There are controllers you can get for $60your stock, no-frills Xbox and PS5 devicesor there are the performance controllers that cost $200. SCUF is known as a company that does the latter. They make high-end devices for players who want to imagine themselves going pro. But what about a $100 controller, like SCUFs new Valor Pro? Is there a market for people who just want a little bit more from their controller, even if its wired only? The Valor Pro feels premium and not premium. The Hall-effect sticks with their swappable covers are grippy in just the right way. Its the first time SCUF has tried Hall effect, and while it may not have the same feel as traditional sticks, they should avoid stick drift over time. The triggers with their instant switch have a definitive depth, and the back paddles feel form-fitted to slot your middle finger between (the inner paddles are also removable). Photo: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo Its all very SCUF, and if youve used one of the companys controllers before, youll feel at home here. The one issue is that this controller is wired only. There are only so many ways to make a high-end controller cheaper, and removing the battery and Bluetooth connectivity is one way to do it. Most people who want to replace their controller will look for the cheapest option. I still use the SCUF Envision for my PC gaming adventures, despite how annoying ICUE software is for remapping controls. I prefer PlayStation-style controls, so naturally, Ill gravitate to the DualSense design. Still, theres something to say about that classic Xbox feel that has become so classic since the days of the Xbox 360. I played through several matches in Marvel Rivals with the Valor Pro, and without adjusting any profiles, remapping buttons, or adjusting stick sensitivity, I was already hitting some precise shots (there is some aim assist, yes, but its not nearly as intense as the console version of Marvel Rivals). I do have one big issue with the controller: the D-pad. It feels small, and unlike the traditional $60 Xbox wireless controller, the direction ridges dont go all the way to the edge. Its nice and clicky, just like the rest of the controller, but it also felt rough on the thumb. I cant imagine many fighting game aficionados enjoying the calluses developing on their thumb over an extended session.So, with a few extras like the audio control dials for your headset connected to the 3.5 mm jack, theres not much else to say. SCUF promises that a future update will allow for a 1KHz polling rate for the joysticks on PC, but only the most avid gamer can tell the difference.And if youre a pro gamer or somebody who thinks theyre a pro level able to shout loudest at teammates inCall of Duty: Warzone, you would inevitably think of getting a more expensive, higher-end controller anyway, right? Price is really what the discussion relies on. The Valor Pro costs as much as the Razer Wolverine V3, a fellow wired Xbox controller (though theres a wireless version, the Wolverine V3 Pro, for a whopping $200) with a similarly plastic feel and a squatter body. It was one of our favorite controllers from last year. The SCUF Valor Pro, by comparison, feels exactly like a typical Xbox controller, and thats a benefit for Xbox mainstays. It may not have all the bells and whistles like the dual swappable backpedals of the Xbox Elite Series 2 controller, either.The extra benefit of the Valor design is that you can replace the front faceplate with several unique colorways. You cant create your color swatch like you can Xboxs customizer, but Ill first note that the cherry blossom version looks very nice, even better than the translucent smoke plastic on my review unit. Controllers from left: SCUF Envision Pro; SCUF Valor Pro; SCUF Instinct Pro (Special Edition Squid Games). Photo: Kyle Barr / Gizmodo It was only when SCUF sent me the Valor Pro for review I realized just how close these controllers resemble the $220 Instinct Pro. I have experience with those controllers through a special edition tie-in with Xbox and Netflix for Squid Game season 2. The Instinct Pro controllers also included swappable sticks and clicky adaptive triggers, but theres a distinct difference in how each controller feels. The RB and LB buttons on the Instinct have a more clicky sound than the Valor Pro. The Instincts non-Hall effect sticks have more gentle movement to the Valor, and the d-pad is especially better designed and allows you to hit diagonals easily. The other difference is the outside back paddles require more effort on the Valor than the Instinct. It comes down to personal preference, but. In essence, the Valor Pro is a pared-down Instinct Pro. Thats not a bad thing in itself. I wouldnt bat an eye if SCUF told me the controller was merely a wired-only Instinct with Hall effect sticks. And still, for the average gamer, the difference isnt so stark that you could pick up the Valor Pro and not pick up on the difference between it and your baseline $70 default Xbox device. There may very well be a gamer out there who simply wants a little bit more oomph from a controller than what you get out of the box. SCUF seems to think so, but Im still not sure. Because you can tell the difference between the Valor Pro, Instinct Pro, or Envision Pro. To SCUFs credit, the difference between its less- and more-expensive controller is minute. For a gamer who wants to go pro, the Valor Pro is like the training wheels for many controllers costing $150 or more.Everybody else can feel safe sticking with the default controllers for less.