GameSir G7 Wired Customisable Controller for Xbox & PC
GameSir have a proven track record of developing innovative, yet affordable controllers and peripherals for console, PC and mobile gaming. Their latest addition, the GameSir G7 Wired Controller, is certainly innovative. Thanks to the unique button properties and paint-friendly, interchangeable faceplate design, the GameSir G7 is infinitely customizable!
Disclosure: GameSir has provided Blog of Dad with GameSir products for the purpose of review and ongoing use. Any thoughts expressed about GameSir products in this article are based on my own experiences. For more information, visit my disclosure statement.
GameSir G7 Wired Customisable Controller for Xbox & PC
At the surface level, the GameSir G7 Wired Controller is a fantastic controller designed for Xbox and PC use. It is very well weighted, comfortable to hold for extended periods and feels great. The quality is immediately apparent in the smoothness of the joysticks, the linear, fine-tuned triggers and even the micro-switch-based X,Y,A,B buttons.
Dig a little deeper and you will find that the GameSir G7 is an incredibly well-thought-out controller that provides gamers with a level of customisation that it truly impressive. The on-the-fly options are easy to use and are extremely useful, while the optional GameSir Nexus software opens the door to next-level fine-tuning. Last, but not least, the interchangeable faceplates are an absolute joy! For dads like me, they provide a unique opportunity for bonding over a favourite hobby. For others, they provide opportunities for expression, individualisation, or just a fresh new look without breaking the bank on a whole new controller.
Pros
Customisable plug-and-play
Quality components
Innovative design
Paint-friendly faceplates
Hall Effect analog triggers with vibration
Tactile microswitches
Expanded customisation via GameSir Nexus
Cons
No wireless version
GameSir G7 Wired Customisable Controller – First Impressions
The GameSir G7 Wired Controller looks and feels fantastic! It sits very nicely in my adult hands, but is also not unwieldly for my six year old daughter to handle either. The weight of the GameSir G7 is excellent. At 256 grams it is lightweight and comfortable to hold for extended periods, while still feeling as if the underlying components are of substantial quality.
The textured grips provide very comfortable rests for extended gaming. Interestingly, the textures continue onto the triggers and the lower part of the bumpers. I wondered if that might prove to be a little grating on the fingertips over time, but the softness of the materials means that I have experienced absolutely no discomfort. These textures do, however, assist with grip and control, particularly in racing games where the trigger is held for extended periods. It is a very nice touch.
From the top, the GameSir G7 Wired Controller looks extremely familiar for Xbox gamers. The prominent Xbox button is a dead giveaway that this is a product that is officially licensed and designed for the Xbox (also PC compatible), and the colour and button layout confirms this. There are some differences – the D-pad is a more traditional design, although some interesting marking hint at the innovative features that GameSir have packed into this controller. The other obvious addition is the intriguing ‘M’ button, which is situated at between the D-pad and the right thumb stick. More on that later.
The X,YA,B buttons are a truly pleasant surprise. At the surface level they look like standard buttons, but pushing them reveals their satisfying secret below. A clever 5-layer microswitch design (that GameSir state is good for 5 million clicks) produces an excellent tactile experience. Each push feels fast (there is a 0.6 mm actuation distance) and reliable.
The analog joysticks feel smooth in all directions and they enthusiastically spring back to the centre when released. GameSir describe these as ‘Algorithm-optimized joysticks’.
At the bottom of the GameSir G7 Wired Controller is an aux input for attaching headphones and a microphone button. On the rear of the controller, embedded on the edge of the hand grips, are an M1 and M2 button.
A long, braided USB cable attaches to the USB-C port situated between the bumpers, to provide a wired connection to either an Xbox (Series X, Series S, One) or a Windows PC.
GameSir G7 Wired Customisable Controller – Use
I have been testing the GameSir G7 Wired Controller on a Windows 11 PC for the past week. The plug-and-play nature of the device meant that I was up and running immediately, while the official Xbox design meant that the buttons were all mapped as expected.
I started with Forza Horizon 5, as this is a game that I have played extensively with racing wheels, controllers and even keyboards. I’m a huge fan of racing wheels, but I have to admit that I often just pick up a controller when I want an easy, fuss-free gaming experience in the evening once the kids have gone to bed.
The GameSir G7 Wired Controller is an excellent match for Forza Horizon 5, or and racing game, really. The triggers are smooth and wonderfully responsive, making precise acceleration (vital for those perfect launches) a reality. GameSir describe these triggers as containing ‘pioneer Hall Effect technology’. I hadn’t ever heard of ‘Hall Effect’ before, so I did a bit of research and it is interesting stuff! Without going too far down the science rabbit hole, the end result is a smooth and precise linear control.
Adding to the experience are the two rumble motors located within the triggers. These are in addition to the two distinct rumble motors housed in the grips, that are standard amongst controllers these days. The addition of these two motors is great! They provide a subtle extra layer of feedback through the finger tips, which is particularly effective in racing games.
I mentioned at the beginning of this review that the GameSir G7 Wired Controller is infinitely customisable. One of the awesome party tricks is the ability to change the trigger from precision linear control to Hair Trigger Mode. This can be done on the fly by using that ‘M’ button and your chosen trigger. For FPS gamers, this is brilliant! It means super-fast response times in games where every fraction of a second counts. I activated Hair Trigger Mode in Forza, just to see what would happen, and the difference was remarkable. Without Hair Trigger Mode, I could gently start my extreme performance 2018 Ferrari FXX-K EVO rolling at under 10km/h. I also had fine control over acceleration, as I would with an actual accelerator. With Hair Trigger Mode enabled, the car immediately lurched forward, the tachometer redlining instantly.
