Closer Examination

Here's the money shot.. err.. shots that say it all. SCUF Gaming's biggest claim to fame is arguably all the available customization, which came up at a time when no one was really doing it outside of wraps. Today, first-party offerings from Playstation offer some basic aesthetic configurations for the DualShock 4, but nowhere near as comprehensively as what we see here. Indeed, the design for my sample is not even one that is available from the SCUF website as I write this. Perhaps it was a special edition that was sold or just something they came up with for CES. Dubbed some form of CyberPunk, it is a good showcase of what the company offers. This specific design is extremely well applied, and the overall build quality is fantastic even compared to a base DualShock 4. We also see the SCUF logo on the thumbsticks and PS button, but otherwise, there is no branding to detract from the visuals here.

The customization begins with a base palette for the shell and builds upon it. The product page goes over the Impact Spectrum, which has a full color option set that is enough to interest most on its own. The Signature design for the shell follows next, offering more complex patterns while still being geometrically regular and easy enough to implement. The Designer series kicks things to the artistic realm, as with my sample above, with some incredible designs that look great in person too, as my experience at their CES exhibit shows. There are also some eSports and VIP (think SCUF ambassadors, game influencers, etc.) editions for the shell to entice the fanbase of those entities.

The shell is but one part of the overall puzzle as SCUF allows customization of the finish and color of the triggers, bumpers, thumbsticks, base rings for the thumbsticks, and buttons. There are also functional options to choose from, including whether you want a vibration motor at all for weight and battery life savings, having the EMR included or not, different types of triggers and bumpers, changing the shape and height of the thumbsticks, going from a D-pad to a control disc, and adding in a grip on the back too. There are so many permutations and combinations that you really need to spend some time on configuring the controller as you want it.


Beneath the aesthetic and functional customizations we saw to date is effectively a DualShock 4 wireless controller. SCUF purchases the controllers directly and modifies them, so we still have the same layout with the dual thumbsticks on the bottom, the buttons above, and the shoulder triggers and bumpers on the side. The sensor is seen here, which also has LEDs to denote the status of the unit when flashing blue in pairing mode, a steady blue when connected, and orange when charging. You can also see how recessed the micro-USB port is, which is why I was not happy about SCUF not including a cable, given users would buy this for the PC as well now and may not have a compatible cable. SCUF says this recessed housing is on purpose as it provides a snug fit to the cable and improves the longevity of the connection, which is not enough to persuade me.


Besides the customization, SCUF controllers are best known for their patent portfolio and what they have done to make the humble controller a more ergonomic and efficient gaming device. The company has been granted over 100 patents to date, and over 50 more are in various stages of approval. These include some of the less-talked-about items, such as the anti-friction rings at the base of the thumbsticks, the interchangeable thumbsticks themselves, and the customizable trigger systems with different actuation points. Their biggest claim to fame is surely the paddle system, so much so that Microsoft licenses the IP for use in their own XBOX Elite controllers. It allows for additional detachable plastic paddles on the back to actuate controls on the back, in either two or four buttons depending on the model, and remapping of these to the same functions as on the front buttons. Situated in the middle of the three Playstation/PC controllers, the SCUF Impact comes with four paddles by default and misses out on the side buttons on the Vantage flagship.


Here is a look at the SCUF Impact controller my fellow TechPowerUp colleague received, who was also at CES with me. This version shares the CyberPunk base as with my sample, but then has a different design and finish, opting for a more metallic blue and pink color scheme compared to the matte red and white on mine.

Disassembly of the SCUF Impact proved futile an exercise because a screw head on the back had a cover intentionally placed on it as discouragement. SCUF says this is on purpose to avoid any inadvertent damage to the controller or tampering. Their PR representative claimed, and I quote here, "even for experts, the insides of the controller can be quite tricky to navigate." I would have been fine with it, but the 6-month warranty does leave a question mark that is unnecessary here.