If you’ve ever wondered “What buttons does my fightstick come with out of the box?”, you’re not alone. Knowing the stock parts in popular arcade sticks is useful for maintenance, upgrades, or just to understand the quality of your controller. Below we present a reference index of major fightstick models (by various brands) and the buttons they come equipped with from the factory. We’ll also note quick upgrade recommendations and any quirks like button size or wiring.
Mad Catz FightSticks
Mad Catz Tournament Edition (TE, TE-S, TE2, TE2+): These iconic sticks (SFIV-era and beyond) almost all came with Sanwa Denshi parts stock. Specifically, they use Sanwa OBSF-30 30mm action buttons and Sanwa OBSF-24 24mm for Start/Select/Guide (placement varies by model). The joystick is a Sanwa JLF. In other words, tournament-grade components off the shelf. A few limited editions like the TE “Sakura” or Comic-Con versions didn’t change the parts, only artwork.
Upgrade Notes: No need – it’s already top-tier. Some enthusiasts later swapped in silent Sanwa buttons or different colors, but performance-wise you’re set with stock.
Mad Catz Standard Edition (SE) / WWE Brawlstick / TvC stick: These lower-cost sticks used Mad Catz’s own imitation parts to save cost. The stock buttons in the SE/Brawlstick are Mad Catz brand 30mm buttons – they look similar to Sanwa OBSF-30 but are notably lower quality (squeakier, stiffer, and can stick). They often have the Mad Catz logo on the underside of the plunger in later versions. The joystick was a Mad Catz clone of a Sanwa JLF.
Upgrade Notes: These sticks benefit greatly from swapping in real Sanwa or Seimitsu buttons. It’s a drop-in replacement, as the holes and wiring are standard size. In fact, Mad Catz advertised how easy it was to upgrade them. Many players would buy an SE/Brawlstick cheap and then spend ~$20 on Sanwa buttons to turn it into effectively a TE.
Interesting tidbit: There was an incident with a Mad Catz MLG edition TE stick where a batch accidentally shipped with some non-Sanwa buttons (white plunger buttons that were actually the cheaper Mad Catz stock). Users opened them and found no Sanwa logo on some microswitches, confirming they were the same as SE buttons. This was a QA mistake and not the norm – normally TE sticks had all Sanwa. Mad Catz corrected such issues when brought up.
Mad Catz Street Fighter V Alpha (small portable stick): This tiny budget stick had 30mm buttons but they were not Sanwa. They were proprietary budget parts (non-quick disconnect, soldered to a board). It’s not really aimed at modders, and most serious players skipped it or only used it for casual play.
Hori Arcade Sticks
Hori Real Arcade Pro (RAP) lineage: Historically, older Hori RAP sticks (PS2 era, early PS3) used Hori’s own buttons which were decent but not on par with Sanwa/Seimitsu. Starting around 2014, with the RAP v4/v Hayabusa, Hori introduced their new in-house parts: Hori Kuro buttons and later Hori Hayabusa buttons.
- RAP V3/VX (Hayabusa model): This was one of the first with Kuro 30mm buttons (and Hayabusa stick lever). Kuro buttons have a slightly stiffer feel; some players found their edges a bit sharp and feedback more tactile compared to Sanwa.
- RAP 4 Kai (PS4 generation): Came with Hayabusa matte buttons (30mm) which were an improvement over Kuro – Hori’s “2nd attempt” that made them more matte and less sharp-edged. The RAP4 Kai stock buttons are 30mm Hayabusa; Start is usually a smaller 24mm Hori button on the side.
- RAP N (Noir layout): Also uses Hayabusa buttons and stick.
- RAP Premium VLX: The high-end large VLX models (e.g., RAP VLX for PS4) typically still had Hori Hayabusa parts in newer releases. Older VLX (like the Xbox 360 VLX) actually had Sanwa parts if it was labeled “VLX Premium” (some early VLX models were special and came Sanwa out of box as a selling point).
- Smaller Hori models (Fighting Stick Mini, etc.): These use Hori’s own generic buttons, often soldered to PCB. Not easily swappable and not the Hayabusa line – they’re more toy-grade.
Hori Fighting Edge (2012 model and 2017 model): The original Fighting Edge (Xbox 360/PS3) introduced Kuro buttons. The 2017 re-release for PS4 carried Hayabusa buttons (since by then Hori had switched over). Both versions had the Hayabusa stick lever. So:
- Fighting Edge 2013: Kuro 30mm buttons.
- Fighting Edge 2017: Hayabusa 30mm buttons (matte finish, short throw).
