The Nacon RIG Revolution X ($99) is a wired controller for PC and Xbox that aims to outperform the basic Xbox gamepad for not much more money.
This is a controller marketed to competitive players who want the security of knowing they are connected to their Xbox or PC. But anyone who appreciates a customizable gamepad should find that the Revolution X fits their needs.
While the Revolution X offers many of the same features as the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 for less money, it still can’t quite match the build quality of Microsoft’s premium gamepad. Read on for our full Nacon RIG Revolution X review.
Nacon RIG Revolution X review: price and availability
The Nacon RIG Revolution X currently retails for $99, although you can often discount it by $10 or more if you shop around.
You can buy it directly on the Nacon website (opens in new tab)or from third-party retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart.
Nacon RIG Revolution X review: Design
The Nacon RIG Revolution X is roughly the same size and shape as Microsoft’s standard Xbox Series X controller. However, the buttons are spaced a little further apart and there’s a customizable RGB light ring around the right stick. There are also four triggers on the back where your fingers usually curl around the gamepad, giving you four additional customizable inputs.
The Revolution X is a bit heavier than the Xbox Series X controller, weighing in at about 11.9 ounces versus the ~9.8-ounce Xbox Series X gamepad. The RIG also comes with a set of interchangeable grip weights, so you can adjust the weight of the controller to your liking. The controller comes with three pairs of weights, which together weigh 10, 14 or 16 grams. You can place these weights in compartments in the handles without tools, slide the compartment covers off and the weights snap into place.
The Revolution X comes with two additional sets of thumbstick shaft adapters, as well as a set of convex thumbstick tips. With this you can make the sticks a bit higher or replace the concave tops with rounded convex. Together, these three sets of interchangeable parts give you quite a bit of leeway in customizing how the Revolution X fits in your hand.
Regardless of how you adjust it, the Revolution X feels solid and sturdy, if a little plasticy. Our review unit rattles a little more than the standard Xbox Series X gamepad or the Elite Series 2, but not so much that it feels cheap.
The Revolution X can also store up to four customizable control profiles, which you can swap using the profile button on the back of the gamepad. This button is located on the back and you can press it repeatedly to switch between profiles, keeping track of which one is enabled by looking at the LED indicator on the front of the gamepad.
On the back you will also find a switch that allows you to switch between the classic and advanced modes of the controller. You’ll probably want to leave it in advanced mode as it allows you to switch between profiles and use the advanced features. But if you roll it back to classic mode, the Revolution X behaves like a normal Xbox gamepad.
Of course, since this is a wired gamepad, you’ll need to connect it to a console or PC using the included 9.8-foot braided cable. No wireless support is offered.
Nacon RIG Revolution X review: Features
The Revolution X offers a whole host of useful features for those who spend a lot of time with a controller in hand.
Most notably, you can customize the way the device feels using the aforementioned weights, thumbstick adapters, and replaceable thumbstick tips. These small adjustments can make the gamepad more comfortable in your hands. That, in turn, can make a huge difference during marathon gaming sessions.
The controller can also help reduce discomfort. I suffer from RSI in both hands and can’t hold a gamepad for too long without pain. Still, I found I could hold the Revolution X a little more comfortably than the standard Xbox Series X controller after adjusting the thumbsticks to protrude as far from the pad as possible. This did not miraculously resolve my hand pain, and I would not recommend purchasing this gamepad if you are seeking relief from similar ailments. (A visit to a trained doctor would be my advice.) But experiencing less pain was a benefit of being able to adjust the feel of the controller.
You can also use the Revolution X app, available as a free download on Microsoft’s Xbox and Windows storefronts, to customize up to four profiles on the controller. Using the software, you can fine-tune everything from button mapping to triggering dead zones to stick response curves. For example, this allows you to set separate profiles for shooting games and racing games, tuning the former to require very little trigger pull, while equipping the latter with slower, more realistic response curves.
You can also take advantage of 3D audio with virtually any headphones you plug into the Revolution X’s 3.5mm audio jack. That’s because the gamepad itself offers software support for Dolby Atmos for Headphones. This is a small but nice feature, and in practice I found that it adds a bit of atmosphere when playing games with a headset that doesn’t offer 3D audio yet. Keep in mind, of course, that the game itself must support Dolby Atmos 3D audio to get the most out of this feature.
Nacon RIG Revolution X review: Performance
I spent as much time as possible playing games like Elden Ring, Star Wars: Battlefront II, and Forza Horizon 5 using our Revolution X review unit. I thought it was a solid gamepad that’s quite an upgrade over the base Xbox Series X controller.
While I’ve never been prone to input lag or dropouts, I can say that during my hours of testing, I never noticed the Revolution X missing or misinterpreting an input. The controller felt good in my hands and the four programmable triggers on the back panel were handy.
In my experience, the rear triggers were most valuable as stand-ins for other buttons on the controller that you might find difficult to reach quickly, or with fingers you’d rather leave firmly in place on the sticks. By assigning the face buttons to the rear triggers, the former can be used without taking your thumb off the right stick, for example. This can be valuable if you want to make a move without interfering with your aim in a first-person shooter.
The face buttons themselves are perfectly usable, as are the triggers. In my short time with the gamepad, I’ve never had any problems using them.
However, I found myself yearning a bit for the added weight and comfort I feel when using the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2. I also prefer the Elite Series 2’s four rear paddles over the rear buttons on the Revolution X, partly because they’re easier to press, and partly because you can remove some or all of them whenever you want.
Still, the Revolution X feels almost as good as the Elite Series 2 and costs nearly $100 less, which is a pretty tempting value proposition.
Nacon RIG Revolution X review: verdict
The Nacon RIG Revolution X Wired Gamepad is a solid upgrade over the standard Xbox Series X controller and a worthwhile investment for those who regularly spend hours gaming on a controller.
The depth of customization rivals the excellent Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2. And yet, at $99 MSRP, the Revolution X is about $80 cheaper than the $179 Elite Series 2. Though you’ll feel those savings in the plasticky build quality. of the Revolution X, the device holds up well with extended use and is perfectly suited for hours of gaming.
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