When the Xbox Series X Launched back in 2020, I was immediately enamored with the controller. However, once I finally got it in my hands I just had difficulty calling it one of my daily drivers for a controller. The MSI Force Pro Wireless stands amongst some of the more premium controllers with its personalization, joysticks featuring auto calibration and more. In a world of highly competitive third-party controllers, the Force Pro Wireless manages to stand out, offering a robust set of features designed to cater to serious gamers. The moment you pick it up, its ergonomic design and high-quality construction speak to its premium intent, promising a feel that truly justifies its place above standard-issue hardware.
Straight out of the box you get the controller and included very nice braided cable and a usb and a swappable D-pad. Both felt very high quality and the metal material felt great in the hands and I absolutely loved how everything would magnetically snap into place. The inclusion of these accessories was a fun addition that added to the unboxing experience, signaling that MSI prioritizes quality and user customization from the very start. The durable, high-quality feel of the braided cable and the versatile D-pad options underscore the controller's premium positioning.
The face buttons had a nice feel to them and had a good travel distance and didn’t feel too squishy like other Xbox controllers I have tried out that have a cheaper feeling and often get stuck when pressing them rapidly. The D-pad was ever so slightly stiff but didn’t detract from the experience and you can even swap it out for a circular one which made an excellent edition for popular fighting games like Street Fighter, Guilty Gear and more.
The modular are a nice touch and even though they are not hall effect, they were smooth and precise and accurate, great for many different games. The ability to swap them out is a nice feature but it did say that only the special edition of the controller came with optional joysticks. One interesting feature of the Force Pro is the auto-calibration which will monitor and correct drift and make it a thing of the past which I hope to see more of in future controllers.
The four back buttons on the controller are a welcome addition and will add an edge up in certain games like Final Fantasy XIV. While I didn’t end up actually using them, they didn’t particularly get in the way during aggressive gaming sessions. The shoulder buttons feel great and especially the trigger buttons which have three levels of hall effect for lighter presses in first person shooter games or longer presses for racing style games. I do appreciate that the shoulder buttons and triggers didn’t have any texture on them which made them feel better to press than on the official series X/S controller.
One thing I did enjoy personally is the 48 hour battery life which is a welcome addition that I haven’t seen in many controllers and even rivaling the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller. This extended playtime means far less interruption for charging, allowing for lengthy, uninterrupted gaming sessions. It’s a practical feature that directly addresses one of the most common pain points of wireless controllers, offering true peace of mind that your session won't be cut short for the long gaming marathons.
Overall the MSI Force Pro Wireless is a fantastic controller with a great amount of customization that feels great in the hands and feels very high quality for the price. Together, the crisp-feeling buttons and the precise, drift-correcting joysticks create a highly reliable and satisfying input experience that immediately felt like it set the Force Pro Wireless apart from its standard-issue counterparts. I am always on the lookout for the next best Xbox/PC controller and this one has been on my radar for a while and after getting to try it out I am happy to add it to my collection. This is a great controller for gamers alike and I wholeheartedly recommend it.
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Review sample provided by MSI