Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Are you tired of hearing about nothing but Nintendo hardware? Let's switch gears and talk about some serious PlayStation upgrades! Today we are taking an exclusive look at the brand-new Retro Fighters Defender Pro Wireless Gamepad. If you are a fan of original retro Sony hardware, you might remember a number of years ago when we did a review on the original Retro Fighters Defender controller for the Sony PlayStation 1, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation 3. We absolutely loved that original wireless gamepad—it was comfortable, highly accurate, and quickly became one of our favorite ways to experience classic retro gaming titles on original PlayStation hardware. But over the last few years, the team at Retro Fighters has taken all the community feedback they received from the original model and baked those precise upgrades into this next-gen release: the Defender Pro Series wireless controller. It's time for our unboxing and first look at the Defender Pro Series Playstation Controller.
The brand-new Defender Pro wireless gamepad is specifically designed to build upon the stellar legacy of the original model while taking your retro and modern gameplay to the absolute next level. In this quick video, we are giving you an early sneak peek look at what comes inside the retail packaging, breaking down the major structural changes, and testing out the early performance. Out of the box, you get the premium wireless controller itself, a braided USB-C charge and play cable, a quick start instruction guide, a product overview detailing the Pro Series advancements, collectible stickers/decals, and an incredibly neat little box that houses your essential connection hardware: a standard USB wireless receiver and a dedicated PlayStation retro receiver port dongle.
There are some massive, vital ergonomic differences and design updates to point out when comparing the original Defender model to the new Pro Series gamepad. If you take a close look at the bottom section of the analog sticks, you will notice they are now beautifully scalloped and contoured inwards for better thumb placement, whereas the original model featured a design that angled sharply up toward the sticks before flattening out. Furthermore, the original Defender lacked any sort of remappable inputs, but the Defender Pro finally introduces programmable back grip buttons! You also now have built-in trigger limiters and travel limiters that allow you to lock out your bumpers or customize your overall trigger pull depth on the fly.
On the hardware side, it features a physical toggle switch to instantly swap between 2.4GHz low-latency wireless and Bluetooth connectivity modes, allowing seamless pairing across an absolute powerhouse list of compatible systems including the PS1, PS2, PS3, PlayStation Classic mini, Nintendo Switch, and PC (along with Steam Deck and MiSTer FPGA). The top of the gamepad features a dedicated player indicator light array, a USB-C charging port, a sync button, and standard Start and Select inputs. The controller feels incredibly premium in the hands; the classic D-pad has a fantastic tactile feel, and the analog sticks are buttery smooth with clickable buttons. It sits comfortably in the palms, offering an ergonomic experience that heavily mirrors a premium blend of the classic DualShock 2 and a modern PlayStation 4 controller. We already have it paired up to our PlayStation 3 via the USB dongle, and it navigates the XMB system menu flawlessly. Make sure to hit that subscribe button right now because we have a full, deep-dive unboxing and performance review coming your way over the next couple of days!
Have you pre-ordered the new Retro Fighters Defender Pro gamepad yet? Did you even know this next-gen PlayStation controller was coming out this month? Which colorway are you planning on picking up for your setup? Share your thoughts down in the comments below!
#RetroFighters #PlayStation #PS2 #PS3 #PS1 #RetroGaming #GamingHardware #ControllerReview #DefenderPro #WirelessController #PlayStation2 #PlayStation3 #Gamer #GamingCommunity #TechUnboxing #NintendoSwitch #PCGaming #ClassicGaming
Are you tired of hearing about nothing but Nintendo hardware? Let's switch gears and talk about some serious PlayStation upgrades! Today we are taking an exclusive look at the brand-new Retro Fighters Defender Pro Wireless Gamepad. If you are a fan of original retro Sony hardware, you might remember a number of years ago when we did a review on the original Retro Fighters Defender controller for the Sony PlayStation 1, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation 3. We absolutely loved that original wireless gamepad—it was comfortable, highly accurate, and quickly became one of our favorite ways to experience classic retro gaming titles on original PlayStation hardware. But over the last few years, the team at Retro Fighters has taken all the community feedback they received from the original model and baked those precise upgrades into this next-gen release: the Defender Pro Series wireless controller. It's time for our unboxing and first look at the Defender Pro Series Playstation Controller.
The brand-new Defender Pro wireless gamepad is specifically designed to build upon the stellar legacy of the original model while taking your retro and modern gameplay to the absolute next level. In this quick video, we are giving you an early sneak peek look at what comes inside the retail packaging, breaking down the major structural changes, and testing out the early performance. Out of the box, you get the premium wireless controller itself, a braided USB-C charge and play cable, a quick start instruction guide, a product overview detailing the Pro Series advancements, collectible stickers/decals, and an incredibly neat little box that houses your essential connection hardware: a standard USB wireless receiver and a dedicated PlayStation retro receiver port dongle.
There are some massive, vital ergonomic differences and design updates to point out when comparing the original Defender model to the new Pro Series gamepad. If you take a close look at the bottom section of the analog sticks, you will notice they are now beautifully scalloped and contoured inwards for better thumb placement, whereas the original model featured a design that angled sharply up toward the sticks before flattening out. Furthermore, the original Defender lacked any sort of remappable inputs, but the Defender Pro finally introduces programmable back grip buttons! You also now have built-in trigger limiters and travel limiters that allow you to lock out your bumpers or customize your overall trigger pull depth on the fly.
On the hardware side, it features a physical toggle switch to instantly swap between 2.4GHz low-latency wireless and Bluetooth connectivity modes, allowing seamless pairing across an absolute powerhouse list of compatible systems including the PS1, PS2, PS3, PlayStation Classic mini, Nintendo Switch, and PC (along with Steam Deck and MiSTer FPGA). The top of the gamepad features a dedicated player indicator light array, a USB-C charging port, a sync button, and standard Start and Select inputs. The controller feels incredibly premium in the hands; the classic D-pad has a fantastic tactile feel, and the analog sticks are buttery smooth with clickable buttons. It sits comfortably in the palms, offering an ergonomic experience that heavily mirrors a premium blend of the classic DualShock 2 and a modern PlayStation 4 controller. We already have it paired up to our PlayStation 3 via the USB dongle, and it navigates the XMB system menu flawlessly. Make sure to hit that subscribe button right now because we have a full, deep-dive unboxing and performance review coming your way over the next couple of days!
Have you pre-ordered the new Retro Fighters Defender Pro gamepad yet? Did you even know this next-gen PlayStation controller was coming out this month? Which colorway are you planning on picking up for your setup? Share your thoughts down in the comments below!
#RetroFighters #PlayStation #PS2 #PS3 #PS1 #RetroGaming #GamingHardware #ControllerReview #DefenderPro #WirelessController #PlayStation2 #PlayStation3 #Gamer #GamingCommunity #TechUnboxing #NintendoSwitch #PCGaming #ClassicGaming
