MSI FORCE GC300 Wireless Controller Review

Specification

There are three FORCE series controllers released by MSI: the FORCE GC300 WIRELESS, FORCE PRO WIRELESS, and the FORCE PRO WIRELESS – Special Edition. This is the base model of the series, and as such, it will have some reduced features compared to the other models. On announcement of this controller, MSI had an MSRP of $55 for this controller, and as of September 2025, this pricing sits at around $49.99, which seems to be a fairly reasonable price for the features it’s offering- we’ll delve into these in the next section.

The FORCE GC300 Wireless weighs 230g but feels rather heavy in your hands, likely due to the controller being smaller in width than typical controllers; the width of a PlayStation 5 controller is 160mm, and the width of an Xbox Series controller is 152mm in comparison. The controller features a 600 mAh battery, providing up to 20 hours of wireless battery life when vibration is not in use. It can also be charged with the provided 2 metre cable, ensuring uninterrupted gameplay at all times. There’s a connectivity range of 10 metres, should you choose to use the wireless dongle or Bluetooth modes. If you would like to use the Bluetooth, you will need to install MSI’s Bluetooth driver for the controller. There is a headphone jack that can be used with a 3.5mm wired headset with a mute button to cease your verbal input when needed, but only in specific modes, which are the 2.4 GHz Wireless & Wired Connection modes.

This controller is compatible only with Android devices and Windows 10 or later. Unfortunately, it does not work with consoles or iOS devices, which is a bit surprising given its Xbox-style button layout. Since most Steam games display Xbox button icons by default, using a PlayStation or Switch controller can feel unintuitive- the on-screen prompts won’t match the physical buttons. With the FORCE GC300, however, the familiar Xbox layout ensures the controls align perfectly with what you see on-screen, making gameplay more seamless.

MSI FORCE GC300 Wireless Design

If you don’t own a PlayStation Dual Sense controller or an Xbox Series controller, this is an alternative controller that you can use on your PC or Android device. Both official Xbox and PlayStation controllers are expensive, yet lack adaptability, leading consumers to seek more tailored alternatives. The MSI FORCE GC300 WIRELESS has been designed for gamers who want accuracy and comfort during their gaming sessions.

It features 2-Level magnetic Hall effect triggers with precise, customisable trigger depths, ranging from light taps to full pulls, allowing for various game genres, such as FPS games, where quicker responses are crucial, or other games where trigger sensitivity is key to winning. The FORCE GC300 can store up to 3 onboard profiles that can store different values for settings such as the input and use of the ‘M1’ and ‘M2’ mappings, vibration intensities, trigger depth range and macro executions. You can personalise and save all of these settings using the MSI Center application.

This ergonomically designed controller features thick grips with an anti-slip texture, rounded and smooth edges, ensuring your hands don’t grow tired from strain. Furthermore, there are two customisable and programmable ergonomically positioned rear buttons that have button remapping capabilities for optimal efficiency. These are the previously referenced ‘M1’ and ‘M2’ buttons. The outside casing is made from a textured, almost matte plastic, giving it a sleek aesthetic. This controller also features two toggles, a left and a right one, each equipped with textured rubber grips and smoothed finger divots for comfortable use.

There are two vibrating motors on either side of the controller’s grips, providing real-time sensory output and immersive responses to in-game events. You’ll also feel the rumble of your car’s engine from gun recoil, thanks to the haptic feedback they deliver.

The ports are located at the top and bottom ends of the controller. It features the two embedded ports of USB Type-C and the 3.5″ headset jack. These are unobtrusive and don’t obstruct your gameplay as they are placed where your hands wouldn’t typically rest.

As mentioned, there is software support for this controller – a somewhat rarity from MSI on their budget SKUs. The support is integrated within the MSI Center app, which is the usual application for controlling MSI components and peripherals. It’s great that you won’t have to download any extra software to use this device, unless you prefer not to use the provided wireless dongle and opt for Bluetooth mode instead.

