Cozy Holiday Gifts: 8BitDo, the peripheral manufacturer best known for its retro-inspired products, is now coming out with officially licensed Xbox devices. For its new pixel-inspired, outdoor-style input combo, the Chinese company is offering plenty of interesting specifications that should appeal to both amateur and "professional" gamers who appreciate extensive customization options. That is, if the price is right for your wallet.
8BitDo's latest offering in the "cozy" gaming peripheral market is now available for shipping in Europe and elsewhere around the world. The Chinese manufacturer recently launched its new "Forest Wonder" duo of input devices, which includes both an 87-key compact keyboard and a wireless mouse featuring the same stylish, pixel-inspired design.
According to Game Outlet Europe, the independent distributor managing the devices' European launch, the Forest Wonder duo offers more than just a "retro" design, as previous 8BitDo products do. Rather than taking inspiration from a specific gaming era or classic console, the line features a miniature pixel-art woodland aesthetic that should evoke the lush settings of classic adventure games. Just think of the original The Legend of Zelda for the NES, with less swordplay and many more birds perched here and there across the controls.
In particular, the Forest Wonder Retro 87 is a mechanical keyboard offering eight different RGB lighting modes, dye-sublimation PBT keycaps, and full N-key rollover support. The keyboard can operate in wireless (2.4GHz dongle or Bluetooth LE 5.3) and wired USB modes, providing a robust typing experience thanks to proprietary Core Green Tactile mechanical switches developed in partnership with Kailh.
The Forest Wonder Retro 87 keyboard also includes an onboard "control panel" for managing the device's connections, along with two programmable "Super Buttons" that don't require external software. In any case, 8BitDo has its own software suite (8BitDo Ultimate Software) for further customizing the typing experience. 8BitDo's "leafy" keyboard is an officially licensed Xbox product, which means it includes a dedicated Xbox button pre-programmed to activate Microsoft's Game Bar feature on Windows machines.
While the Forest Wonder Retro 87 keyboard mostly looks like a traditional, albeit stylish, compact keyboard, the Forest Wonder Retro R8 Mouse follows a slightly more unconventional design. The rodent comes with its own Multifunctional Charging Dock, complete with pixelated birds and other decorative elements, which keeps the device's battery charged. Furthermore, the vertically angled dock can serve as a storage base for the included 2.4GHz dongle or even extend the mouse's signal range for a more reliable wireless connection.
Besides its peculiar dock design, the Forest Wonder Retro R8 Mouse features Huano micro switches rated for up to 100 million clicks, a PAW 3395 sensor with six sensitivity levels ranging from 50 to 26,000 DPI, and a maximum polling rate of 8,000Hz that can put additional demands on the CPU. There are also four customizable side buttons that can be configured through the 8BitDo Ultimate Software. Just like the keyboard, the Forest Wonder mouse can operate in either wireless or wired USB mode.
Both the Forest Wonder Retro 87 keyboard and the Forest Wonder Retro R8 Mouse are individually available for purchase on Amazon or through 8BitDo's own e-store, which ships worldwide. Suggested retail prices are $120 and $60, respectively, in line with those of other retro-inspired 8BitDo products released in the past. The Forest Wonder line is compatible with Windows, Android, and Xbox systems.