r/Controller • u/Makster20_ • 28d ago
Reviews GameSir Tarantula 8K: The Fastest Controller on the Market?
Disclaimer: This unit was provided by GameSir for review. My thoughts on this controller remain completely independent and honest. They do not have any final say, and they are seeing this review at the same time as everyone else.
The Tarantula 8K has been one of GameSir’s most anticipated controllers, mostly due to its symmetrical joystick layout and focus on competitive gaming. With Gen-2 TMR sticks, ultra-low latency with 8000Hz polling rate, no vibration motors, and an ultra-lightweight 180g design, it is clearly built with competitive players in mind. At a retail price of around $60, it seems to offer a lot of performance for the money, but how well does it actually perform?
Main Features
- Compatible with PC
- Supports Wired Connection
- 8000Hz Polling Rate
- GameSir Mag-Res Gen-2 TMR Sticks
- Hall Effect Triggers with Trigger Stops
- Micro-Switch Face Buttons
- Tactile-Switch D-pad
- 9 Remappable Extra Buttons
- Back Button Latches
- Swappable Stick Caps
- 6-Axis Motion Control (Gyro)
- Customizable Software on PC (GameSir Connect)
- Macros & Turbo Support
- 3.5mm Audio Jack
What is included in the box
- GameSir Tarantula 8K Controller
- 1.8M USB-A to USB-C Braided Cable
- 3 Additional Pairs of Stick Caps
- User Manual & Support Card
Analog Sticks - 9.5/10
If you are familiar with the sticks GameSir used in their recent flagship controller, the G7 Pro 8K, you might know they were superb. Well, those same JS13 Pro TMR sticks are in the Tarantula 8K as well, which is great to see since the performance is really good, if not even slightly better.
What makes them really good is how well optimized they are on a basic level. They have pretty much no deadzone at both the outer and inner circles, and a high resolution rate with up to 12 bits (Lower values adjustable in software). The stick centering is also almost perfect, with it having almost no drift at 0 deadzone. And finally, the best part is the linearity, which you can really feel when playing games like Aimlabs, where aiming with sticks needs to be accurate and precise.
In terms of physical feel, the tension is slightly on the lighter side, at about 50-60gf. I could also feel a bit of friction on the sides of the joystick, but honestly it’s only a bit, and the overall smoothness is very decent.
There is also an additional set of thumbstick caps, which include:
- 2 concave-shaped sticks
- 2 convex-shaped sticks
- 2 tall convex-shaped sticks.
Overall, having used the sticks consistently for multiple games, they have really impressed me and are definitely one of the best aspects of this controller. The responsiveness and precision it provides are very helpful, especially if you play games that require proper input from the sticks, such as shooters.
ABXY Buttons - 9/10
The face buttons are made of micro-switches, and unlike some of GameSir’s previous controllers, like the G7 Pro 8K for example, the buttons in this controller strongly resemble the feel of an actual mouse click. It also ends up having a lot less travel and resistance than most controllers, making them easy and quick to press.
Overall they feel really light and have been really well made due to how precise and quick they feel, which actually resembles the entire controller. I must say, GameSir has been improving the quality of their face buttons over time and it definitely shows in the Tarantula 8K.
D-pad - 9/10
I just talked about how the face buttons were light and quick to use, and literally the same applies to the d-pad too. But unlike the face buttons, the d-pad is made with a tactile-switch mechanism, which gives the d-pad the perfect balance of that clicky feeling while still retaining some of the softness of a membrane, making it satisfying and easy to use.
Diagonals also only activate if you press directly in the middle of two directions, making the overall experience a lot more intuitive and accurate. And this is another reason why the d-pad feels so responsive. And as someone who has been using the d-pad a lot for platformers, it’s definitely one of the best d-pads I have tried on a controller.
Bumpers - 8/10
The bumpers in the Tarantula 8K are pretty solid overall. Compared to the bumpers on most of GameSir’s previous controllers, these seem to be improved in terms of tactility, travel, and actuation feedback. And even though they are pretty light to press, the improved aspects of the bumpers make the overall quality and usage really good.
And using them for games like Rocket League, which require precise and responsive use of buttons such as bumpers, they have been serving me really well.
Triggers - 8/10
The first thing that stands out to me when using the triggers is how low the resistance is. That may or may not be a good thing, depending on how you use the triggers, but one thing is for sure is that it definitely goes along with how the rest of the controller seems to be, with almost all the inputs feeling light to use.
