Category: Games

The latest high-end controllers from Scuf Gaming were designed specifically with the Xbox Series X|S in mind. The Scuf Instinct and Scuf Instinct Pro combine the excellent form factor of the Xbox Wireless Controller with a bevy of customization features and flourishes that make them particularly notable for competitive gaming. The Instinct Pro is every bit as premium as the Xbox Elite Series 2 Controller, and it even outperforms it in terms of ergonomics and certain customization options.

Scuf Instinct vs. Instinct Pro

Scuf is offering two separate models: the Instinct for $170 and the Instinct Pro for $200. Yes, that means the Instinct Pro is even more expensive than the Elite Series 2. While I didn’t have the chance to test the standard Instinct, the features it’s missing are some of my favorite aspects of the Instinct Pro. For the extra $30, you get a textured, high-performance grip that far exceeds the feel of the conventional Xbox Wireless Controller and is on par with the Elite Series 2. The Instinct Pro also has optional instant triggers (Elite Series 2 does as well), which lock the triggers in place and allow you to simply tap lightly to “pull,” which is an especially useful feature if you play first-person shooters.

Note: For the rest of this review, the “Instinct” refers to both models.

Superior ergonomics

Not only does the general shape of the Instinct live up to the high standard of the Elite Series 2; it also surpasses it in one key area. The Instinct has four back paddles-two on each side–built into the controller. They more closely resemble triggers than traditional controller paddles, but they serve the same purpose. These paddles are positioned in a clean layout that makes it easy to press each one of them without sacrificing comfort or moving your fingers in an awkward fashion. One of the only complaints we’ve had about the Elite Series 2 is that it’s fairly uncomfortable when you have all four paddles attached. Essentially, the Elite Series 2 is at its best when you only use two paddles. With the Instinct, all four built-in paddles are in play at all times. The Instinct’s paddle layout also surpasses Scuf’s Prestige controller, which suffers from a similar comfort flaw as the Elite Series 2 when all four paddles are attached.

Scuf smartly retained the same exact layout for all of the conventional Xbox Wireless Controller buttons, and the Instinct even has the new Share button, so you’re not losing anything of note by ditching Microsoft for a third-party brand (Scuf’s Prestige controller doesn’t have the Share button).

Stylish and customizable

The Scuf Instinct is mightily impressive even without any adjustments, but as a high-end gaming controller, it’s not surprising that it gives players the freedom to tinker with the layout. The magnetic faceplate, which is available in a myriad of color schemes and designs, easily pops off without using any tools. From there, you can swap out the thumbsticks and D-pad. The Instinct comes with an extra pair of longer analog sticks that have flat tops with a different feel than the standard concave analog sticks. You can also remove the eight-directional D-pad, revealing an old style, four-way D-pad. The only thing really missing here is the ability to adjust the layout to PlayStation-style with parallel analog sticks, though that’s understandable given how it would essentially require a new chassis.

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Beyond altering the actual build of the controller, you can customize inputs on the fly with the help of the Profile button on the back. The Instinct supports three profiles that can be cycled through and remapped without needing additional software.

Scuf will sell additional faceplates and analog sticks separately for those who want customization beyond what’s included in the box.

Where it falls short of the Elite Series 2

The Scuf Instinct is a wonderful high-end controller that doesn’t really have a downside from a design or performance standpoint. However, that doesn’t mean it’s better than the Elite Series 2 in every way. The Instinct lacks the adjustable stick tension that’s featured in the Elite Series 2. As someone who thinks the default stick tension for Xbox controllers–including the Instinct, which feels the same as the Xbox Wireless Controller–is practically perfect already, the omission doesn’t bother me.

The Instinct is missing a convenient feature, though: an internal battery. The controller uses AA batteries just like the Xbox Wireless Controller, whereas the Elite Series 2 is rechargeable and lasts for up to 40 hours on a single charge. Thankfully, Xbox controllers run for a long time on a pair of AAs; I’ve gamed for upward of 30 hours with the Instinct, and I’m still using the pair of batteries that came with the controller.

