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Not too long ago I purchased a Flatbox and loved it, but as I was testing it with more games I reached the conclusion that I needed more buttons so, I started looking for other options. And, very quickly I came across the subject of this post, the Haute42 G16.
When in my hands, I immediately noticed that the number of buttons really make a difference. But there are a couple of things that fixed would take this controller from great to excellent. So, let’s find out in this Haute42 G16 Review if it’s worth it in 2024.
Hardware and Software
I can confidently say that overall for the price they are asking (around 60€), the quality is amazing. Everything is tightly shut between 3 layers of clear acrylic that convey a much-needed weight to this small controller. And, combined with its rubber pads I assure you it won’t slide around your desk while playing.
As for the buttons, mine came with 16 hot-swappable Graywood V4 linear switches which I never experimented with before. They are quiet and require around 40g of force, which is a bit too much for me to play comfortably since I’m used to 20g of force with the Choc Low Profile on my Flatbox.
Also, they stick out a lot meaning that in some fighting games, special moves shortcuts that involve sliding your fingers across the buttons won’t be possible, or difficult to perform. However, the caps themselves are quite resistant despite being made of plastic. I tried being rough on them during my testing and never fell off or broke.
Under each button, you can find an RGB LED that you can customize to your liking by accessing the Web Configurator. Here you can customize not just the lights, but also every little aspect you can think of. From button mapping to macros, to even changing the splash screen. With so much control it’s easy to make almost any game fit the Haute42 G16 if you want to.
Compatibility and Issues
The compatibility list might be a deal-breaker for some:
- PC/Steam Deck
- Nintendo Switch
- XboxOne
- PS3/PS4*
Given this, you won’t be able to play your favorite fighting games on either Xbox Series S/X or even on PS5. There are ways of making it work, though, using a device like the Brook Wingman. However, I wouldn’t advise it if you attend tournaments regularly since, depending on the ruleset, peripherals like this may not be allowed.
I mainly use it on my Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch, and everything connects and runs smoothly. But make you enable the right input mode before plugging in the USB!
Is it ergonomic?
I really love the feeling I get when playing on the Haute42 G16, but sadly it’s not the most ergonomic arcade controller. My thumbs are pretty sensitive and when playing on this they got a bit sore after a few days.
It’s definitely better than playing on a Stick and I think I can alleviate the stress caused by mashing the buttons if I replace them with ones that require less pressure.
Will it make you better?
And now to answer the ultimate question when considering a leverless controller, will the Haute42 G16 improve your gameplay? if you want to improve you might as well practice your fundamentals, learn match-ups, or even watch other people rather than purchasing a new controller expecting effortless success. However, if you’re sick of missing inputs with a stick, then the Haute14 G16 might help you.
Thanks to the SOCD cleaner, there are some great shortcuts for more demanding input sequences, but since they are so different from what you are used to on a stick, it might be frustrating until you have the muscle memory in place. Also, I feel like a beginner might have a better experience learning the Flatbox than a seasoned arcade stick veteran.
Also, having extra buttons provides further customization enabling you to find a style of gameplay that better suits you. In turn, it will make you feel more comfortable playing giving you more room for improvement.
So, is the Haute42 G16 worth it in 2024?
Given its great money-to-value, compact and simple design, responsive buttons, and customizable options, I can safely say that the Haute42 G16 is worth it in 2024 and it’s possibly the best budget leverless controller you can get right now.
The extra buttons truly make a difference since I can now play other games like Super Smash Bros Ultimate or any other game that doesn’t require camera movement. I have some concerns with the ergonomics but I feel the issue can be fixed with some lighter buttons.
So, with this said, grab yourself a Haute42 G16 if anything I said resonated with you!