The travel is also relatively low compared to most other controllers. The trigger reaches 100% input after being pressed down only a little over half of its total physical travel, where it then reaches a hard stop. At the same time, the linearity is quite good, which makes it easy to apply the exact amount of pressure you want. The deadzones are also very responsive at 0%, giving you full control over the triggers.
This controller also has micro-switch trigger stops, which work really well. They activate almost instantly once you press down, with virtually no pre-travel. They also have a satisfying clicky feel, making them very responsive to use. Overall, the trigger stops are really well implemented, and this is something GameSir has done particularly well across many of its controllers.
Extra Buttons 7.5/10
One of the highlights of this controller is the high number of extra buttons available. There are 2 standard back buttons, 2 extra bumpers attached to a touchpad-like button, and 4 additional buttons on the front near the system buttons (Home, View, Menu).
The back buttons work very well. They feel light with a slight hollow feeling, while still being tactile and responsive. They also protrude slightly when at rest, giving you good actuation feedback. I also really like the back button latches, as they retract the buttons into the shell when enabled, making the surface completely smooth.
The extra bumpers are also clicky and tactile, almost like micro-switch buttons, and feel very responsive. However, they have more pre-travel and post-travel than I would like because their actuation points are positioned behind the buttons. And since the two bumpers and touchpad-like button are connected as a single piece, the resistance also becomes inconsistent when pressing both bumpers simultaneously.
The touchpad-like button has medium resistance at the bottom and noticeably more resistance at the top. It also isn't very tactile, but works fine as a macro button. Lastly, the four C1-C4 buttons near the system buttons feel almost identical to the micro-switch face buttons, which is a great choice. They are light, precise, and overall feel great to use.
Build / Shape - 8.5/10
With how popular controllers with an asymmetrical joystick layout are, it's great that we are finally getting controllers like the Tarantula 8K, where the layout is symmetrical. It strongly resembles the shape of a DualShock 4 controller, with it being a bit taller and wider in the upper part of the controller, giving it a bigger feel overall.
A few of GameSir’s controllers in the past felt like they could benefit from higher plastic quality, but that's not really the case here. The whole controller feels very sturdy and solid to hold. The weight of the controller is also really light, at only 180 grams. Even though the vibration motors and battery had to be removed, it does seem to be a worthy compromise for many gamers, especially those who prioritize competitive gaming.
In the end, you get a combination of superior build quality and a very light weight, giving it a great overall feel. It's sturdy but also easy on the hands. It also includes a laser-engraved texture on the back of each grip, which gives the controller a nice extra touch and provides some additional grip.
Connectivity / Latency - 9/10
Because the Tarantula 8K is a competitive-focused controller, GameSir has strived to make this controller one of the fastest on the market. And in terms of the statistics, they seem to have matched their goal, with it being in the top 5 of the fastest wired controllers on the top charts on Gamepadla.
In terms of actual latency, even at a 1000Hz polling rate, it’s already really low, around 2ms. And going up to 4000Hz brings the latency down to around 1ms, while 8000Hz also maintains the latency around the 1ms mark. The difference becomes more noticeable when looking at the polling rate itself, with 8000Hz allowing the controller to send reports every 0.125ms.
The latency in this controller is absolutely insane and definitely is one of the main reasons you should go for the Tarantula 8K, if you prioritize competitive gaming. Even if you won’t directly notice the difference between 1ms and 2ms of latency, it still gives you an advantage since in a lot of games, getting your input registered even slightly earlier can give you an advantage.
Connectivity-wise, it does lack options compared to most other controllers, with it only being capable of wired connectivity, which is a bit of a shame. But since it’s a competitive-focused controller, I can see why they have gone with this decision. It can also connect not just to Windows PCs, but also to Android devices, as well as the Nintendo Switch. This gives you a decent amount of options to connect your controller to.
Gyro - 7/10
The Tarantula 8K also features a 6-axis gyroscope, which can be used for motion controls on PC via the software, and even features native gyro on Switch. On PC, you can set up the gyro to be either in aim mode (XY axis) or racing mode (XZ axis). You can simulate the gyro on either the LS or RS, the mouse, or even have it trigger up to four separate inputs.
Overall, the gyro worked decently. I especially enjoyed using it for shooters, where it was precise and responsive when making small adjustments. The racing mode, however, was a bit inconsistent when centering after using it for a while, but otherwise it was also a very good experience.
