GameSir G7 Wired Controller for Xbox & PC (Hardware)
Official GBAtemp Review
Product Information:
Ah, the humble controller; easily the oldest gaming “accessory” known to the hobby. From the built-in control pads of the arcade units, to the packaged-in controllers of home consoles, everyone under the sun knows that in order to actually play a video game, you need something to control it with. While some are happy to ride out whatever controller their console came with until it’s smashed against the wall, there’s definitely a market for those who want to customize their controllers to their liking, both physically and in layout mapping. This is where GameSir’s latest controller comes in, the GameSir G7 wired controller for Xbox and PC. A wired controller built for customization, how does this dual-device stack up as a third party controller? Let’s dive in.
Tech Specs
- Working Platform: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows 10/11
- Connection: Wired, 3m detachable USB-C cable
- 3.5mm Audio Jack: Yes
- Microswitch Buttons: Yes, ABXY
- Analog Triggers: Yes, Hall Effect Magnetic Sensors
- Analog Joysticks: Yes, ALPS
- Rumble Motors: Yes, 4 in total, in each grips and triggers
- Back Buttons: Yes, 2 mappable Back Buttons
- Customization Software: Yes, GameSir Nexus
- Battery: No
- Product Size: 152*103*63mm/5.98*4.06*2.48 in
- Net Weight: 256g/0.56 lbs
- Package Size: 160*118*113mm/6.30*4.65* in
- Gross Weight: 462g/1.02 lbs
First Impressions
Tearing the controller from the box that houses it, I found exactly what I expected inside; an Xbox controller, and one that looked damn close to those officially released by Microsoft. Unsurprising as Xbox granted GameSir an official license for this particular controller, allowing them to fully optimize the hardware and software options for PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. The build quality and design are both to the standard I’ve come to expect from Microsoft’s own offerings, but with a few twists that GameSir added in to make the device their own; back paddles, a rubberised texture for better gripping (as opposed to the texturized back on most standard Xbox controllers that are just made from the same material as the controller), and the ability to control both chat and game audio from the controller itself. Getting it started is as simple as plugging the USB-A end of the controller into your console or PC of choice, and you’re off to the races; ready to game at a moment’s notice, as it should be. If this seems all a bit surface level or basic as far as the description of what you get, almost seeming like I just described an Xbox controller… well it’s because that’s what you get here. Aside from those few add-ons from GameSir, this looks, feels, and plays like every other Xbox controller I’ve owned.
Customization & Performance
One of the primarily advertised features on the GameSir G7 is the swappable faceplates, allowing you to customize your controller to your heart's content… kind of. The G7 comes with two faceplates included, a black one and a white one. Both connect to the controller via magnets, and seamlessly integrate into the controller for maximum style and comfort. For those who are artistically inclined, as I am not, both face plates are designed to be pai nt friendly, allowing you to add whatever design you’d like onto the controller, fully removed from the rest of the hardware for maximum convenience and safety. I like this feature, but it does leave a lot to be desired when it comes to the marketed customization of the hardware. For those of us who aren’t as talented with a paint pen, the “customization” is essentially left to whether or not you’d like a black controller, or a white one. As of the writing of this, GameSir isn’t offering any pre-designed faceplates to accompany the controller, which is a missed opportunity in my opinion. But all of this to say, it is admittedly a bit of a nitpick, as I’m sure most who are interested in a customized faceplate will have the skills/desire to do so themselves. And at the end of the day, I believe having the option for customizing easily accessible in the first place is better than not having said option without tearing your controller apart.
When it comes to the performance of the controller… honestly? It’s an Xbox controller. The tactile face buttons are certainly a nice touch, offering the same feedback and satisfying “click” of a mechanical keyboard, and the anti-friction glide rings built into the analog ports of the face plates definitely provide a noticeable difference when using the analog sticks, but at the end of the day this is functionally the same as every Xbox controller I’ve ever used. I did a series of tests on a variety of games, namely Deathloop, Grand Theft Auto V, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Dragon Ball Fighter Z, Marvel’s Spider-Man, and Resident Evil Village just to get a feel for its performance across multiple game types and platforms, splitting my time between both my Xbox One and my PC. And in each instance, it was a case of not noticing many, if any, differences between the GameSir, and my Microsoft branded Xbox controllers. The previously mentioned quality of life improvements do provide some noticeable differences that give it a slight edge in the comfort of usability, and the two extra back triggers offer something not found on an official controller that doesn’t cost $180. The mappable buttons and swappable faceplates also offer an additional feature to add value above those Microsoft controllers, and even though I’ve rarely had latency problems when using my wireless controllers on either PC or my console, the wired nature of the controller works flawlessly and offers some extra security/peace of mind that your performance hiccups will be minimal. None of this is to say that being functionally near identical to the official option is a bad thing; I’m a big fan of Xbox’s controller design, and there’s really no reason to try and reinvent the wheel here. Just working as well as the “official” option, with the added quality of life features, is enough in my book.
Finally we come to GameSir’s proprietary software, the GameSir nexus. In simplest terms, the nexus is your simplest way to map and remap buttons on the controller, update the hardware’s firmware, and set/swap profiles for those who are sharing the controller. It’s through this software that the controller can truly become your own, allowing you to fully customize your layout, map the back triggers, fine tune your vibration preferences, and adjust analog stick and trigger sensitivities. The software is simple enough that anyone can figure out how to make their desired changes within minutes, and most conveniently, is available on both PC and Xbox via the Microsoft store on all devices. This, especially, I consider a wonderful feature as it means the customization options aren’t locked just to the PC, unlike some other pieces of cross-platform hardware I’ve reviewed. It’s simple, but it works flawlessly, and that’s all I ask for at the end of the day.
Controller Trailer
In Conclusion
Ultimately, GameSir didn’t reinvent the wheel here; they made an Xbox controller. It looks like one, feels like one, and plays like one. But along with that, they’ve added in a few QOL improvements that make it easy to recommend this controller to anyone in the market for a new one; especially if you’re after something wired, customizable, and even slightly cheaper than the official thing. It’s become my go-to for PC gaming when I can’t/don’t want to use a mouse and keyboard, and has been excellent to have around for my Xbox when I inevitably need to charge my wireless controllers. Definitely earns the recommendation here, and is a wonderful tool to have in the gaming toolbox.
Verdict
- Customizable as much or as little as little as one wants
- Incorporates already good Xbox controller design and functionality
- Simple to use swappable faceplates
- GameSir Nexus available both on PC and Xbox consoles
- Faceplate customizability entirely up to user's artistic abilities
