GC Ultimate 1 (Kickstarter Edition)
The GC Ultimate 1 is the Kickstarter Edition GC Ultimate (earlier firmware called it GC Ultimate R4K). It has Bluetooth through an ESP32 wireless module, a battery, and ports for real consoles. It runs HOJA firmware and is configured with HHL Gamepad Config.
Wireless | Bluetooth (Switch, Steam, and Wii after the wireless module update) |
Wired | USB-C, plus GameCube, N64 and SNES/NES with a Retro-C cable |
Battery | 1200 mAh, rechargeable over USB-C |
Extras | Gyro, rumble, RGB lighting, dual-stage triggers |
FCC ID | 2BM3E-GCU-R4K |
Power
Turn on: hold Power.
Turn off: hold Power for 3 seconds, then let go.
Frozen? Hold Power for 15 seconds to force a restart.
Buttons
The buttons follow GameCube positions, with the letters printed on them: A is the big middle button. When this site says "hold A", use the button labeled A.
Triggers are dual-stage: the analog press, then a click at the bottom. When calibrating them on the Input page, press only down to the top of the membrane, not into the click.
Modes and pairing
Hold | Mode | Wireless |
|---|---|---|
A | Switch | Bluetooth. Pair: A + Start |
B | Steam | Bluetooth. Pair: B + Start |
X | XInput | Wired only |
Y | Slippi | Wired only |
D-pad Up | Wii | Bluetooth (with the HCI bridge). Pair: D-pad Up + Start, then SYNC on the Wii |
D-pad Right | GameCube | Wired only |
D-pad Down | N64 | Wired only |
D-pad Left | SNES / NES | Wired only |
On a Switch 2, hold Y (the Slippi combo) while you plug it in to start GameCube mode. It works as the Switch 2's own GameCube controller, with Home, Capture and rumble, and takes no pairing slot.
Full steps: Modes & Pairing.
Updating
The GC Ultimate 1 has two firmwares: the controller's, and the wireless module's. Update the controller first, then the module.
Controller firmware: connect to hoja.handheldlegend.com and press Update now when offered. Update mode by hand: hold ZL + Start (the left Z button) while plugging in. See Update Firmware. Controllers on firmware from before HOJA 2 are offered the right firmware when they connect.
Wireless module: from the Wireless page. Update mode by hand: hold ZR + Start (the right Z button) while plugging in (the lights pulse orange). See Update the Wireless Module. Afterwards, pair your Switch and other devices again once.