| Price | Ultra Arcade |
| Release | February 2025 |
| Compatibility | NS2 / PC |
| Dimensions | 11.8″ x 8.3″ x 0.6″ |
| Weight | 1.54 lbs |
Introduction
Why use a 12 button controller when you can use a 17 button controller, right? Such is the case with Ultra Arcade’s Flatbox XL17, which has 17 buttons—plus an XL size. In fact, here’s a brief guide about Ultra Arcade’s Flat series:
| Edition | Size | Buttons |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Small | 12 |
| PLA | Small | 12 |
| WMX | Small | 12 |
| WASD-XL | Big | 12 |
| XL | Big | 12 |
| XL14 | Bigger | 14 |
| XL17 | Bigger | 17 |
Performance
Let’s focus on the XL17. Its star performance feature is its versatile button layout. You see, its main jump button is bigger than the rest for easier pressing. Also, you can press its five extra buttons with your:
- Left middle finger
- Left pinky
- Left thumb
- Right thumb
- Right index finger
That also means that there’s an optional WASD layout at your disposal. Moving on, the XL17’s switches are hot swappable for your convenience and can come in these variants:
- Kailh Choc V2 Blue: clicky with a sharp tactile bump
- Kailh Choc V2 Brown: tactile with a significant bump
- Kailh Choc V2 Red: linear with smooth travel and a bump
- Wind Engine: ultra low profile with reduced travel and fast actuation
- Shadow Hunting: tactile with deeper feedback and higher resistance
Furthermore, there are four function buttons to aid your pursuit of tournament gold. Moreover, you can order an XL17 with optional foam padding—for extra stability—plus an optional screen that can show you this valuable information:
- Live button press animation
- SOCD cleaning mode
- Directional mode
- Input mode
- Turbo rate
Hardware
The XL17 is an acrylic controller that’s large and wide—yet light and slim. It runs on the open source GP2040-CE firmware that’s low in latency and updatable online. You may also be glad to know that your controller arrives with a detachable USB-C angled cable.
To extend its compatibility—and support additional modern consoles—the XL17 has passthrough support, so you can insert your own dongle. Not only that, Ultra Arcade also allows you to order the controller with PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X fighting game compatibility.
Appearance
Check out the below illustration that our artist Gilbert Han did for his client’s Ultra Arcade controller. He can illustrate custom art for your XL17 too:
Your XL17’s custom art can be featured both on top and at the bottom, so you can have two artworks. You can even request transparent buttons with art showing through them. Other button styles include just transparent—or opaque buttons in your preferred color.
You can also choose your XL17’s acrylic type, such as transparent, opaque, or matte. Going for matte specifically? Great, here are your four color options:
- Black
- White
- Purple
- Frosted
On a closing note, you can request image or text laser engravement on your brand new XL17 as a finishing touch.
Conclusion
The XL17 gives you an unbeatable package of a large and wide controller that’s still light and slim—with the cherry on top being the many buttons that you can use as macros in many modern fighting games.
- 17 hot swappable switch buttons
- Large, wide, light, and yet slim
- Optional foam padding
- Optional WASD layout
- Optional screen
- Color selection
- Excellent firmware
- Detachable angled cable
- Image or text engravement
- Top, bottom, and button art
- Compatibility extension port
- Transparent/opaque/matte acrylic
Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