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Genki Manta Brings MantaOS Directly Onto the Controller
Genki has revealed the Genki Manta, its first game controller and a fairly ambitious attempt to rethink how players customise pro-level hardware.
At the centre of the controller is a 2.79-inch colour display running MantaOS, which lets players change profiles, remap buttons, adjust stick response, tune trigger behaviour, alter haptics and manage connections directly from the controller itself.
That means most of the usual configuration options do not require players to open a companion app on PC or mobile. Genki is instead treating the controller and its software as one integrated platform, with MantaOS designed to receive new apps and functionality after launch.
TMR Sticks and TriStage Triggers Target Competitive Players
The hardware underneath the screen is equally packed. The controller uses tension-adjustable TMR sticks with a target range of 30 to 80 gf, allowing players to change resistance without swapping physical stick modules. Dead zones, sensitivity curves, centre sensitivity and other stick settings can then be adjusted through its OS.
Its TriStage Hall effect triggers offer three modes: Digital for instant activation, Rapid for repeated inputs across shorter travel, and Analog for full-range control. Wired polling reaches up to 8000Hz, while the included 2.4GHz wireless receiver supports up to 1000Hz. Bluetooth LE 6 runs at up to 150Hz.
Six additional programmable controls are also included, with two extra shoulder buttons, two rear buttons and two removable paddles.
Also Supports Macros and Keyboard Controls
One of the more unusual additions to the Genki Manta is its Macro Action Timeline. A dedicated button can record controller inputs, which can then be edited and assigned to programmable controls. Players can also switch into an On-the-Fly KBM mode, turning the controller into a keyboard and mouse navigation device for browsing menus or controlling media without reaching for another peripheral.
Genki is also opening the platform through Genki Forge, a developer hub with hardware documentation, reference apps and tools for loading custom software onto the controller. The company says MantaOS apps will be supported through USB at launch, with 16MB of internal app storage included.
Launches Through Kickstarter
The Genki Manta launched on Kickstarter on August 20. The controller includes a 2.4GHz wireless dongle and extended USB-C cable, while its 2600mAh battery uses two user-replaceable 1300mAh cells. Target weight sits between 280g and 290g.
Manta marks Genki’s ninth Kickstarter campaign, following eight previous projects focused largely on gaming accessories. The company says more than 156,000 people have backed its projects since 2018, contributing over US$12 million in crowdfunding.
The pro-controller market is hardly short of adjustable sticks, additional buttons and fast polling rates, but putting an expandable operating system and display directly into the controller gives Manta a more unusual angle than simply competing on specifications alone.
