Razer Wolverine V2 Pro PS5 Controller
Razer Wolverine V2 Pro PS5 Controller We're finally seeing 'pro' controllers for the PS5 two years into the console's life cycle. While Sony is working on its own version, the DualSense Edge, Scuf and Razer have been working on their own inventions. We recently reviewed the Scuf Relex Pro controller for the PlayStation 5, and while we were impressed with the overall hardware, we were less impressed with the price. The Razer Wolverine V2 Pro we're looking at today has a similar price tag ($249), but adds a slew of features (while removing some crucial ones) to cater solely to FPS players.
Despite its high price, the Wolverine V2 Pro for the PS5 is impressive, but its lack of vibration modules makes it strictly a secondary controller unless you spend 100% of your time playing competitive FPS games.
Design and Features
The Wolverine V2 Pro's off-stick layout for analog sticks stands out immediately when compared to PlayStation's symmetric layout. One reason for this is that Razer repurposed the design of the Wolverine V2 Chroma for the V2 Pro, which is a pro controller variant for Xbox consoles. The decision makes sense in terms of staying true to the product's design philosophy, but it may be a deal breaker for those who prefer PlayStation's analog stick layout (I, personally, prefer the off-stick layout because it's more comfortable).
The PlayStation touchpad, Create and Options buttons, and the PS button to turn the controller on and off are the only differences between the two controllers.
Although I quickly became accustomed to the back buttons, I must admit that I am not a fan of their placement. Having paddles built into the contours of the grip simply gives you more control over the buttons and makes them far more comfortable to use. They are not, however, completely useless, and the more you use them, the more muscle memory you will develop to execute any game commands on the fly.
The number of buttons and what powers them are what the Wolverine V2 Pro has going for it. Razer has fitted every button (except the triggers and D-Pad) with its mecha-tactile keys, which not only provide exceptionally fast response times (0.65mm actuation time), but also make a satisfying clicky noise that mechanical keyboard enthusiasts like myself will appreciate.
Aside from the standard buttons and analog sticks, the V2 Pro has six customizable buttons. Four of them are located on the controller's back, while the other two are located next to the bumper and trigger buttons. Unlike most other pro-controllers, the four back buttons are more akin to extra switches placed slightly away from the contours of the grip. The disadvantage is that it will take some getting used to, especially if you have previously used other pro-controllers or if you have smaller hands. The advantage is that you won't accidentally press the buttons while using one hand to manage the controller or gripping it tightly during intense in-game sequences.
If the back buttons don't appeal to you, the two additional buttons (M1 and M2) located next to the bumpers are much easier to reach and use. They have the same tactile feel as the other buttons and can be assigned to almost any button on the controller. I was recently playing Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and used the M1 button to display the map and the M2 button as the RS function because I dislike pressing the joysticks for anything. After using them, it's difficult to go back to a standard controller layout because they're so convenient and simple to use.
While the M buttons are excellent and may be my favorite feature of the Wolverine V2 Pro, the D-Pad is not. It's an 8-way D-Pad with clicky microswitches, but there's not enough depth to tell if you've actually activated the button. This is especially noticeable when wearing a headset. When pressing on the D-Pad, there simply isn't enough feedback, and I wish Razer had gone with a standard 4-way style D-Pad with the same mecha-tactile keys as the face buttons.
Razer has included HyperTrigger functionality on both the LT and RT triggers for FPS players. A side-lock on the controller's back can be activated to convert the long pull of the triggers into a short pull, reducing travel distance and providing near instantaneous in-game execution. Razer claims that the HyperTrigger feels like a mouse click when activated, and I agree.
While the functionality may not be useful in most game genres, I can see it being useful in first-person shooters where quick reflexes on the trigger can be extremely beneficial. It didn't make much of a difference in my K/D ratio in Overwatch, but I liked that I didn't have to pull the trigger all the way through to shoot, and I was able to burst-shot far more effectively with the Soldier. This has the potential to be a game changer in the hands of experienced hands.
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The Wolverine V2 Pro supports both the PlayStation 5 and the PC via a 2.4GHz wireless dongle. A toggle on the back allows you to switch between the two platforms, which is required for the controller to function properly. You can also switch from wireless to wired mode, though doing so does not always result in lower latency or a faster polling rate.
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The Wolverine V2 Pro weighs around 280g, which is similar to the DualSense's 278g, but it still feels substantial in the hands. This is due to the thicker overall body and the rubber grips, which make the controller feel quite large. If you have smaller hands, reaching out to the Create and Options buttons, as well as the four back buttons, can be difficult. I handed the controller to my 11-year-old nephew so he could play a few rounds of Fortnite, but he quickly returned it, claiming it was too difficult for him to control his character properly.
As a result, the Wolverine V2 Pro is best suited for people with medium-to-large hands. Personally, I found the controller to be extremely comfortable, so much so that I prefer the Wolverine V2 Pro over the DualSense, Xbox Series controller, Turtle Beach Recon, and Scuf Reflex Pro by a wide margin. I have medium-sized hands, and I had no trouble gripping the controller or reaching for the various buttons. It perfectly fits into the contours of my palm, and the weight of the device, combined with the clicky switches, makes the controller a joy to use.
But I believe the thumbsticks are what make the controller so much more comfortable to use than the others I mentioned. The surface area of the thumbstick caps is large and spacious (especially when compared to the DualSense), and they cradle the tips of my thumbs just right to keep me cramp-free during long gaming sessions while also providing me with slightly better control over my aiming.
The Verdict
Despite a few flaws, I enjoyed using the Razer Wolverine V2 Pro. The controller's comfortable design, spacious thumbstick caps, clicky mecha-tactile switches, and six additional buttons make it a true powerhouse. However, the controller's lack of deadzone area adjustments and vibration modules of any kind limits it to a single use case. Unless you play FPS games almost exclusively on your PS5, the Wolverine V2 Pro can only be used as a secondary controller. And at $249, that's a lot to ask.
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