The analog joysticks also move smoothly and accurately. GameSir describe these as ‘Algorithm-optomized’, with seamless pinpoint control. I certainly felt like I had great control as I navigated the Playground Games in Forza Horizon 5 – a game type that demands fast reflexes and highly accurate manoeuvring.
Racing games aren’t the only place where the GameSir G7 Wired Controller shines. FPS gamers are well-and-truly catered for with some of the more advanced customisation built into the G7. I tested the controller with Halo Infinite and Battlefield 2047.
I predominantly play FPS games on a keyboard and mouse setup, so moving back to a controller took a bit of getting used to. The main issue was remembering which buttons do what, especially the functions of mele and run. I tried a few different pre-set combinations and none of them felt just right. However, I remembered that the GameSir G7 Wired Controller had yet another excellent trick up its sleeve.
The G7 packs two customisable buttons on the rear, right at your fingertips. These can be mapped (and remapped) quickly and easily on the fly by using the ‘M’ button. While playing Halo Infinite, I upped my game significantly by moving mele from above the trigger to my M1 (right side) and run to my M2 (left side). This meant that I could hit mele instantly without having to move my finger off my trigger, and it also removed the need for an awkward joystick press while simultaneously trying to move.
Switching to Hair Trigger Mode also made a difference to the FPS experience. Being able to unleash a hail of bullets on the slightest touch of the trigger is an added bonus when your reflexes aren’t quite what they used to be.
GameSir G7 Wired Customisable Controller – Customisation
On-the-fly M Button
I have already mentioned the ‘M’ buttons and their on-the-fly customisability. These are awesome features and ones that I found myself using more than expected. The mappable ‘M1’ and ‘M2’ buttons, in particular, solved a problem that I regularly have when playing games on a controller. That is, there always seems to be at least one button that is uncomfortably or inconveniently placed. I can see myself using this feature regularly.
One function of the ‘M’ button that I haven’t yet covered is those markings on the D-pad. If you plug a headset into the auxiliary port of the GameSir G7 Wired Controller, you can then use the ‘M’ plus D-pad buttons to control the volume of both the master volume and the voice chat volume. This is a very handy feature for on-the-fly fine-tuning of volumes during social or competitive online gaming, without needing to open menus or reach for remotes.
Endless Faceplates
Not all of the customisation with the GameSir G7 Wired Controller is functional. One of the biggest attractions of the peripheral, and something that differentiates it over all competition, is its customisable faceplates. The G7 comes with two swappable faceplates (a black and a white), which can be easily changed thanks to the magnetic swapping system. This is really cleverly designed because, while swapping face plates is extremely easy, they are also held firmly in place while playing.
I’m not much of an artist, but thankfully I have two naturals living with me in the form of a six year old and a four year old. They didn’t take much convincing when I asked them if they wanted to be let loose on my new controller with a fresh packet of paint pens!
GameSir State that the surface of the swappable faceplates is ‘paint-friendly’ and that certainly was our experience. The kids were able to draw feely and easily, with the paint showing up beautifully on both the black and the white surface. There was very little in the way of smudging, even when in the hands of a three year old boy, which is pretty impressive!
For a father, who loves his kids and loves his games, this is the ultimate controller. It is truly thrilling to hold in my hands an artistic creation of my kids, while enjoying a game once they have gone to bed. The interchangeable faces mean that I can appreciate the creativity of both kids, without needing to buy two controllers. This would be a fantastic and unique gift for any gamer dad!
For those who don’t have a house full of tiny artists, or for anyone seeking easy customisation without the effort of painting, GameSir have told me that they intend to create more than 100 faceplates that can be purchased. These will include officially licenced images.
GameSir Nexus Software
All of the functional customisations mentioned so far can be made without any need for software download. However, GameSir know that serious games may want to be able to tweak and change a whole lot more.
The GameSir Nexus software is available in the Microsoft Store on both PC and Xbox. It opens up a world of fine-tuning, multiple profiles and even making wholesale changes.
Buttons can be remapped, left and right stick sensitivity can be adjusted and fine-tuned (including setting 0 dead zone), D-pad diagonal lock can be toggled, trigger sensitivity can be fine-tuned and all four vibration motors can be adjusted or even disabled independently. This is a brilliant level of customisation and it should ensure a tailored gaming experience to suit the tastes of almost any gamer.
GameSir G7 Wired Customisable Controller – Final Thoughts
At the surface level, the GameSir G7 Wired Controller is a fantastic controller designed for Xbox and PC use. It is very well weighted, comfortable to hold for extended periods and feels great. The quality is immediately apparent in the smoothness of the joysticks, the linear, fine-tuned triggers and even the micro-switch-based X,Y,A,B buttons.
Dig a little deeper and you will find that the GameSir G7 Wired Controller is an incredibly well-thought-out controller that provides gamers with a level of customisation that it truly impressive. The on-the-fly options are easy to use and are extremely useful, while the optional GameSir Nexus software opens the door to next-level fine-tuning. Last, but not least, the interchangeable faceplates are an absolute joy! For dads like me, they provide a unique opportunity for bonding over a favourite hobby. For others, they provide opportunities for expression, individualisation, or just a fresh new look without breaking the bank on a whole new controller.