Killscreen released a limited-edition DualSense controller called the Funtastic Ice Blue/Clear that directly channels Nintendo’s 1999 N64 Funtastic palette, featuring an Ice Blue translucent front and a clear rear that exposes the circuit board and wiring. The controller retains native PS5 features—wireless connectivity, haptic feedback and adaptive triggers—while presenting a visible-internals aesthetic designed to evoke late-1990s candy-color electronics.
The base model started at $139 and offered upgrades including Omron hair triggers, mechanical face buttons and GuliKit TMR thumbsticks that replace potentiometers to reduce drift. Killscreen assembled and tested units in-house in Florida; the shell combines translucent blue, clear plastic and matte gray trim while using bright N64-inspired primary button colors.
For consumers this is a nostalgia-driven customization that pairs modern ergonomics with retro visual culture, giving players collectible hardware that also improves control options. As part of a broader trend, it shows how heritage design cues are being grafted onto current consoles to create distinct, limited-run peripherals.
Image Credit: Nintendo
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Translucent Aesthetic Revival
- Visible-internals, candy-color designs blend nostalgia and modern tech, creating appeal for collectors and premium-priced peripherals.
- Heritage-infused Modern Hardware
- Retro palettes and design cues grafted onto current consoles create differentiation opportunities through emotional resonance and perceived authenticity.
- Limited-run Premium Peripherals
- Scarcity-focused, upgradeable controller drops combine collectible appeal with enhanced specs, driving willingness to pay and aftermarket demand.
Sectors Adopting This
- Gaming Accessories
- Third-party peripheral makers can leverage modular upgrades and retro styling to capture higher-margin segments and extend product lifecycles.
- Consumer Electronics Manufacturing
- Localized assembly of limited editions and hybrid component sourcing enables small-batch, high-quality runs that command premium pricing.
- Retail and Collectibles Market
- Specialty retail channels and direct-to-consumer drops foster secondary markets and community-driven valuation for scarce, design-forward hardware.
