| Price | Etsy |
| Release | April 15, 2025 |
| Compatibility | NS / PC |
| Dimensions | 15″ x 8″ x 4″ |
| Weight | ~5 lbs |
| Cable | 3 m |
Overview
Option select? More like Bishop|Select!
That’s right: Aaron Bishop of Bishop|Select is the mastermind behind the Maestro, one of the most ergonomic fighting game controllers to date—which we at The Arcade Stick are proud to present to you in writing. Will it be your next secret weapon to level up your game and win the next Evo? Read on to find the answer.
The truth of the matter is ergonomic controllers come in all shapes & sizes, but you are probably used to seeing ergonomic controllers for fighting games that are upright—with your hands resting on their outer sides. This is where the Maestro innovates.
Simply put, the Maestro’s ergonomics lie in how the directional button side slopes one way and the attack button side slopes another way. This way, you can kiss wrist pain goodbye—and continue gaming for long hours.
The Maestro has 14 main buttons, whereas three function buttons and a USB port can conveniently be found in the back. In case you were wondering, a touchpad button is included. Now, what is the cherry on top?
The cherry on top is the brass carrying handle you can find on the right side, allowing you to easily carry the Maestro around your next tournament—and in style.
Moving on…
The Maestro uses Crown SDB-202 MX buttons that vary in size: 24 and 30 mm. These relatively rare buttons utilize Cherry MX switches for that crisp, keyboard-like feel.
When it comes to connectivity, the Maestro runs on the open source GP2040-CE firmware with benefits that include almost nonexistent input delay—in addition to extendable compatibility through an adapter. The Plus edition of the controller uses the Brook P5 Plus PCB for PlayStation 5 compatibility, but more on that later.
The Maestro is made of some of the finest and most durable wood known to humankind: solid oak with a high grade stain and polyurethane finish. The controller’s editions include:
- Standard
- Plus
- Onyx
- Inferno
- Typhoon
- Tiger Claw
These names are cooler than Cooler from Dragon Ball FighterZ. Aren’t they? And how about you grab one edition for yourself and another edition for your sparring partner?
Appearance-wise, the Maestro looks nicer than your supermarket’s bread slicer. We are talking about different wood colors you can go for—as well as different button colors that can appear on your brand new controller. Something else you may like is a branding engraved brass nameplate.
If you are still not sold on the Maestro concept, you may be ecstatic to know that the controller comes with a braided power cord and travel bag—free of charge.
That said, whether you grab a Maestro from Bishop|Select’s own site or its Etsy store is entirely up to you. You may prefer the option with added customer protection. Just know that fortune favors those who order a fighting game controller from the store that suits them best, and only you can decide your fate—so step up, and rise to the occasion!