NEO S Purple Wave Edition controller review - “A funky tribute to Fortnite”

• Customize your experience with the app
• Funky purple design
• Responsive controls

CRKD has released a new version of its NEO S controller in honor of Fortnite. The NEO S Purple Wave Edition features the same shape and button layout as previous editions in the series. The device comes in a sturdy cardboard box with a sleek slipcover showing it off. 

Unboxing the NEO S Purple Wave Edition

Upon removing the slipcase and opening the box, you’ll see the Purple Wave controller kept snug and secure by surrounding cardboard. Also in the box are instructions, a USB-C charging cord, and a cheat sheet with instructions for setting up the festival attachment and pairing it your PC and Nintendo Switch.

Rectangular with curved edges, the Purple Wave leans into its name with wavy violet and dark purple lines decorating its front. The device follows the Xbox button layout with the left joystick above the d-pad and the right joystick below the X, Y, A, and B buttons.

Between the left joystick and the X, Y, A, and B buttons, you'll find a black home button. Just below are three small purple buttons—view, share, and menu. Below these, the words Fortnite Festival appear in boxy white letters.

The NEO S Purple Wave Works with PC and Switch

 Bright pink trigger buttons adorn the top corners with a USB-C port between them. Another set of triggers is found on its backside. Unlike other NEO S controllers, the Purple Wave comes with a festival attachment that adds five semi-oval buttons to the bottom of the controller.

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The controller is compatible with PC, iOS, Android and Nintendo Switch and CRKD makes pairing to any of them a breeze. Just hold down home or home and up on the d-pad (depending on the type of device you wish to connect to) for three seconds and the NEO S will appear under available devices. 

Download the CRKD App

You can remap buttons and customize sensitivity and rumble via the CRKD app. After downloading the app to your phone, just tap the company logo on the back of your new controller to register it. Upon registration, you'll learn the rarity rank of your specific controller - Silver, Diamond, or CRKD.

Your device’s rarity rank is dependent on its product number. Rarity doesn’t affect your controller usage in any way, but waiting to see it unveiled does fill one with anticipation. After registering, you can use the app to enable No Dead Zone mode, which increases joystick responsiveness and sensitivity.

You can also remap any button, including those on the festival attachment, under the Button menu and set the level of vibration under Rumble. Being able to customize your buttons, triggers, joysticks and rumble allows you to discover the combination that best suits your playstyle.

Gaming on the NEO S Purple Wave Edition

While the rectangular design may seem counterintuitive at first glance, the rounded corners and flared LT/RT triggers make it comfortable to hold during long gaming sessions. Though on the small side, the joysticks are sturdy and responsive, and the buttons are well-spaced letting you easily press the correct one each time without looking down.

The triggers feel a little flimsy but are surprisingly resilient. I had little trouble blasting enemy spaceships while playing Starfield on my iPad via Steam Link. Whether battling adorable monsters in Cassette Beasts or exploring dank sewers in Evoland 2, the NEO S Purple Wave rarely let me down. My thumbs only slid off the Hall Effect joysticks a few times during intense play sessions. 

The Purple Wave also lets you hold your own in competitive multiplayer experiences like Star Wars Hunters and Disney Speedstorm. The responsive triggers let me unload a world of pain on my competitors in Star Wars Hunters, while the joysticks offer the precision necessary to leave my foes in the dust in Disney Speedstorm. 

The NEO S Purple Wave Edition's Festival Attachment

The NEO S Purple Wave Edition’s lightweight and ergonomic design makes it a great choice for intense gaming on the go. Made of sturdy plastic, this sweet controller offers responsive controls and a solid battery life. The groovy aesthetic combined with the customizations available through the CRKD companion app make the NEO S Purple Wave Edition feel at the next level.