In a world full of $200 controllers, this $35 Xbox pad manages to afford anti-drift sticks

Drakong’s Challenger is a budget, officially licensed Xbox-style controller for PC gamers, priced at $34.99 or £45. It stands out by including Hall effect sticks and triggers, which are designed to prevent stick drift, alongside programmable rear buttons.

The wired pad forgoes wireless connectivity and RGB to keep costs down. It weighs about 205g and feels smaller and less premium than pricier controllers, though its rear buttons are responsive and can be mapped directly using the M button, without companion software.