Evercade is getting an official wireless controller this September

Evercade's VS and Alpha consoles are getting an official wireless controller this September. The new gamepad adds dual analog sticks and a built-in turbo button to the standard Evercade layout. Pre-orders open on September 28 for £34.99 at Funstock and other retailers.

We have all tripped over a controller cable and sent a console flying across the living room. Evercade hardware has relied on wired USB gamepads since the VS launched. The community has asked for a wireless option for years. The company acknowledged the constant requests in their announcement video by using a Jurassic Park reaction clip of Laura Dern taking off her sunglasses with the text "We listened."

Hardware details

The controller design builds directly on the existing VS wired gamepad. It keeps the classic directional pad and the four primary face buttons. The biggest physical change is the addition of two analog sticks. These include customizable deadzones and sensitivity settings for compatible games.

The built-in turbo functionality is another welcome addition. Players can set automatic fire functions with an adjustable fire rate. You can tweak the speed to match the specific rhythm of whatever game you are playing. This is particularly useful for the platform's large library of classic shoot-'em-ups. Saving your thumb from repetitive strain injury during a Toaplan Arcade or Irem collection run is a massive bonus.

Connectivity happens through an included USB wireless dongle. The dongle attaches magnetically to the back of the controller for storage when you throw it in a backpack. This is a smart touch that prevents the tiny receiver from getting lost in a desk drawer. You charge the device via USB-C, and the internal battery lasts up to 15 hours on a single charge.

Evercade consoles are not the only supported devices. The controller works with PC, Mac, Android hardware, and both Nintendo Switch models. This makes the £34.99 price tag a bit easier to justify if you need a spare pad for your computer.

The 32-bit shift

Adding analog sticks to an Evercade controller solves a growing hardware problem for the platform. When the ecosystem launched, it focused heavily on 8-bit and 16-bit console titles or classic arcade games. A standard D-pad was all anyone needed to play Pac-Man or Earthworm Jim.

That changed with the introduction of "Giga Carts." Blaze Entertainment recently started publishing larger CD-era games on physical cartridges. The library now includes PlayStation 1 games like the original Tomb Raider trilogy, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver, and Duke Nukem 3D. Playing early 3D games with a D-pad is an exercise in frustration. The dual sticks turn these tank-control relics into something much more comfortable to play in 2026.

The announcement video points to Funstock as the primary retail partner. They have been the main distributor for Evercade hardware and cartridges since the platform began, though other retailers will also carry the controller when it launches. More information is available on the official Evercade website.

Right now, it is just nice to sit on the couch without stringing a USB cable across the floor. The Evercade ecosystem feels like collecting vinyl for gamers. I have a complete collection of the cartridges on my shelf. That tactile experience of reading a manuals is great, but nobody actually misses wired controllers.