A Glowing Rebrand?
Again in early 2023, we obtained hands-on with the PDP Afterglow Wave Controller for Xbox for overview. A humble controller, it managed to go toe-to-toe with the varied normal choices that frequented the gaming market on the time. Because the identify advised although, it got here with one distinctive gimmick – RGB lighting infused via the controller, able to lighting up even the darkest of gaming periods.
If we’re trustworthy, the PDP Afterglow Wave Controller wasn’t a sport changer, as a substitute pleasantly positioned to supply a novel, glowing, alternative for these avid gamers needing it.
However Turtle Seaside clearly preferred what they noticed, a lot so {that a} 12 months or so later they went and snapped up PDP, allotting a reported $118 million {dollars} for the corporate as an entire.
It’s with that through which we get to the newly branded Turtle Seaside Afterglow Wave Controller for Xbox.
Wired Wonders and RGB Glow
Let’s not beat across the bush, the Turtle Seaside Afterglow Wave Controller for Xbox could be very practically the very same controller as beforehand provided up by PDP, simply now with some massive outdated Turtle Seaside branding on the field, a TB brand plastered on the entrance fringe of the pad, stickered up across the again. When you’ve got the PDP Afterglow Wave, then we actually can’t see a lot of a cause to improve right here. However when you haven’t…
So what do now we have with the Turtle Seaside Afterglow Wave Controller? Effectively, Designed for Xbox and formally licensed for Microsoft’s most interesting, this can be a wired controller that’s suitable with each Xbox consoles and PC. All you’ll want is to have the ability to get inside 3 metres of the system at hand, utilising the USB-C to USB-A cable that’s included within the field. With out that cable, the Afterglow Wave fails to wake; as lifeless as a dodo.
Get plugged in although and this factor comes alive, pulsing with veined RGB lighting throughout the entrance plate and round each thumbsticks.
Customary Format, Subtly Enhanced
As chances are you’ll count on to listen to, it’s principally normal Xbox controller fare. Face buttons really feel respectable with out being mind-blowing, while the standard Xbox Nexus button is flanked by the triple treats of Menu, Choose and Share. There’s additionally a mic-mute button on the frontplate; one thing that’s tremendous helpful when within the warmth of battle.
Thumbsticks sensible and the Afterglow Wave is properly geared up. Every are of an excellent size, barely hybrid in type with a concave, but convexed, contact to them. There’s an excellent quantity of depth to those, with a rim outstanding sufficient to make sure your thumbs gained’t slip while enjoying.
Additional is the D-Pad. tremendous flush to the pad itself, once more it’s completely positive. The issue is, going from the D-Pad on our Elite Collection 2 and alternate options, to this, fails to permit it to promote. It’s tactile sufficient although, and works with out challenge. As this can be a Turtle Seaside product, we’ve obtained some audio controls assigned to that D-Pad too, so if you must transfer volumes from social gathering to sport chat, it’s easy sufficient to take action.
Set off Stops and Textured Grips
The Afterglow Wave wouldn’t be an Xbox controller if it didn’t have bumpers and Corridor Impact triggers to tug on both. We’re disillusioned that neither are correctly textured (the triggers have essentially the most minute of texturing that it’s negligible), as a substitute working tremendous easy vibes. Once more, it’s all positive and that, however we might count on any controller that releases in 2025 to at the least have some correct texturing and grip on the triggers.
What’s current on the Turtle Seaside Afterglow Wave which we don’t keep in mind from the earlier PDP pad although are some set off stops. If you wish to make these triggers much less travel-y, extra exact for sure in-game conditions, you are able to do so. A sliding swap sits across the again of the controller, with three settings. We’ve most popular to maintain issues normal and permit our triggers to run the total size of journey, nevertheless it’s a pleasant contact for Turtle Seaside to be including such an choice. Kicking round contained in the controller are a few rumble motors for added immersion too.
Additionally across the again are a few programmable again buttons. Pretty outsized to many different competitor buttons, these sit properly underneath the center finger as you grasp the controller, making certain they’re tremendous simple to hit and pull on. For those who’re in want of such an addition to your controller (and we all know of many avid gamers who simply couldn’t do with out again buttons on this fashionable gaming scene), then you definately’ll be liking these ones. We’d most likely have preferred it if the slight controller texturing that’s current on each arms of the pad had managed to merge onto the again buttons too, however that’s a particularly private factor.
Personalizing Your Glow
After all although, we’re some 700 phrases into the overview and so we should contact on that lighting. In a phrase, it’s extraordinarily nice to take a seat with a controller that emits such glows, and with the gray model we’ve been testing (black, white, purple and blue editions are additionally accessible), we really feel that the sunshine present actually stands out. We notably just like the thumbstick rings that convey the pad to life.
Turtle Seaside state there are eight RGB lighting zones and the same variety of preset lighting modes on the Afterglow Wave, and it’s simple to maneuver via the choices at hand. For us, we’ve very a lot settled on a pulsing rainbow impact. Some Xbox inexperienced lighting is rarely too far behind both.
With management of that lighting coming about by way of the pad itself, holding the identical button that mutes the mic and twiddling thumbsticks and hitting bumpers, or via the free Management Hub companion App, getting this to enrich different gaming merchandise is a cinch. That App is fairly good too, giving the chance so that you can fiddle with digital lifeless zones, vibration, button remapping and the like. However we’re tremendous stunned to see Turtle Seaside sticking with the PDP identify for this App, combining manufacturers and merchandise. We’ll simply assume that sooner or later in time, all the pieces will calm down underneath the standard TB umbrella.
A Glowing Worth for Cash (If You Don’t Personal the Authentic)
Turtle Seaside branding will instantly see many avid gamers drawn to the Afterglow Wave controller for Xbox; most likely extra so than the slightly-less-known PDP that got here earlier than it. However once more, that is nothing however a rebranding of a controller from just a few years previous, with essentially the most minute of modifications pushing it ahead in 2025.
By all means, when you want some glow in your gaming life, one thing to brighten up the darkest of nights, crack on, because the £34.99 value of the Turtle Seaside Afterglow Wave Controller for Xbox means this feels good worth for cash. However when you do have a PDP Afterglow Wave already handy, there’s nothing that warrants an improve right here.
Enormous thanks exit to Turtle Seaside for offering the Turtle Seaside Afterglow Wave Controller for overview. Hit Turtle Seaside up direct when you want to buy a controller – it is available in quite a lot of colors.