When I first saw the officially licensed Astro C40 controller for the PS4, I was excited to see what the famed headset company could do in the controller space. Not only is the C40 stepping outside of Astro?s normal comfort zones, it?s also effectively Sony?s answer to the Xbox One?s Elite controller, and it had better be comparable, seeing as it?s got a price tag that?s $50 higher. But quality begets quality, and Astro doesn?t do anything halfway. The Astro C40 entered my regular controller rotation, and then it became my regular controller rotation as my five other DualShock 4s now collect dust.
First things first, picking it up and holding it just feels good. I had thought that the DualShock 4 was the pinnacle of controller design and comfort, but the Astro C40 sits so comfortably in my hands that going back to the DualShock 4 now just feels weird. While it could be compared a little bit to the Xbox style of controller, there are some key differences that make it feel uniquely its own, like a perfect hybrid between a DualShock 4 and and an Xbox controller. The grip along the back of the controller helps keep it right in place while playing too.
The build quality is impeccable, feeling sturdy and solid in my hands. There?s a bit of a heft to it, which again makes the DualShock 4s feel like plastic toys in comparison. Of course, the price difference of $140 says a lot about that. The C40 absolutely should feel far and away better than a standard PS4 controller. Surprisin...