Customizable controllers are all the rage, and given the success Razer has seen with the company’s previous pro controllers, it’s no surprise Razer is back with a new PS5 controller, the Razer Wolverine V2 Pro.
The Short Version: What Is the Wolverine V2 Pro?
Razer has revealed the Razer Wolverine V2 Pro, a premium controller with customizable thumbsticks, back buttons, Chroma RGB lighting, and a mobile app to remap certain functions.
Razer Wolverine V2 Pro Features
Back buttons are on the rise. While most players are happy with standard triggers, certain games really do play better with back buttons. Just try Mercy-jumping in Overwatch 2 on a regular PS5 controller. It’s near impossible without back buttons.
The Razer Wolverine V2 Pro takes the idea of back buttons and redesigns them into something much more natural. Flip the controller over and you’ll find four additional triggers – two in the form of bumper-style buttons and two fully-fledged triggers.
Take a look at the top of the controller and things are just as interesting. Alongside the expected triggers and bumpers are another set of smaller bumpers on the inside (kind of where the tip of your index fingers would rest). This controller has more bumpers than a fairground!
What’s especially cool is all of the six “M” buttons are completely remappable. Want the options button on the back of the controller? Thinking the jump button would be easier to press on a bumper? You can tinker to your heart’s content.
Moving on, Razer is keen to mention the Wolverine V2 Pro comes equipped with “HyperSpeed Wireless” and features its “Mecha-Tactile Action Buttons.” In non-tech terms, that means the Wolverine V2 Pro offers up low-latency via a dongle to provide a stronger and faster connection and the buttons produce a certain amount of bounce – the latter part is sure to please PS5 owners who arent a fan of how squishy the PS5 controller’s buttons are.
The Wolverine Pro V2 also features an eight-way Microswitch directional pad. We don’t want to trash the PS5 controller too much but the D-Pad on it is rubbish. Down isn’t just down, it’s also down-right and down-left, which makes playing fighting games much harder than it should be. The Wolverine Pro V2, conversely, alleviates some of the official controller’s woes by offering feedback as different areas are passed through. Pulling off a Hadouken should be child’s play with this thing.
It’s also worth noting, the Wolverine V2 Pro boasts “HyperTrigger” tech. This is a toggleable feature that lets users adjust the distance of trigger pulls. Why is that so good? Well, in racing games pulling the trigger halfway down or all the way down controls how much the player’s foot is on the pedal. In shooters, you either shoot or you don’t – there’s no need for half presses.
This two-stage trigger stop feature is for users who want to fine-tune their trigger pulls to be more efficient. As mentioned, this is a toggleable feature with a button on the back of the controller for turning it on and off.
Engaged:
- Shorter trigger pulls, perfect for pistols
- Sounds like a mouse, we’re told
Disengaged
- Longer trigger pulls for games that utilize half-presses
Lastly, the Wolverine V2 Pro also comes with customizable thumbsticks.
There are three sets of thumbsticks included. The first mimic those seen on the official PS5 controller: A shorter stick with concave caps.
The second set of thumbsticks is a halfway house between the PS5 and Xbox sticks. This one features longer sticks while retaining the concave caps PS5 owners will be familiar with.
And the final set is designed for those who like to use SMGs and shotguns: It’s got a shorter stick with a domed cap and also makes moving around on the left stick easier.
All of the thumbsticks can be mixed and matched as well. So for those who want a shorter stick for sprinting and a longer for aiming, the option’s there.
Razer Wolverine V2 Pro Layout
On the front of the controller, you’ll find the face buttons – Square, X, Circle, and Triangle – on the right-upper side, flanked left by the touchpad in the center of the controller. Underneath the touchpad is where you’ll find the PlayStation button, the mute button, and a third button directly below.
To the left and right of the touchpad are the options and screenshot buttons (the same as on the official controller).
The big change from the official controller comes in the Xbox-style layout. Rather than two thumbsticks parallel to one another, Razer has opted for two thumbsticks diagonally across the controller with the D-Pad below the left thumbstick.
Flip this controller over and you’ll find the four back buttons – two bumper-style buttons and two triggers – and four togglable switches. On the top of the controller are the standard two bumpers and two triggers, as well as two extra M bumpers.
Razer Wolverine V2 Pro App Explained
Whereas most companies tend to use PC software to customize their products, Razer has instead designed a mobile app for iOS and Android to manage the Wolverine V2 Pro.
It’s here you’ll be able to remap the multi-function buttons, change the controller’s RGB lighting effects, and set a sensitivity clutch to alter the sensitivity of the thumbsticks.
Razer Wolverine V2 Pro Price
The Razer Wolverine V2 Pro will cost $249.99 USD/€299.99 and is available now from the Razer online store.
That price puts the controller $50 higher than the PS5 DualSense Edge ($199.99) out in January and $50 more than a basic Scuf controller. Though for the latter, the most expensive Scuf comes in at over $400, so it’s considerably more affordable than that.
Will the Razer Wolverine V2 Pro Have Adaptive Triggers?
Nope. The Wolverine V2 Pro won’t feature adaptive triggers. That’s down to it being Sony tech the company won’t let other controller manufacturers use, though, rather than a Razer thing.
Conclusion
It goes without saying the Razer Wolverine V2 Pro is a premium device for serious gamers. It’s pricey, sure, especially when compared to a standard controller. But for those who want to play competitively, or want an advantage in general, or even those who have trouble using the standard PS5 controller layout, there’s a lot here to sink your teeth into.
The customization options are what you’d hope for, the lack of adaptive triggers isn’t an issue for us, and the look and feel appears tailored with shooters in mind.
Yeah, it’s pricey, but if it’s as good as it looks, this good be one of the best PS5 controllers out there.