Setup Process

Bluetooth Connection:

Suppose you want to use the controller via Bluetooth. In that case, you’ll need that driver to connect it to your PC, and then for either PC or Android, switch on your Bluetooth mode on your device, toggle the Wireless Mode Switch to the Bluetooth symbol (right side) on the controller, and press and hold the Dragon button. Then, locate the Bluetooth icon on your PC taskbar, and click ‘Add a device’ to select MSI FORCE GC300 WIRELESS from the list of devices. The Power LED will turn from flashing blue to solid blue, and then to solid green if the battery is fully charged.

2.4 GHz Wireless Connection:

This setup process for this controller was straightforward: toggle the Wireless Mode Switch to the WiFi symbol (left side) on the controller and plug the wireless USB Dongle into a USB port. The Power LED will turn from flashing white to solid white, and then to solid green if the battery is fully charged.

Wired Connection:

To connect the controller with a wire and play while charging, connect it to your PC using the provided 2-metre USB-C to A Cable.

Gaming Performance & Ergonomics

For gaming, I tried all three modes when playing Elden Ring: Nightreign. I found all three modes plausible for use, but I heavily favoured the wired and wireless connectivity modes over Bluetooth due to the latter’s minor latency issues. This is typically always the case across Bluetooth connectivity options, so I’m not particularly concerned about its performance in this sector. The only time this significantly inhibited my gaming performance was when I needed to use perfectly timed moves like dodging, a skill that Soulsborne games are notorious for needing to be flawlessly executed. For games that require responsive input and feedback, I wouldn’t recommend the Bluetooth option; use the USB dongle or the wire if you can.

Features We Like

MSI Center Application

I have been reviewing a handful of MSI peripherals lately and have noticed that MSI generally lacks software support for their budget peripherals. Finally, I am happy to announce that MSI have released a meaningful update to their peripheral ecosystem with robust and practical options to allow for customisations for their devices.

Reprogrammable Rear Buttons

To actually go about customising the functions of these buttons, you need to install the MSI Center App. This feature ensures rapid responses and seamless execution of complex commands, giving gamers the critical edge to dominate any gameplay scenario. I programmed them to have macros that would make me use my special abilities in Elden Ring: Nightreign, so I didn’t have to stress out with button combos mid-fight. I loved having this feature, and it made the game more enjoyable. 

Battery Life 

With a 600 mAh (Lithium Ion) battery, the Force GC300 can play games for up to 20 hours without charging, compared to the PlayStation’s Dual Sense controller, which has a battery life of up to 12 hours, making this a longer-lasting controller. This, paired with the fact that you can turn it off using a button combination, ensures that your battery charge will be conserved and that you shouldn’t have to worry about returning to a dead controller.

Multiplatform and Connectivity options

This controller is compatible with Windows 10 and above, as well as Android platforms, which is fair for its price point. If you want to use this controller and its features with an Xbox console, you would need to pay for the upgraded version, the MSI FORCE PRO Wireless. Even then, you can only use it in wired mode, but you’ll get a 3-metre-long cable to compensate.

Power LED

The Force GC300 features an LED indicator light that displays the controller’s status, including power level and pairing success. The battery level will blink green, yellow, or red to indicate the controller’s charge. The controller uses this same LED to indicate connection status too, using blue or white lighting to depict wireless or Bluetooth connection.

Features We Don’t Like

Builds up dirt quickly

I’m a clean person who washes their hands frequently, and after a couple of hours testing the controller, I can see noticeable buildup. This is likely due to the textured approach that MSI have taken for the grip and toggles, meaning that the oils on your hands will get caught around these textured parts. If you prefer non-greasy or sticky gameplay, you’ll likely find yourself cleaning this controller frequently. I wouldn’t recommend gaming, eating, and using this one, as the texture might make cleaning more challenging.

Ghosting

When using the controller, we noted that the ‘A’ was facing some ghosting. My character was jumping in-game, but I wasn’t the one making it jump. We are holding out hope that this is just a little defect with the controller, as opposed to an issue with all of the controllers.