Review of the Scuf Instinct, a colorful Xbox Series pro controller

Scuf struck again. With the arrival of the latest generation consoles, it seemed obvious that the brand still had a card to play, and not the least. If the PS5 has its Reflex, the Xbox Series X / S are also entitled to their controller, which the company calls Instinct. With its palettes optimized for professional gaming and its customizable look, does the controller manage to defeat its competitors? The answer in this test of the Scuf Instinct for Xbox Series.

Design and Personalization

For its base, Scuf uses the official Xbox Series controller, which does not contain any particular specificity before transformation. The brand then adds four paddles to the back, a button to change profiles, and changes its triggers as well as its joysticks. We then find ourselves with the same controller as at the start, but better. In terms of grip, nothing changes, especially if you do not opt ​​for the grip. [poids]

In terms of ergonomics, it should be added that the placement of the paddles is quite natural, the latter have been pushed slightly towards the inside of the handles for a more instinctive grip, so that the player does not move his fingers compared to a classic controller.

But one of the most important aspects of a Scuf accessory is its customization. The Instinct controller is no exception to the rule and already promises to put unique models in our hands. You have a wide choice of patterns and colors, and you can customize many elements of the Scuf Instinct, for an additional cost at each stage (unless you opt for the most basic of options). From a technical point of view, the result is stunning and the finishes are of excellent quality. Here are some models developed by us to show you the extent of the possibilities:

We must nevertheless make allowances by specifying that each of the models below all cost more than 200€ (260€, 274€ and 247€ respectively), a price which is not competitive with the famous Xbox Design Lab . Microsoft’s service is indeed the only one to offer you at least as complete a customization (or even more) for much less. Take this model which would cost 87€ to make:

Despite everything, Scuf’s strength lies in the choice of its designs, which are currently incomparable to any other offer on the market, in addition to offering these modifications on a so-called “professional” controller. In addition, you have the possibility to buy interchangeable faceplates in order to modify the look of your Instinct whenever you want. Scuf therefore has a strong argument in terms of design and customization which is not negligible, although it is debatable.

Performance

In terms of pure performance, however, we are pleasantly surprised by the naturalness of this controller. The pallets, because of their position but also their size, bear witness to the culmination of the brand’s technical research. As far as we are concerned, the placement of our fingers was not hampered by the palettes, and better still, their small format which almost gives them the appearance of buttons allowed us to take the hand in the blink of an eye. eye.

In-game, these small accessories help to reduce reaction time but above all to combine several actions in a row or simultaneously, which is particularly effective in FPS. The palettes are all mappable and you can save up to 3 profiles. Be aware, however, that they are not detachable unlike the brand’s other models, so you will have to put up with them in all types of games.

But the biggest advantage of this controller is its “modifiable” triggers. Don’t expect to be able to take them apart to replace them, Scuf has an even simpler solution. Thanks to two small buttons, you can change your basic triggers to instant triggers in the blink of an eye. Fans of shooters already know the importance of such a feature, which allows you to go up to 100% trigger pull in less time than it takes to tell. In use, we found them particularly formidable.

Finally, we will make the same remark as for the equivalent controller on PS5, the Scuf Reflex, the joysticks are not efficient enough for long sessions or competition. The material tends to slip under the finger and more texture or a silicone material that grips would not have been luxury, especially for this product range. However, you are at least sure that the joysticks will be in good condition for a very long time, the more elastic materials tending to crack over time.

A competitor of the Elite 2?

We couldn’t miss the comparison with the most popular professional Xbox controller on the market, we named the Elite 2. Proposed by Microsoft itself, it’s a controller that has managed to pull out of the game… with characteristics very similar to the Scuf Instinct. You will find on this model interchangeable joysticks, mappable palettes up to also 3 profiles, between which you can alternate by pressing a simple button.

So far, everything is the same. Except that the Elite 2 offers more accessories for purchase, as well as compatibility with the Xbox accessories software, which allows you to reprogram the buttons, which is not possible at Scuf. From a purely performance point of view, the Elite 2 still has a head start. The Scuf Instinct is nevertheless unbeatable in terms of customization. It seems obvious that your choice will depend on what you are really looking for in a controller.

A controller that is not for everyone

Today, you will not find an equivalent to the Scuf Instinct on the market for the simple reason that if a controller is designed to be professional, it will leave aside the aspect of customization, and vice versa, since the Xbox Design Lab, well ahead on this point, does not allow the design of a more efficient controller than the basic model. Ultimately it’s the best of both worlds (customization and performance) but at an expensive price.

Where a controller for PS5 such as the Reflex will not have this problem because it is not subject to as much competition, and especially not to that of the original manufacturer, which is very often a guarantee of quality in any domain. You will therefore find professional controllers at a lower cost, such as the Elite 2 (€129.99) or the Nacon Revolution X (€124.99), as efficient as the Scuf Instinct, which is offered at a starting price at €189.99. However, the modifiable triggers are a shock, unprecedented argument, which weighs heavily in the balance in our opinion. So it’s all a matter of choice.