Is the Scuf Instinct worth it?

Look, there’s no way around it: Just like the Elite Series 2, the Instinct and Instinct Pro are expensive controllers that will likely appeal to a niche subset of Xbox gamers. The Xbox Wireless Controller, which can often be found for $50, is a stellar controller for a fraction of the price. You could buy four Xbox Wireless Controllers for the price of the Instinct Pro.

That said, if you’re looking for a controller that is highly customizable and loaded with features that make it a standout for competitive gaming, the Instinct Pro is arguably the best option for Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and maybe even PC.

Though I didn’t try the standard Instinct, I’d recommend opting for the Instinct Pro. If you’re going to spend a huge sum of money on a controller, paying the extra 30 bucks to get a better grip and instant triggers is worth it.

The bottom line

The Instinct is one of the best third-party controllers I’ve ever used. While it looks like a stylish Xbox Wireless Controller from the front, it has incredible ergonomics, four easy-to-use back paddles that can be remapped instantly, and a simple way to swap out thumbsticks and the D-pad to fit your personal preferences. Yes, the Instinct Pro is very pricey at $200, but this is one of the rare premium gaming controllers that feels like it’s actually worth its steep asking price.

The Good

• The four back triggers are well-placed
• Modifications to thumbsticks and D-pad are quick and simple
• Can swap between three profiles on the fly
• Retains all of the key features of Microsoft’s first-party controllers
• Exceptional ergonomics

The Bad

• Doesn’t have adjustable stick tension
• No instant triggers or textured grip on Instinct

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About the author: Steven Petite tested the Instinct Pro for more than 30 hours, and now it’s his main Xbox Series X controller. Scuf provided the Instinct Pro for review.

Third-party controller manufacturer Scuf has revealed a pair of new premium gamepads for Xbox Series X|S: The Instinct and Instinct Pro. With prices starting at $170, the Instinct line is aimed at enthusiasts who may be looking for a competitive edge and customization. The Instinct and Instinct Pro are available to order now on Scuf’s website and should be up for grabs at major retailers such as Amazon soon. We’ve included all of the general details you need to know below, but make sure to check out our full Scuf Instinct review. Spoiler: the Instinct is one of the best Xbox Series X controllers.

Both Instinct models have four built-in paddles on the back panel that can be remapped with the Profile button. Up to three Profiles can be saved on the controller at once, and you can swap between them with the press of a button. Along with the paddles, the controllers have removable analog sticks and come with an extra set of longer sticks. The eight-way D-pad can be popped off as well if you prefer a four-way D-pad. Changes to the sticks and D-pad can be made by removing the magnetic faceplate, which comes in black, white, and an array of special designs.

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The controllers have the new Share button found on the Xbox Wireless Controller, and they are slightly smaller than Scuf’s previous Prestige Xbox controller.

The Instinct Pro has a couple of extra notable features: trigger locks and a textured grip. The Instinct Pro, however, costs $200 versus the Instinct’s $170 price. Scuf will sell additional components separately, including faceplates and analog sticks.

GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers.

GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers.

GameSpot may get a commission from retail offers.

Adam Sandler’s 1996 film Happy Gilmore is an iconic comedy about competitive golf, though the functionality of the running swing technique pioneered by Sandler’s protagonist is questionable at best. In a new video celebrating the movie’s 25th anniversary, golf pros including Tiger Woods, Dustin Johnson, and Rory McIlroy try out Happy’s iconic swing.

We’ve already seen a number of Happy Gilmore homages for its 25th anniversary, with Sandler himself posting a recreation of the chaotic swing earlier in the year. Now, the pros are giving it a shot in a new video posted by Team TaylorMade, featuring Tiger Woods, Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, Matthew Wolff, and Tommy Fleetwood showing off their best Happy swings.

