« Review - Phreak Mods TE2 Crossbone for Mad Catz Arcade FightStick Tournament Edition 2 »

The TE2 Crossbone being installed on top of the main TE2 PCB. Some parts including "Switch" input and 20-pin ports are already soldered.Multiplatform compatibility (often incorrectly labeled dual modding) in arcade sticks has been a recent trend for fighting gamers. Due to regulations, there are no officially sanctioned sticks for both Sony and Microsoft consoles. With tournaments having a game on a particular platform, it leaves the players who owned the other consoles unprepared. A stick that can work on many systems is convenient and affordable.

With the new console generation, players are back at square one with the issue. Most might not be able to afford two sticks including Mad Catz's Arcade FightStick Tournament Edition 2 as they are priced at a premium. Phreak Mods, however, has provided a great solution to this problem with the TE2 Crossbone, a custom board made for TE2 sticks for multiplatform use. It came out at a great time as the latest generation of gaming begins and fighting gamers are planning what they want to play. Now they have an option to get themselves set for the next wave of fighting games on any platform.

Compared to the original Crossbone, the TE2 variant acts somewhat differently. While the former is mainly a padhack for Xbox One controllers to be used in arcade sticks, the latter acts more as a bridge for TE2 sticks. As discovered by various modders in the fighting game scene, the TE2's main PCB doesn't use common ground to properly power the stick. This circuitry makes modding complicated as most third-party PCBs utilize common ground. This is where the TE2 Crossbone comes in, as it acts as a electrical conversion which can be used to aid in modding.

Before installing, take note that removing the door housing the main TE2 PCB voids the warranty and any damage done to the board can be hard to recover. For the scared or inexperienced, it's best recommended to go to a local modder to arrange the process.

But for those willing to take the challenge, the installation revolves around taking out the harnesses connected to the TE2 PCB, inserting the TE2 Crossbone and inserting the cables in the new board. The hard part is the soldering process. Those attempting the process will need to desolder two specific wires from the TE2 PCB's USB out and then solder them to the corresponding areas of the TE2 Crossbone. Players will also need to solder a "Switch" input (example: Home button) from the TE2 Crossbone to its switch port on the upper-right end. For users experienced with soldering irons, the issues involved are the limited space when working with the USB out wires and any harnesses getting in the way.

The TE2 Crossbone is also designed to work with the Akishop Customs PS360+ in tandem for multiplatform compatibility. This is where the Switch comes in. You will need to solder in the 20-pin holes (with wire or a separate harness) from both the TE2 Crossbone and the PS360+. Two USB out holes from the PS360+ and two SYS 2 holes from the TE2 Crossbone must be wired as well. To determine if it works, make sure to hold the button used for the Switch input on either the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 and see if any input comes out. The Switch input can also be inverted so it can be auto detected on older consoles while the Xbox One needs the Switch button.

Lemony Vengeance's TE2 Crossbone Installation Video

The overall process took around two hours to install an Xbox One TE2 with the boards but can differ to others depending on their soldering skills. Nothing else was modified in the process. The stick had no issues when plugged in to either the XB1 or the systems supported by the PS360+. As long as the necessary components have been properly installed, gamers shouldn't be encountering any more issues such as missing inputs or something crushing any of the PCBs. Creative modders shouldn't have any issue with adding more PCBs to the mix. Normally when plugged in with the PS360+ activated, sticks with the TE2 LED board will not turn on. Crossbone has a feature where users can solder the "LED On" area of the TE2 Crossbone to have it work all the time.

Successful installation!

While it should work on PlayStation 3/PlayStation 4 versions of the TE2, Xbox One owners will get an additional benefit. Make sure to update the PS360+ to the latest firmware for PlayStation 4 compatibility. The update features normal compatibility and the controller driver for the PS4 version of Skullgirls Encore. The former's minor downside is that it disconnects after eight minutes due to an encryption check on the PS4. It can be reset with a button combination or replugged back in. Unless players are playing three or more round matches in most fighting games, they don't have to worry too much about sudden disconnecting mid-match. In case they want to get a future-proof stick, this option is currently the best.

The only problem I can really see is that the TE2 Crossbone's visual profile is bigger than the TE2 PCB which can be sort of problematic to new modders. It's forgivable though since the culprit is more the placement of the TE2's PCB than anything else.

For a custom board coming this early, giving TE2 owners a window of modding opportunities, the TE2 Crossbone is a godsend. Xbox One users will get the additional benefit of having their stick work on past and current generations of consoles. There are some hindering points from the installation and compatibility aspects, but it's far too miniscule given how well the TE2 Crossbone works when it's all said and done.

Phreak Mods' TE2 Crossbone is available now on his webstore and Focus Attack. Installation instructions can be found here as well as the video tutorial by Lemony Vengeance above.