Let's be real for a second. Most gaming gear has names that sound like they were generated by an angry teenager in a basement. The GuliKit KingKong 2 Pro is no exception. It’s a mouthful. It’s slightly ridiculous. But if you’ve ever felt your heart sink because your character started walking left while you weren't even touching the thumbstick, you know that names don't matter. Performance does.
Stick drift is the "check engine light" of the gaming world. It's inevitable, annoying, and usually expensive to fix. Or at least, it was.
I’ve been using the KingKong 2 Pro for a long time now across the Switch, PC, and even some iPad sessions. Honestly? It’s kind of ruined other controllers for me. Not because it’s perfect—it definitely has some quirks—but because it solved the one problem that makes me want to throw hardware at a wall.
The Hall Effect Magic (And Why You Should Care)
Basically, most controllers use something called potentiometers. These are little mechanical parts that rub together to tell the game where your stick is pointing. Because they rub together, they wear out. Dust gets in. Plastic grinds down. Boom—stick drift.
The GuliKit KingKong 2 Pro uses Hall Effect sensors. Instead of physical contact, it uses magnets. Since nothing is touching, nothing is wearing down. GuliKit patented this electromagnetic stick tech, and while "patented" usually sounds like marketing fluff, here it actually means something. You can literally go into a controller tester, flick the stick, and watch it snap back to a perfect 0.00002 center every single time.
It feels... smooth. Like, buttery smooth. There's no "grind" when you rotate the stick. If you’re playing something like Apex Legends or Splatoon 3 where tiny micro-adjustments are the difference between a headshot and hitting a tree, this precision is a game-changer.
It’s Not Just a Switch Pro Controller Clone
At first glance, it looks like an Xbox controller and a Switch Pro controller had a baby. It’s got that chunky, ergonomic Xbox shape but the button layout of a Switch.
But it’s the "weird" features that actually make it useful:
- The APG (Auto-Pilot Gaming) Button: This is wild. You can hold this button, record up to 10 minutes of gameplay inputs, and then the controller will just... do it for you. People use this to farm shooting stars in Animal Crossing or automate tedious crafting loops in RPGs. It’s basically a legal macro that lives on the hardware.
- Amiibo Support: Most third-party controllers skip the NFC reader to save money. This one has it. You just tap your figure on the center logo, and it works exactly like the official Nintendo one.
- On-the-Fly Sensitivity: You don't need a crappy app to change your settings. You hold the gear button and a face button to adjust vibration strength or stick sensitivity. It vibrates to confirm the change. Simple.
The "Wooden" Trigger Controversy
I have to be honest here—not everyone loves the triggers. Because they also use Hall Effect sensors, they don't have that "click" or tactile resistance some people expect. Some reviewers call them "wooden" or "mushy."
Personally? I think they're fine for racing games because the analog travel is very precise. But if you're a hardcore Call of Duty player who needs a hair-trigger click, you might find them a bit deep. You can adjust the "dead zone" of the triggers using the internal settings, but the physical feel remains the same.
Setup and Compatibility: The Good and the Annoying
Connecting this thing is usually a breeze, but there's a learning curve. There is a small button on the top next to four LEDs. You cycle through them: Switch, Android, D-Input, and X-Input (for PC).
Pro Tip: If you're on PC, use the X-Input mode. Windows will literally see it as an Xbox controller. It just works.
However, the firmware updates are... very "2005." You have to plug it into a computer, hold a specific button combo to make it show up as a USB drive, and then drag-and-drop a .bin file into it. It’s not hard, but if you’re used to seamless "click update in app" experiences, it feels a bit primitive.
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What Most People Get Wrong About the KingKong 2 Pro
A big misconception is that Hall Effect means "invincible."
It doesn't.
While the sensors won't drift, the physical springs inside the stick can still get "soft" over years of heavy use. Also, some early batches had issues with the face buttons (ABXY) sticking. GuliKit actually updated the design with a "conductive rubber" feel that’s rated for 50 million presses, which fixed most of those "sticky button" complaints you'll see on old Reddit threads.
If you buy one today, make sure you're getting the latest version (v2.1 or higher) to ensure you have those improved buttons.
Is It Worth It in 2026?
We’ve seen a lot of new contenders lately. The 8BitDo Ultimate is a huge rival, and GuliKit even released their own "KK3 Max" which adds back paddles and a 1000Hz polling rate.
But the KingKong 2 Pro usually sits at a lower price point now. If you don't care about back paddles and just want a "forever controller" that won't drift while you're halfway through a 100-hour Zelda marathon, this is still the sweet spot for value.
Actionable Next Steps if You Just Got One:
- Calibrate immediately: When you first turn it on, hold L, R, D-pad Left, and A. It'll vibrate. This sets the floor for your sensors and ensures everything is centered.
- Update the firmware: Don't skip this. Older firmware had some weird latency issues with the gyroscope. The 2025/2026 updates have basically eliminated that.
- Check your Deadzones: Go into your game settings (like in Fortnite or Apex) and turn the deadzone to "0" or "None." Since this controller doesn't drift, you don't need the software "buffer" that most games add by default. You’ll notice the responsiveness jump instantly.
- Swap the buttons (Optional): If you're primarily a PC gamer, GuliKit sells a kit to swap the physical ABXY buttons to the Xbox layout so your thumbs don't get confused by the Nintendo orientation. It takes about two minutes with the included tool.
The name is still silly. But every time I pick it up and my character stays perfectly still when I let go of the stick, I stop caring about the branding. It’s a tool that does its job without complaining. In gaming hardware, that's rarer than it should be.