Long-time readers will know that I have yet to meet a console I didn't love to some extent. I'm a sucker for novelty and gadgets, and I tend to gravitate towards the hardware that is most fun.
In the past few years, that chase of endorphins has been a bit easier, thanks to the universality of USB-C and gadget makers playing nice with most, though not all, devices.
Turtle Beach and its sister brands tend to feature heavily in my reviews for that reason. Nine times out of ten, their accessories work on every console and my desktop, and they're reliable to boot.
But they're not always fun or exciting to look at. That's why, when I reviewed the REMATCH GLOW wireless controller last year, I made a note to remember this particular project for the future. It reminded me of the mid-aughts, when controllers were at their wildest.
The Rematch Kitsune feels and handles almost exactly the same as the Glow Rematch from last year, but unlike its sibling, the Kitsune is an Xbox/PC variant, instead of a Switch controller. It's brightly colored, even more so in person than in pictures, and the overall feel is surprisingly premium.
The buttons are tactile, especially around the back, where the clicks provide a rush of endorphins every single time. The front-facing buttons are similarly well-adjusted, with good traction and a comfortable feel under the thumb.
The back buttons are also mappable for custom functionality. There are only two, as opposed to more expensive models, which feature four to six. But it's perfectly fine for what it is. In games like Apex Legends or Battlefield 6, I found the additional quick-to-reach buttons for extra actions very welcome. Especially from an accessibility standpoint.
Like with the Nintendo Switch Mario version, the Kitsune has a slight issue with coloring. The controller itself is beautiful, but the buttons have yellow-on-blue markings with no backlighting, which made them surprisingly difficult to tell apart. Naturally, if you're already familiar with the patterns, you'll be fine. But newcomers and especially people with cognitive disabilities might have issues.
The Rematch Kitsune handled everything I threw at it exceptionally well. During my two months of use, I used it as my daily driver on my PC and Xbox. Picking it over more expensive controllers just to give it a fair shake. When I had family and friends over, I noticed that it was always an early favorite for guests simply because of how striking it is.
Like with the Rematch Glow, the Kitsune's joysticks are accurate and tactile, and there's a fantastic rubber coating on the top that makes them comfortable to use for longer periods of time. The shoulder buttons are a little rough, but the triggers are stellar, especially thanks to the option to change the trigger distance from the back of the controller. As a gamer with physical impairments in my hands, it's an accessibility feature I've come to love dearly.
Connectivity is good, and I didn't notice any perceivable lag anywhere. I paired the Kitsune with my Xbox Series X and PC, and both handled the gaming experience without any issues.
Battery life was similarly excellent. I averaged around 25-30 hours of gaming split over multiple days. At best, I charged maybe once a week with the accompanying USB-C cable and then didn't think about the matter for a long while afterward.
Like the Rematch Glow, the Kitsune costs 44,99€ and is available at almost all good retailers. In terms of quality, usability, and sheer fun factor, the Kitsune is a strong contender as an alternative to the regular Xbox controller, and even as a standalone choice for PC gamers who want a controller to accompany their mouse and keyboard setup. It's a high-quality, super fun device that consistently made me smile when I saw it lying on the table or picked it up for a gaming session.
PDP and Turtle Beach have knocked it out of the park once again and delivered an accessory that is easy to recommend for just about everyone.
