Raider 30th Anniversary Edition as an official Tomb Raider collaboration that is also officially licensed by Xbox. It is a special-colorway version of the company's flagship Ultimate 3, not a new design. The anniversary line has two controllers: this Ultimate 3 for Xbox and the Pro 3 Bluetooth Gamepad.
The Ultimate 3 has a golden yellow shell with silhouettes of Lara Croft from different eras. Notebookcheck reports black thumbsticks and action buttons with yellow letters, plus a golden D-pad and black shoulder buttons, triggers and back buttons. The matching charging dock carries Tomb Raider symbols and the 30th anniversary mark.
Price and availability
- Price: TechPowerUp reports $119.99 for the Ultimate 3 edition, sold exclusively on the 8BitDo store.
- Premium over standard colors: Notebookcheck says this is more than the $99.99 charged for the other two Ultimate 3 variants.
- Ship date: Both anniversary controllers start shipping on October 24.
- Europe: Game Outlet Europe says the range is expected in Europe from November 13, 2026.
Pricing and dates come from press coverage and distributor statements. 8BitDo's own product page, as captured here, shows pre-order buttons but no price or ship date. Check the store listing for your region before ordering.
Connections: where Bluetooth does and doesn't apply
This is the part most likely to trip people up. According to 8BitDo's listing:
| Platform | Connection |
|---|---|
| Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One | 2.4G wireless or wired USB |
| Windows (10 1903 and above, including 11) | 2.4G wireless or wired USB |
| Android (13.0 and above) and Apple devices | Bluetooth |
Bluetooth is the mobile option. Xbox and Windows wireless play goes through the included 2.4G adapter. The listing gives an Android minimum but no Apple OS version.
The package contains the controller, charging dock, 2.4G adapter, USB cable and manual. No game is included.
The dock does more than charge
The dock uses magnetic alignment and contactless charging. 8BitDo says lifting the controller reconnects it automatically. The company also says to leave the 2.4G adapter in the dock and plug the dock into an Xbox or Windows PC over USB. It claims this extends the wireless signal and reduces latency.
That latency claim is 8BitDo's own. I haven't seen independent testing of it.
Controls and specs
- Sticks: Two TMR joysticks with adjustable tension. 8BitDo calls the setup "Dual Force Ring" and pairs it with a soft-stop silicone ring. It specifies a 12-bit ADC sampling chip and a 216MHz processor for precision and response.
- D-pad: Zinc alloy with gold-colored plating.
- Triggers: Hall-effect, with two selectable trigger-stop levels.
- Extra inputs: Two back buttons, plus remappable L4/R4 fast bumpers that 8BitDo says need no software.
- Other hardware: A 3.5mm audio jack and four sets of vibration motors.
- Battery: A 1,000mAh rechargeable Li-ion battery, rated at 20 hours of play and 4–5 hours of charging.
- Size and weight: 151 × 84 × 100.5mm and 476g.
The battery life and the response benefits are manufacturer figures, not test results.
PC-only extras
Two of the headline features apply to PC only:
- Polling rate: 8BitDo advertises up to 1000Hz wired and wireless on PC. It says this isn't supported on Xbox consoles. The figure is "ideal environment" data from the company's own lab, so real-world results may vary.
- Six-axis motion control: This works in 2.4G mode on PC. It is customizable in 8BitDo Ultimate Software X and mappable to the left or right stick. Don't expect it on console.
8BitDo Ultimate Software X handles button mapping, stick and trigger adjustment, vibration settings and firmware updates. The listing also says the controller works with Ultimate Software V2 Mobile. It doesn't say that every setting is available on every platform.
Is it worth the premium?
Distributor and press coverage describes the internals as the same as the regular Ultimate 3. So the extra $20 over the standard colorways pays for the licensed artwork and the themed dock. It isn't buying new hardware. For collectors and Tomb Raider fans that is a fair trade. If you only want TMR sticks, Hall-effect triggers and a charging dock, the standard colors cost less.
Bottom line
For Windows and Xbox players this is an officially licensed, feature-rich controller in a collector's finish. Expect 2.4G or USB on Xbox and Windows, Bluetooth only on mobile, and the 1000Hz polling and motion control only on PC. Treat the battery life and latency numbers as marketing until reviewers test them.