GameSir Tarantula 8K Review: A Competitive PC Controller That's All Business

Ever loved a controller so much that you wished it would never change? That's how I felt about the GameSir Tarantula Pro, one of my all-time favorites. So when GameSir announced a new Tarantula range earlier this year, I was hyped. But after testing the blood orange 8K PC model, I'm left wondering: is this really the sequel we wanted?

The original Tarantula Pro was a wireless, symmetrical controller that felt like a souped-up DualShock 4. It was comfy, versatile, and came with a nifty charging stand. I used it for everything—multiplayer, singleplayer, you name it. The new Tarantula 8K, however, is a different beast. It's wired-only, drops the rumble motors, and weighs just 180g. It's clearly built for competitive PC play, not kicking back on your couch.

Design-wise, it's still very much a Tarantula. The long, cylindrical grips, symmetrical thumbsticks, four-way D-Pad, and touchpad (customizable as an extra button) all return. GameSir even added two new shoulder buttons that run off the end of the touchpad and click in with a microswitch feel. It's a unique design that works. The back buttons and locking switches are back too, and the dotted texture on the grips feels great. But without rumble motors, it feels lighter and less substantial than other controllers. That might be a plus for some, but it's a trade-off.

Feature-wise, it's a mixed bag. The Gen 2 MagRes TMR thumbsticks are an upgrade from the original, and you get swappable taller and shorter tops in the box. The 8K polling rate is aimed at esports athletes who want every twitchy movement to register. But there's no wireless dongle, no charging stand, and no rumble. For someone who kept their original Tarantula on the TV unit for couch gaming, this feels like a step back. It's available for £79.99 / $69.99, same as its Xbox-licensed sibling.

GameSir's socials shared speedy AimLab clips at launch, making it clear: this is a multiplayer performance controller. If you're a competitive PC player who's never felt at home with a mouse and keyboard, this might be your new weapon. But if you want a versatile, comfortable pad for all types of games, the original Tarantula Pro still holds a special place in my heart. Sadly, the rumored Ultra model with 8K polling, wireless, and rumble is still MIA.

What do you think? Is a wired, lightweight esports controller worth the trade-offs, or would you rather stick with a wireless all-rounder? Let us know in the comments!