Preferred D-Pad Style?

[Moonface]

I know there's more than those three, but most probably fall into one of those. People will usually share what controller (layout) they prefer, but a lot of the time the D-Pad is one thing that has a lot of variety to it compared to things like the face buttons or the analog sticks. So, what style of D-Pad is your preferred one?


For me I love any D-Pad where the buttons are all separated like on PlayStation controllers or the Switch Joy-Cons. They're way more accurate if you need to do precise directional inputs. I've tried playing games like Tetris 99 with controllers that have a connected D-Pad style and I'll make way more mistakes than when I play the same games with the separated D-Pad.

[Maniakkid25]

Cross or Separated is what I prefer. After trying to play fighting games on an Xbox 360 controller, I hate "shield" d-pads with a firey passion. So many times that moves just wouldn't register because I input the d-pad in such a way to fat finger corner inputs, and it is VERY annoying considering I'm bad at fighting games to start with!

[Mr EliteL]

I do prefer the separated button d-pad, but can use the connected ones almost as well as really. The location of a d-pad however, I prefer them to be where a PlayStation controller usually has it than where say Nintendo's controllers are, although you're most likely mainly using the analog stick anyway so it doesn't matter too much.

[Moonface]

Cross or Separated is what I prefer. After trying to play fighting games on an Xbox 360 controller, I hate "shield" d-pads with a firey passion. So many times that moves just wouldn't register because I input the d-pad in such a way to fat finger corner inputs, and it is VERY annoying considering I'm bad at fighting games to start with!

Shield D-Pads seem really pointless to me if the same controller has analog sticks because inputs that are using 360 degree control would never be better off on such a D-Pad over the analog stick. I'm surprised any first party controller would even consider them from Gen 6 consoles onwards.

[Maniakkid25]

Someone better tell that to Microsoft, then, because they are FRIGGIN STILL USING THEM! Stop it, Microsoft! Shield D-pads are terrible! Quit using them!

[ShiraNoMai]

Cross is my preferred, separated is comfortable but I would prefer if it was actually separated and not just on a hidden membrane underneath the plastic

[Moonface]

Someone better tell that to Microsoft, then, because they are FRIGGIN STILL USING THEM! Stop it, Microsoft! Shield D-pads are terrible! Quit using them!

That D-Pad design on that particular controller reminds me of the utter nightmare the Steam controller went for: 

[Maniakkid25]

Now that, to me, screams "accessability d-pad". It's meant to be a d-pad to help gamers that don't have as fine motor control, but I could be wrong. Then again, accessability game controllers have WAAAAAY bigger pads, so I might be completely off.

[Moonface]

Apparently both the D-Pad and right "analog stick" pads are meant to be like the trackpads seen on laptops, after trials with touch screens and trackballs were unsuccessful. If that final design for the Steam controller helps with accessibility I get the feeling it was a coincidence more than an intention. The only downside is that I think the pads are haptic based, so someone who perhaps has an artificial limb or thumb/finger wouldn't be able to do an input unless those things are able to transmit haptics nowadays.

[Mr EliteL]

Oh god that Steam controller. I really don't like buttons that huge (I looked at the link Maniak gave too), but them being touch pads makes sense now but still think the DS4/5 have done it best, having the touch pad in the middle without moving the four buttons on the right anywhere.

[Dragon Lord]

I definitely prefer a separated D-Pad like you see on PlayStation controllers. Although I don't find much trouble using a cross one either. My 8bitdo PC and Switch controllers both have cross style, but I definitely do prefer separated when I have the choice.