At CES 2023, Asus announced a new game controller, Asus ROG Raikiri Pro, compatible with Xbox Series X/S and PC that features a tiny, built-in OLED display.

The Asus ROG Raikiri Pro features a 1.3-inch OLED display just above the Xbox button, which can display things such as a custom image (or animation) and battery life. The controller features two buttons between a USB-C port, which are used to swap between your controller profiles.

Additionally, the Asus ROG Raikiri Pro includes four programmable back buttons, trigger locks, and a circular D-Pad. In addition to a dedicated mute button and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The Asus Armoury Crate PC app will be used to remap buttons, adjust joystick sensitivity, and enable trigger modes and dead zones on the controller.

Asus ROG Raikiri Pro – Design

More interestingly, the Asus ROG Raikiri Pro offers tri-mode connectivity, allowing you to connect the controller via Bluetooth, 2.4GHz RF mode, or a wired connection using a USB-C cable. Asus’ product listing for the page totes how this is a “pro” controller for those with PC as their platform of choice, while the compatibility on Xbox is through a wired USB-C connection.

The controller’s display reminds me of similar controllers and concepts. Such as the Datel Xbox 360 Turbo Fire wireless controller. Or a Sega Dreamcast controller with a visual memory unit (VMU) attached. With the option of running custom imagery or animations, it will be interesting to see

Asus has yet to share a release date or price for the controller.

The Asus ROG Raikiri Pro controller’s standard version only supports wired connectivity. When it goes on sale, it will be the less expensive of the two controllers. Two additional buttons on the back of the gaming controller, both of which can be customized using ASUS’ Armoury Crate software, are meant to provide basic functionality.

The joystick connectivity can also be adjusted by customizing the buttons. Programmable triggers with adjustable ranges and dead zones are located around the back (via the Armoury Crate app). A four-way D-pad with a cross pattern is included. The ASUS RGB Aura lighting on the Raikiri controller is also included, and it can be adjusted using an app. Like the Asus ROG Raikiri Pro, the Raikiri Standard is compatible with Xbox consoles and PCs.

ASUS ROG Raikiri Pro Controller: Features

Even while the Asus ROG Raikiri Pro isn’t the first controller with a display, it is the first of its kind to offer tri-mode connectivity. It features Bluetooth v5.0 and 2.4GHz RF wireless communication as well as wired connectivity through a USB Type-C interface. The controller’s three working modes are intended for PCs, but the wired mode also enables pairing with an Xbox console.

To lessen Bluetooth interference when gaming, ASUS claims that the controller’s wireless connectivity choices use adaptive frequency hopping (AFH) technology. The controller has a similar design aesthetic to the Asus ROG Raikiri Pro standard controller, but it has a better 8-way D-pad and four extra rear buttons that can be customized using the Armory Crate software.

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Asus ROG Raikiri Pro Controller: Specifications

The Asus ROG Raikiri Pro controller, which was also announced at CES 2023, may not be the first controller to offer a viewable display, but it is the first one to offer tri-mode connectivity. This means that the ROG Raikiri Pro controller can connect via a wired USB Type-C port, Bluetooth 5, and also via 2.4GHz RF. While the three modes work mainly for PCs, the controller also connects to Xbox consoles via the wired route.

Asus also claims that its wireless connectivity options pack in Adaptive frequency hopping technology (AFH) to minimize interference from other Bluetooth devices when gaming. While the control looks similar to the standard ROG Raikiri controller, it features a better 8-way D-pad and four additional buttons at the back that are customizable using the Armoury Crate software.

Unlike the standard model, there’s a 1.3-inch OLED display, which feels very similar to the one on Asus’s premium ROG Phone 6 Pro. The mini display can be personalized to show a custom image, animation, or text using the Armoury Crate software. Since it isn’t touch-sensitive, Asus has provided two physical buttons around the top of the display to switch between device profiles (while gaming) and more. And as with all things Asus, even these two buttons are programmable via the Armoury Crate software.

Asus’ Raikiri Pro isn’t the first game controller to offer a built-in display. Recent leaks have also revealed that Microsoft is interested in the idea. However, as per a report from GizChina, the display appears a lot bigger than Asus’s 1.3-inch OLED panel and closer in size to the Sony PlayStation’s DualShock 4 controller’s touchpad.

Asus ROG Raikiri Pro controller: Conclusion

The Raikiri Pro features “tri-mode” connectivity, allowing it to connect via Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz RF, or USB C. On the audio front, it features a built-in ESS DAC. All of that should make for a feature-rich third-party controller built with PC and Xbox in mind.

At the moment, ROG has yet to reveal a price or firm release date for the Raikiri Pro. It’s set to launch sometime in 2023’s second quarter.

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