Tag Archives: CRKD

CRKD Just Built a $135 Guitar Controller Around a Real Gibson Les Paul

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Rhythm games went through a period where they were everywhere, then went quiet, and now they’re back in a way that feels more persistent than the last time. Fortnite Festival brought the genre back to a mainstream audience, Clone Hero and YARG kept a dedicated community alive through the lean years, and Rock Band 4 never really went away. The one thing that has lagged behind the revival is the hardware, with most players making do with aging instruments or basic alternatives that don’t feel particularly inspired.

The CRKD x Gibson Les Paul Olive Drab Pro Edition is a guitar controller that takes the instrument side of that equation seriously. Built on the silhouette of the actual Gibson Les Paul Olive Drab electric guitar and officially licensed by both Gibson and Xbox, it’s designed for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC, with a finish that stands apart from the more conventional options the brand has previously released.

Designer: CRKD x Gibson

The two hardware decisions that define the playing experience are the EZ Glide mechanical fret buttons and the Hall Effect strum bar. The fret buttons use mechanical switches rather than the rubber membranes found in standard guitar controllers, giving each press a tactile click that registers precisely and consistently. The strum bar relies on Hall Effect technology rather than physical contacts, which means it doesn’t degrade with repeated use, and its sensitivity and actuation points can be dialed in through the CRKD app.

That companion app also handles everything the previous model’s physical 9-mode dial used to cover. CRKD removed that dial from the Olive Drab Pro Edition after extended playtesting found it added friction to getting started. Game presets, button remapping, custom profiles, and firmware updates now all live in the app. For players who want the depth, it’s all still there, and for those who just want to plug in and play, nothing stands in the way.

Connectivity covers three modes: wired via USB-C, low-latency 2.4 GHz wireless through the included USB dongle, and Bluetooth. The package also comes with a shoulder strap and a removable rechargeable battery. Rapid polling technology keeps response times tight across all connection methods, which matters considerably once you’re trying to hit precise timing windows in harder difficulty tiers.

The Olive Drab colorway is worth noting as more than just an aesthetic decision. CRKD has positioned this release as the first in an evolving line of Pro Edition controllers, setting up the platform for Stage Tour, its upcoming rhythm game, which the hardware will also support. It’s a calculated move to give players both a current controller that works across today’s library and a stake in whatever the next chapter of rhythm gaming looks like.

Production is limited to a single batch, priced at $134.99 USD, €149.99, or £129.99 depending on region. Compatible games include Fortnite Festival, Rock Band 4, Clone Hero, YARG, and the upcoming Stage Tour. CRKD has confirmed this is strictly a one-run release, shipping now while stock holds. For anyone who’s been waiting for a guitar controller worth taking seriously, this is about as deliberate a design statement as the category has produced.

The post CRKD Just Built a $135 Guitar Controller Around a Real Gibson Les Paul first appeared on Yanko Design.

CRKD’s $30 ATOM+ Is a Pocket Gamepad That Finally Solved Stick Drift

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Compact gaming controllers have always occupied an awkward spot in the market. Most work well enough for retro titles, where a D-pad and a few buttons are all you need, but they fall short the moment you want to play anything more demanding. Dual thumbsticks are either absent or prone to drifting, and that’s before you factor in the limited platform support most of them offer.

CRKD’s ATOM+ arrives as a direct response to those shortcomings. It’s the follow-up to the brand’s original ATOM keychain controller, but with noticeably bigger ambitions. Rather than catering only to retro gaming, it’s built around a complete control layout and a feature you’d typically find on premium full-sized gamepads: zero-drift TMR thumbsticks. The result is a palm-sized controller that doesn’t ask you to trade performance for portability.

Designer: CRKD

The TMR, or Tunnel Magnetoresistance, thumbsticks are arguably the ATOM+’s most significant selling point. Unlike traditional analog sticks that use physical contact points that wear down with use, TMR technology relies on magnetic sensors to read input, which means accuracy doesn’t degrade over time. Stick drift has been a persistent nuisance in gaming, and it’s particularly glaring in small controllers, where replacement or repair isn’t exactly straightforward.

Beyond those thumbsticks, the ATOM+ carries a full control layout with triggers and shoulder buttons, making it capable of handling modern titles without restrictions. At 90mm x 48mm, it fits in a jacket pocket, which means it’s genuinely useful for commuting, travel, or just gaming away from your usual setup. It’s the kind of controller you can toss in a bag and forget about until you need it.

Platform compatibility is another area where the ATOM+ covers its bases. It connects over Bluetooth to the Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch, PC and PC handhelds, iOS and Android devices, and even select smart TVs. The Switch-style button layout keeps things familiar regardless of what you’re playing on, and for a controller this small, the breadth of supported platforms earns its keep rather than just reading as a marketing claim.

There’s also motion control support, a turbo mode, and vibration feedback baked in. Motion controls, in particular, add an extra dimension for compatible Switch titles where gyro aiming can genuinely make a difference. These aren’t features you’d expect to find on a controller this size, and they make the ATOM+ feel less like a novelty and more like a legitimate primary controller for portable gaming sessions.

CRKD also pairs the ATOM+ with its companion app, which lets you tune inputs, update firmware, and customize settings via the CTRL feature. The controller is RFID-enabled too, tapping into CRKD’s True Collection System, so you can tap your phone to it and pull up details like its product number and rarity rank. It’s a collectible angle that’s a bit unusual for a gamepad, but a fun one nonetheless. For gamers who’ve been burned by drift-prone compact controllers, or just want something pocketable that handles any game thrown at it, the ATOM+ is hard to ignore.

The post CRKD’s $30 ATOM+ Is a Pocket Gamepad That Finally Solved Stick Drift first appeared on Yanko Design.