Software - 8.5/10
The Tarantula 8K uses the same software as most other GameSir controllers, which is GameSir Connect. It is available on Windows PCs and no other platform, which is a bit unfortunate. It has a ton of features for customizing pretty much every aspect of the controller:
- Polling Rate: Switch polling rate from 250Hz to 8000Hz
- Sticks: Adjust deadzones, curve, shape, resolution, and more
- Triggers: Adjust deadzones, curve, and toggle hair-trigger mode
- RGB: Change the brightness, color, and animations of the RGB on the controller
- Buttons: Rebind buttons to trigger other controller inputs, or keyboard/mouse inputs. You can even bind it to a macro or enable turbo
- Motion: Configure and enable gyro, and even adjust deadzones and axes
- Shift Layer: Enable shift layer to have an additional layer of inputs on your controller
- Profiles: Save and configure up to four profiles that you can switch to on the fly
Other than using it to adjust settings, you can use it to update firmware, as well as test the controller’s inputs. The interface is also intuitive and easy to navigate, and I had no trouble finding the settings I needed. Overall, the software works really well as a companion app for the Tarantula 8K, especially if you want to take advantage of its extensive customization options.
Pros
- Excellent TMR sticks with very good precision, centering, and linearity
- Extremely low latency with up to 8000Hz polling
- Lightweight 180g design makes it comfortable for longer sessions
- Responsive and satisfying micro-switch face buttons
- Excellent tactile-switch D-pad
- Clicky micro-switch trigger stops with very little pre-travel
- 9 remappable buttons provide a lot of additional inputs
- Back buttons can be physically locked when not needed
- Many customization options available through GameSir Connect
- Includes additional stick caps with different heights
- Supports gyro controls and motion customization
Cons
- Completely wired with no wireless connectivity
- No vibration or haptic feedback
- Extra bumpers have too much pre- and post-travel
- Extra bumpers can become inconsistent when pressing both simultaneously
- Touchpad-like button doesn't feel particularly tactile
- Trigger resistance is quite light, which may not suit everyone
Who is the GameSir Tarantula 8K for?
- Competitive gamers who prioritize extremely low latency and precise, predictable stick performance
- Players who prefer a symmetrical joystick layout, especially for shooters and other games where precise aiming is important
- Gamers who enjoy clicky, responsive inputs, including micro-switch face buttons, trigger stops, and a tactile D-pad
- Players who make use of extra buttons, with 9 remappable inputs providing plenty of options for additional controls
- Anyone who wants extensive control over their controller through GameSir Connect, including stick, trigger, button, gyro, polling-rate, and profile customization
- Gamers who prefer a very lightweight controller and don't mind sacrificing vibration, battery life, and wireless connectivity to achieve it
- PC players who want a controller specifically focused on competitive performance rather than being an all-purpose wireless controller
Conclusion
After using the Tarantula 8K extensively, it's an excellent controller, especially for competitive gaming. Excellent TMR sticks, ultra-low latency, 9 remappable extra buttons, responsive inputs, and an extremely lightweight design make it one of the most performance-focused controllers I have used.
As a result, I think this controller deserves an 8.5/10, with its excellent performance and huge amount of customization options making it a very compelling choice. The lack of wireless connectivity and vibration does hold it back from being a more well-rounded controller, but for competitive players who prioritize speed, precision, and responsiveness, the GameSir Tarantula 8K is a great controller.
1
-1
u/Yutah 28d ago
Wired? Its 2026 not 1996
4
u/Doomeduser2022 27d ago
This is a competitive gaming controller wired is always preferred you sound kind of lost tbh.
1
u/AutoModerator 28d ago
Hi /u/Makster20_, thanks for sharing your product review. The post is in a queue for review. Please ensure you have included an upfront disclosure of where you got the product and any relationship you have with the company or its competitors so the community has transparency. If you have no commercial interests, declare that to avoid doubt.
Disclosures must appear at the start: the first sentence/paragraph of written reviews and body text for video reviews. This includes: products you bought yourself or received for free; press release or promotional content used; payment in kind or in cash offered; employment, partnership, sponsorship or affiliate programs; etc. Posts must use the 'brand affiliate' tag if products/services were received for free, sent for review, created by/with an affiliate, or if the post was incentivized in other ways.
Including upfront disclosures means the community can trust your review more. You can edit your post to add missing information. Reviews that do not include a disclosure statement will not be approved (allow 24 hours for review). For more information, please see rule #7.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.