So I recently had an issue. I got tired of waiting for RPCS3 to support several PS3 exclusives and just bought a PS3. I can run most of them but certain ones are hard on the CPU or games freeze/crash.

Then, I ran into another problem, and it’s that the controller’s charging port was damaged and deadzones were gone. I always thought the PS3 controller was ok, was looking forward to that boomerang they showed off. Besides that, going from the Xbox controller and Dualsense was a big downgrade. I looked around online and I found Retro Fighters.

Retro Fighters is a company that makes new controllers for old systems. I got the Defender, it works on PS1, PS2, PS3, PS Classic and PC. They also release firmware updates and have addressed issues with back compat with PS2 on PS3.

I will say in the hand it feels good and like a modern controller. It’s light, plasticy and lacks that premium Dualsense feel. I’m not going to take anything away from the controller for that, but that’s how it is. The sticks feel smooth and precise. The face buttons feel fine, I think there’s a slightly longer throw in them. D pad and shoulders have a fulfilling click down. The triggers are flared up and feel fine. There’s also a turbo, clear, screenshot and auto punch buttons on top

The vibration has been changed and the motors have been moved up higher. I feel the vibration frequency and intensity are now better. The Defender gets charged from a USB C cable. Overall this is a good upgrade to the original.

Now there were some problems I have with it. It doesn’t work right in the PS3 debug and recovery menus. The menus will ask you to plug in your controller and press the PS button and it wouldn’t respond. I had to plug the old one in to get passed that screen. Most people won’t have this issue unless they’re installing “stuff”, or trying to change it.

The only real question mark I have about it, is how will it hold up over time? I ask this about every controller. If you have a PS3, it’s $45 from their site, and a Bluetooth one for $50. Have a look