PowerA OPS v1 Wireless Controller for Cloud Gaming – Fortnite Edition – Hardware Review

It’s already been well over a year since we last took a closer look at a PowerA controller. Back then, the hardware manufacturer provided us with a spiffy-looking Switch controller, namely the Enhanced Wired Controller (NSW) with the Master Sword Attack print on it. All in all, we concluded that this third-party controller was pleasant to work with and it quickly became our go-to wired controller when we weren’t using a Pro Controller. Today, however, we’ll be looking at a PC and mobile controller with a limited edition print. Read on to find out more about the OPS v1 Wireless Controller for Cloud Gaming – Fortnite Edition.

Design

The OPS v1 uses the traditional Xbox controller design and layout. Everything will look like a normal Xbox controller, except for the additional turbo and back buttons. As this is the Fortnite edition, there is a Fortnite print on the faceplate. The controller is mainly white with a black print on top, safe for one golden Fortnite print. The Xbox home button has been replaced by a PowerA home button instead.  All in all it’s a good-looking controller, and while we aren’t exactly the target audience, we still loved the overall aesthetic.

As mentioned above, the back of the OPS v1 also has a few additional programmable buttons and several switches. These don’t really stand out too much and are embedded nicely into the design of the controller. Outside of the small LED light to indicate battery life and the charging port, there are no other real standout features.

Comfort

If you’re used to gaming with a traditional Xbox controller, you’ll feel right at home here. In essence, the OPS v1 is basically the same, albeit with a few added functionalities. The textured grip feels nice, the sticks have a solid grip, and the back buttons are easily reachable as well. The switches on the backside work great as well, and can be operated while gaming. We did find it difficult to see what connection format we were using via the bottom switch (wired, Bluetooth, or wireless), as the print is so small and nearly illegible. A small black print would have done wonders here.

Additional comfort features can be found with the removable analog stick caps, allowing gamers to choose what stick size feels most comfortable to them. We found the high-rise sticks to be less interesting for us because we have smaller hands. Even so, for shooters and other games, they might allow you to aim more precisely. The device also comes with a dongle, ensuring a stable 2.4 GHz connection without the hassle of having to pair the controller to your PC. With the three different connection options, you can easily choose which one you like the best and what’s most comfortable for you.

Overview

The OPS v1 is very easy to set up. You’ll have to select the desired connection option via the bottom switch, and then you’ll be ready to start gaming via the wired connection, the Bluetooth connection, or the wireless connection via the dongle. Only the Bluetooth connection will require it to be paired with the gaming device of your choice. You’ll be up and running in a matter of seconds, and most games will also instantly recognize your controller. We were able to start playing our favorite Steam games quite easily and quite a few Android titles also worked perfectly. Some titles may require you to tweak a few settings.

All in all, the OPS v1 is a great third-party device. Outside of the regular Xbox-like controller experience, you have the programmable buttons on the back. This adds a bit of customization to the mix, and it can tailor your gaming experience to your specific needs or play style. The adjustable trigger locks also allow for further customization, where you can make your triggers more sensitive. For example, if you enjoy racing games, you might prefer the free range of motion, while shooter fans might prefer the minimum range to have a more reactive experience. Other than that, there aren’t many additional features, except for the turbo function, allowing quicker button presses for repetitive actions.

The OPS v1 promises around 20 hours of battery life on a single charge and for the most part, that time is pretty accurate. We did notice a bit more battery drain when using the dongle, but we didn’t have to worry about charging our controller after every play session. We would have loved to have a more clear LED indicator to show how much of our current charge was remaining. As the LED is at the topside of the controller, we couldn’t actually see the battery LED indicator when gaming. More than often we didn’t notice when our charge was running out.

Conclusion

PowerA’s OPS v1 Wireless Controller for Cloud Gaming – Fortnite Edition is a great third-party controller that offers different connection options as well as additional customization features. We loved having the freedom to tailor every game to our personal preferences and having the dongle readily available to swap devices without any real setup required is simply a treat. While this controller will set you back only slightly less than a regular official controller, the additional options make it worth checking out.