Scuf is one of the premium players in the third-party controller market, offering well-made and smartly designed pads for gamers using PC, Xbox, and PlayStation platforms. The new Scuf Instinct Pro controller is the latest Microsoft-specific pad, but now that the Elite Series 2 is out there, how will other manufacturers compete in the enthusiast controller field?

You give people choices. Lots of choices.

The controller market is a very tough place to try to make a living, and that is true whether we are talking about the PC or console world. The biggest problem is that the actual console manufacturers themselves have almost monopolized the market with first-party pads, starting with the original PlayStation pad.

Both the latest Xbox and PlayStation consoles already ship with excellent controllers made by Microsoft and Sony. Considering that these pads cost $50 or less, it is hard to pass up a standard controller if you are looking for a second or replacement controller.

However, there will always be an enthusiast market ...... Microsoft has conquered that too with the second generation Elite Series 2. This is a premium-priced pad at $179.99, with a premium to match. But it also goes long enough to qualify for regular discounts.

The Scuf Instinct Pro carries a $200 price tag, but it has a lot of work to do if it wants to fall from its current position as the best PC controller Scuf's MO so far has been to offer an unprecedented amount of choice in terms of pad appearance, but but with the Instinct and Instinct Pro, they are trying to offer even more choices about how a particular controller feels right out of the box.

Scuf admits that, at least when it comes to the overall design of the Instinct Pro, there is not much point in trying to outdo Microsoft. Obviously, with the exception of the faceplate, ring, and mute button on the front.

Some manufacturers follow the standard design, but add larger embellishments so that you can tell who actually made the pad. In many cases, third-party controllers appear exaggerated and overdesigned.

So if you can't beat them, join them and iterate from there. That is exactly what Scuf has done by offering a wide variety of cosmetic and physical customization options from their first store page. The faceplate options and the ring around the thumbstick are the most obvious, but you can also choose the actual thumbstick in terms of length and topper (convex or concave).

There are also options to change the D-pad, button appearance, and bumper and trigger styling. Interestingly, there is also the option to remove the rumble motor from inside the controller. This is something we often see professionals, at least those who use pads, remove from tournament controllers to reduce weight and the inherent distraction of hand wobble.

The Scuf Instinct Pro is more than the sum of these largely cosmetic options by offering multiple profiles for button configuration. This is necessary because of the four "paddle" buttons built into the back of the pad. The paddle buttons are not as obtrusive as the flappy paddles on the Elite Series 2 and earlier Scuf controllers, are easily accessible, and have a satisfying click. They can be programmed to work with any button on a standard controller, but sadly they are limited to the pad, so keyboard functionality cannot be mapped to the controller to add to the input already provided.

Trigger is dual-functional, but in a different way than Elite. Instead of offering analog controls of varying depths, the Instinct Pro has a flick switch that allows the user to go from a smooth analog trigger to a quick-shot button that feels more like a shallow mouse click. This is likely intended for fast-paced shooters where a hair trigger is preferable to analog controls.

After customizing the pad in my own way before purchasing, I got the hot pink pad for $247.92. Thankfully, all option prices are obvious, so you can adjust your requirements if they start to get out of hand. Still, somehow I managed to add another $50 to the cost of this already premium-priced controller.

But it's a very respectable controller now, and in-game it's as nice as my suddenly bleak black Elite Series 2.

The thumbstick is solid and responsive enough to feel secure during gaming sessions. Hitting the stick with a quick change of direction in a twitch game does not affect the pad, and it feels smooth and precise even in less fast-paced games. Triggers also have a pleasant action, maybe not as deep as the Elite, but still accurate.

The feel of the other buttons is also solid, with a reassuring click. However, I understand that some people prefer it, so I'm not going to count it as a negative just because it's my personal preference. [The interchangeable faceplates and high-performance grips ensure that nothing feels like it's going to jump out of your hand. Unless, of course, you intend it to. Also, the texture is very similar to the Elite grips and the latest Series X/S controllers.

However, it is still a big problem to keep comparing it to existing Microsoft controllers like this. I could spend a whopping $250 to get a pad that looks different but feels almost identical to my absolute favorite controller, but costs considerably less. It's unusual to call the Elite Series 2 a value option, but it is when compared to the Scuf Instinct Pro.

It all comes down to the fact that Microsoft has already done a good job with the Elite, leaving little room for competition; many of the customization options Scuf offers when ordering the Instinct Pro include multiple different D-pads and thumbsticks, standard equipment on the Series 2.

The Elite also offers key things not found in Scuf's vests.

Unlike the Elite, which has a built-in lithium-ion battery that can be recharged via cradle or wired, the Instinct Pro requires AA batteries, just like a standard Xbox pad.

Again, this may simply be Scuf's purported esports orientation, and the ability to swap to a new battery during a tournament may just be a potential selling point. This may be a problem for heavy users, as lithium-ion batteries have a limited shelf life. Although, this has not been my experience with my Elite pad over the past few years.

If the Elite and Instinct Pro were the same price, including customization, this might have been a more difficult choice. I have full confidence in their longevity.

But the Elite is the best controller I've used, and comes standard with some really important customization options. And it's cheap. It seems odd to say this about Microsoft's premium pads. Sure, it may not be as pretty as my Instinct Pro, and therein lies Scuf's selling point, but I still give the edge to the Elite Series 2.