ASUS ROG Raikiri II Pro launches with 8,000-Hz polling and TMR sticks

ASUS is giving PC gamers outside China a chance to get their hands on the high-end ROG Raikiri 2 Pro, bringing its enthusiast-focused controller to European markets after initially limiting the launch to China. Imported units have also begun making their way to US buyers, suggesting a broader international rollout could be on the horizon.

The ROG Raikiri 2 Pro is now listed at €220 (around $255 / £163 ) across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Unlike the regular ROG Raikiri 2, which is built around Xbox compatibility, the Pro version is designed specifically with PC players in mind. One of its headline features is an 8,000Hz polling rate, available through both wired and 2.4GHz wireless connections. That's an unusually high figure for a wireless gamepad and puts the Raikiri 2 Pro in fairly exclusive territory.

ASUS has also revamped the controller's display. The monochrome OLED screen found on the previous ROG Raikiri Pro has been replaced by a full-color panel, giving the new model a more modern appearance while offering additional on-controller information.

The rest of the input hardware has received some serious upgrades as well. Five illuminated buttons sit beneath the D-pad, giving PC gamers extra inputs for assigning commands. Meanwhile, the thumbsticks now use TMR technology and feature a hot-swappable design. That means users can replace the joystick modules rather than having to buy an entirely new controller when the sticks eventually need an upgrade.

Battery life can reach up to 79 hours over 2.4GHz wireless when operating at a 1,000Hz polling rate. However, that figure comes with an important caveat: ASUS isn't quoting battery life at the controller's maximum 8,000Hz setting. Running at 8K polling continuously will likely drain the battery considerably faster.

The ROG Raikiri 2 Pro comes in black and white and commands a hefty €220 price tag. And while that's indeed well above most mainstream PC controllers, ASUS isn't exactly targeting the average gamepad buyer. With 8K wireless polling, TMR sticks, a color display, hot-swappable modules, and additional programmable controls, the Raikiri 2 Pro is aimed squarely at enthusiasts.

Now that the controller has officially reached Europe and imported examples are already turning up in the US, a wider launch could be just around the corner. As always, for the latest news on gaming controllers, PC peripherals, hardware launches, and developments across the gaming industry, be sure to follow our dedicated hardware coverage.