Kailh Core Green Switches and 8,000 Hz PAW 3395 Sensor: 8BitDo Launches the Xbox-Licensed Forest Wonder Retro 87 Keyboard and Retro R8 Mouse
Fresh off its latest wave of magnetic-sensor controllers, 8BitDo and European distributor Game Outlet Europe have officially launched the Forest Wonder hardware lineup under Microsoft's Designed for Xbox Cozy Collection. Available starting today across Europe, the UK, and the official eShop, the pixel-art woodland set pairs the Retro 87 Mechanical Keyboard ($119.99 / €119.99 / £99.99) with the Retro R8 Wireless Mouse ($59.99 / €59.99 / £54.99).
Behind the calm sage-green, moss, and autumn foliage colorway lies serious competitive hardware, alongside one critical compatibility caveat worth noting before buying. While the brand recently rolled out the 8BitDo Ultimate 3C+ wired Xbox controller with adjustable TMR sticks for console play, both Forest Wonder peripherals are engineered specifically for Windows 10/11 PCs and Android devices rather than direct console plug-and-play.
8BitDo Retro 87 Forest Wonder Keyboard: Kailh Core Green Switches, Hot-Swap PCB, and Dual Super Buttons
Priced at $119.99 / €119.99 / £99.99, the Retro 87 Mechanical Keyboard - Forest Wonder features an 87-key tenkeyless (TKL) layout in a top-mount chassis weighing 1,100 grams. Its durable dye-sublimation PBT keycaps use an MDA-like profile illuminated by an 8-mode RGB backlight tuned to mimic fireflies flickering through a forest at night.
Under the keybed, 8BitDo debuts its proprietary 8BitDo Core Green tactile mechanical switches, co-developed with Kailh and seated on a hot-swappable PCB with full N-key rollover. The top-left independent control panel retains physical rotary dials for connection switching and volume, while the package includes matching Dual Super Buttons (270g) for instant hardware macro mapping without opening any software.
A built-in 4,000mAh Li-ion battery delivers up to 280 hours of runtime over 2.4GHz wireless and 300 hours via Bluetooth LE 5.3, alongside wired USB-C support and customization through 8BitDo Ultimate Software V2. As confirmed on the official 8BitDo Forest Wonder specification page, the integrated Xbox button is built to summon the Windows Game Bar on Windows 10 (1903+) and Windows 11 rather than controlling an Xbox Series X|S console directly.
8BitDo Retro 87 Mechanical Keyboard - Forest Wonder
- 8BitDo Core Green tactile switches (co-developed with Kailh) & hot-swap PCB
- Dye-sub PBT keycaps + Dual Super Buttons macro pad included
- Tri-mode wireless (2.4GHz, Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C) & 4,000mAh battery (up to 300h)
8BitDo Retro R8 Forest Wonder Mouse: PixArt PAW 3395 Sensor, 8,000 Hz Polling, and Signal-Extending Dock
Retailing separately at $59.99 / €59.99 / £54.99, the Retro R8 Mouse - Forest Wonder Edition pairs its woodland aesthetic with flagship optical internals inside a symmetrical 77-gram ambidextrous shell. Users can toggle between left- and right-handed modes and assign actions across four programmable side buttons.
Tracking is handled by the proven PixArt PAW 3395 sensor with six adjustable sensitivity presets from 50 to 26,000 DPI, paired with crisp HUANO micro-switches rated for 100 million clicks. Through 8BitDo Ultimate Software, polling rates scale from 250Hz up to 4,000Hz over 2.4GHz wireless and up to 8,000Hz in wired USB-C mode (with Bluetooth LE 5.3 locked at 125Hz).
The bundled 192-gram Multifunctional Charging Dock stores the 2.4GHz adapter inside its magnetic base and acts as a desktop signal extender to prevent wireless dropouts. Its 450mAh battery lasts up to 100 hours on Bluetooth and between 26 and 105 hours on 2.4GHz depending on polling rate, while a third companion piece, the 8BitDo Ultimate 3 Controller for Xbox - Mossy Lagoon, is slated to join the lineup in early 2027 alongside the flagship 8BitDo Ultimate 3E modular Xbox controller.
8BitDo Retro R8 Mouse - Forest Wonder
- PixArt PAW 3395 optical sensor (26,000 DPI) & HUANO switches (100M clicks)
- Polling rate up to 8,000Hz wired and 4,000Hz over 2.4GHz wireless
- Multifunctional signal-extending charging dock & 77g ambidextrous shell
Full Technical Specifications: 8BitDo Retro 87 & Retro R8 Forest Wonder
| Specification | 8BitDo Retro 87 Keyboard (Forest Wonder) | 8BitDo Retro R8 Mouse (Forest Wonder) |
|---|---|---|
| Official MSRP | $119.99 / €119.99 / £99.99 | $59.99 / €59.99 / £54.99 |
| Switches / Sensor | 8BitDo Core Green Tactile (Kailh) + Hot-swap PCB | PixArt PAW 3395 (26,000 DPI) + HUANO (100M clicks) |
| Polling Rate | Full N-key rollover (USB-C, 2.4GHz, Bluetooth 5.3) | Up to 8,000Hz (Wired) / 4,000Hz (2.4GHz) / 125Hz (BT) |
| Included Accessory | Programmable Dual Super Buttons (software-free mapping) | Multifunctional Charging Dock with signal extension |
| Battery & Runtime | 4,000mAh (280h on 2.4GHz / 300h on Bluetooth) | 450mAh (26-105h on 2.4GHz / 100h on Bluetooth) |
| Dimensions & Weight | 376.6 × 169.6 × 46.8 mm / 1,100g | 115 × 58 × 39.4 mm / 77g (Dock: 192g) |
| Supported Platforms | Windows 10 (1903+) / 11 and Android 9.0+ | Windows 10 (1903+) / 11 and Android 9.0+ |
My Take on the Spec Sheet
Getting a PixArt PAW 3395 wireless mouse capable of 4,000Hz polling over 2.4GHz (and 8,000Hz wired) with a signal-extending magnetic charging dock included in the box for $59.99 is outstanding value compared to mainstream brands that still charge extra for 4K dongles. Just keep one practical detail in mind before ordering: despite the official Xbox badge and dedicated Game Bar key, 8BitDo built this pair for Windows PC desks and Android tablets rather than living-room Xbox consoles.
This initial breakdown is based on the official manufacturer specification sheet, and I am eager to measure the tactile force curve of those new Kailh Core Green switches alongside real-world 4,000Hz wireless latency stability. We have not yet had a physical unit on our desk: if the 8BitDo or Game Outlet Europe teams would like to send over a review sample so we can put the Forest Wonder set through our full real-world testing protocol, our lab doors are wide open.
PC hardware enthusiast and competitive gamer, Arthur 'Heimdall' splits his time between France and the UK working in enterprise B2B software solutions. A business school graduate passionate about component benchmarking, he has been building, modding, and tuning PCs since childhood, optimizing every thermal degree and millisecond of display latency. An avid gamer across Assassin's Creed and sandbox titles, he forged his alliance with Grimtag and Chaya during late-night World of Warcraft raids before joining Pro-Gamer.