The video has it all, with each player sporting a custom Happy Gilmore jersey with their surname on the back. Commenters on the video agreed that Tiger Woods had the most successful swing, but that Rory McIlroy committed the most to the chaotic run up–with disastrous results.

Happy Gilmore found itself referenced in the pro golf world earlier this year, when memes compared Masters runner-up Will Zalatoris to one of Gilmore’s caddies from the film. Zalatoris embraced the joke, even going so far as to have one of the character’s lines engraved on one of his wedges.

Game developer Mike Mika also revealed that he had pitched a Happy Gilmore video game, which would have combined golf and fighting. Though it never ended up being greenlit, Mika hinted that it could be a good project for Netflix’s push into gaming.

Even as lawsuits are stewing away over Black Widow’s release, Scarlett Johansson is already on set for her next movie. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the actress will star in a currently-untitled film from Wes Anderson.

Details on the film are sparse. The Royal Tenenbaums and Fantastic Mr. Fox director wrote and is helming the film, but plot details are still locked away. Johansson will star alongside previous Anderson players Adrien Brody, Bill Murray, Jason Schwartzman, and Tilda Swinton; Tom Hanks, Margot Robbie, and Rupert Friend are reportedly joining the cast as well. Johansson worked previously with Anderson on 2018’s stop-motion film Isle of Dogs. Shooting will wrap in late September according to THR.

Anderson’s next movie, The French Dispatch, is expected to hit theaters on October 16, and features the aforementioned Brody, Murray, and Swinton among others. Johansson’s Black Widow is finishing up its theatrical run even as the actress is suing Disney over the studio’s handling of her film’s simultaneous theatrical and streaming release. That move has also called plans for the Tower of Terror movie, which Johansson was set to produce and star in, into question.

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Back to the Future’s time machine was a fridge in the first draft, and Ghostbusters’ original casting choice for Venkman was John Belushi rather than Bill Murray–even the classics go through huge changes from first draft to final cut. For James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, the big change was the villain; instead of Starro, at one point the plan was to have the Squad face off against Superman (via AV Club).

Gunn went on the Script Apart podcast recently to talk about developing the script for The Suicide Squad. There, he said that he initially believed that the Squad should fight Superman, and that it would be “a very interesting story.”

Ultimately, though, he went with a bigger surprise in the form of Starro, a giant, cosmic starfish.

“When I came up with Starro–he’s a character I love from the comics. I think he’s the perfect comic book character because he’s absolutely ludicrous but he’s also very scary in his own way,” Gunn said. “What he does is scary. He used to scare the crap out of me when I was a child, putting those face-huggers on Superman and Batman and stuff. So I thought he was one of the major, major DC villains that was probably never going to be put into another movie. And if they did, they would do it like, the black cloud version of Starro. Not a giant, walking starfish, a kaiju that is bright pink and cerulean blue, just ridiculously big, bright bad guy.”

Gunn is likely right about how another director might’ve handled the initially silly Starro. Further, though, he was smart to go that route just simply for how saturated we are with Evil Superman stories. Gunn himself produced Brightburn, a movie that asked what would happen if a child with the ability to fly and fire eye lasers decided to be evil instead of good, from a script written by his brother Brian and cousin Mark. The Boys on Amazon Prime Video prominently features Homelander, a barely-reined-in Superman-like character who is always about to lose his cool and slaughter people by the thousands. Then there’s also the fact that game developer Rocksteady Studios’ upcoming game, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League pits many of the same members, including Harley Quinn, King Shark, and Captain Boomerang, against Superman in its first trailer. In other words, if we want Evil Superman, we have a long list of things to watch. The list of colossal, psychic, cosmic starfish-based stories is much, much shorter.

If you’re hungry for more info about The Suicide Squad, check out our glowing review, our interview with James Gunn, and what could’ve happened for the film’s ending.

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