LG and Razer made an ultra-responsive Bluetooth gaming controller

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LG has teamed up with Razer and MediaTek to develop a new Bluetooth gaming controller that could significantly reduce input lag for cloud-based gaming. LG says it's the first controller to use Ultra-Low Latency (ULL) Bluetooth technology – a standard in development that aims to make wireless controllers just as responsive as their wired counterparts.

The BT ULL-capable controller was compared to an unspecified “standard controller” at LG's webOS Summit event on Friday. “The demonstration highlighted the superior responsiveness, reduced input lag and control precision of BT ULL technology in various cloud-based games, including FPS, fighting and racing titles,” LG said in its newsroom post.

There's no close-up of the new controller, but the design may still change before the official launch.
Image: LG

Input delay on Bluetooth controllers can vary depending on model and environmental factors, but a value under 10-20 milliseconds is preferred. Wired controllers typically have lower input latency, making them attractive to competitive gamers. Razer's new ULL Bluetooth gaming controller has reportedly been demoed with a “game-changing 1ms input lag.”

Google once tried to solve controller input latency issues with its Stadia service by allowing the controller to connect directly to Google's data centers over Wi-Fi. This allowed Google to avoid the additional Bluetooth latency. After Google shut down its Stadia service last year, the company released an update to enable Bluetooth on its Stadia controllers for use on PCs, Macs, phones and other devices.

Bluetooth ULL support will be integrated into select LG 120Hz OLED and Mini LED TVs that use MediaTek's MT7921 WiFi chipset and are scheduled to launch in 2025. LG also plans to introduce certification for third-party ULL-supported controllers to ensure “they work seamlessly with LG webOS smart TVs,” with Razer being the first company to qualify.

There's no price, release date, or even official name for the new Razer controller yet, so it may be some time before it's actually available for consumers to purchase. We may learn more details about LG's controller and ULL-supported TVs at the upcoming CES, which runs January 7-10.

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