Upgrade Notes for Hori: Hori’s stock buttons (Kuro/Hayabusa) are generally quite good. Many tournament players used them without issue. Personal preference might lead you to swap to Sanwa OBSF-30, which will fit perfectly if you choose. In fact, Hori buttons use the same 2.8mm wire connectors so it’s an easy swap. Some users dislike Kuro buttons for being too rigid and replaced them with Sanwa or Seimitsu – entirely subjective. But out-of-box, modern RAPs are competition-worthy. Older RAPs (with Hori’s old unnamed buttons) definitely were often swapped out by serious players.
Qanba Arcade Sticks
Qanba Obsidian (PS4): Comes stock with Sanwa OBSF-30 buttons (8 of them) and Sanwa JLF stick. Qanba made the decision to use genuine Sanwa parts in their high-end Obsidian, which released around 2017. This is confirmed by Qanba’s marketing: “equipped with Sanwa Denshi joystick and pushbuttons”. So the Obsidian’s eight main buttons and the two smaller options are all Sanwa (24mm for Options/Share likely Sanwa OBSF-24).
Upgrade Notes: None needed – it’s already using industry standards. Perhaps only cosmetic swaps or silent buttons if desired.
Qanba Dragon: This premium, heavier stick also uses Sanwa OBSF-30 buttons and JLF by default (the Dragon is essentially Qanba’s answer to the Mad Catz TE2 in terms of quality, and they loaded it with Sanwa parts).
Qanba Crystal: A mid-range PS3/PS4 stick with LED illuminated buttons. Stock buttons on the Crystal are Qanba’s own LED buttons (30mm, clear plunger) – not Sanwa. They light up with the controller. These Qanba buttons are decent, but some players swap them for Sanwa clears (OBSC-30) for a different feel. If you do, note you’d lose the LED feature unless you mod that in separately.
Qanba Q4 RAF (Xbox 360/PS3 era): This was popular around 2011–2013. It actually shipped with Sanwa OBSF-30 buttons stock (Qanba positioned it as a rival to Mad Catz TE, so they went full Sanwa). It had 8 Sanwa 30mm and 2 Sanwa 24mm. Same for Eightarc Fusion (Eightarc was Qanba under another name in the West).
Qanba Drone: Entry-level PS4 stick. Stock buttons are Qanba-brand 30mm snap-ins (not Sanwa). They are okay for casual use but feel a bit cheaper (less smooth). Upgrade Notes: Very commonly modded with Sanwa OBSF-30 buttons, which fit nicely. Qanba Drone’s selling point is that you can easily upgrade it to full Sanwa since the holes and wiring are compatible. The Drone’s stick lever is also Qanba’s clone; many swap in a Sanwa JLF.
Qanba Obsidian 2 (PS5 era): Continues the trend: stock Sanwa OBSF-30 buttons, Sanwa JLF, basically the same idea as Obsidian but updated for PS5. So yes, Qanba sticks that are mid/high end are mostly Sanwa equipped by default now.
Razer Arcade Sticks
Razer Atrox (Xbox 360/Xbox One): Stock parts are Sanwa OBSF-30 buttons (8 of them) and Sanwa JLF stick. Razer’s product descriptions touted genuine Sanwa parts as a selling point (e.g., Atrox for Xbox One shipped with all black Sanwa buttons).
Razer Panthera (PS4 original model): Also came with Sanwa OBSF-30 buttons (usually in thematic colors for special editions, e.g., the Dragon Ball FighterZ Panthera had orange Sanwas). Stick is Sanwa JLF. Essentially, the Panthera was Razer’s PS4 counterpart to the Atrox and they used the same trusted Sanwa components.
Razer Panthera EVO: This is a noteworthy exception. The Panthera Evo (a later revision) introduced Razer’s own custom buttons instead of Sanwa. Razer developed “Razer Mechanical Buttons” for this model – they have a different feel (said to mimic the click of a mechanical keyboard switch) and are more soldered into a PCB. According to Razer and community feedback, the Panthera Evo’s 8 main buttons are not Sanwa but Razer’s in-house design. The stick lever remained a Sanwa JLF.
Upgrade Notes: You can mod a Panthera Evo with Sanwa buttons, but it’s a bit more work because of how the Razer buttons mount (some have reported the need for slight modifications). The original Panthera (non-Evo) is easier to mod (already Sanwa, so no need).
Razer Panthera (Street Fighter V Edition): Same hardware as standard Panthera (all Sanwa), just SFV artwork.
Razer Dragonball FighterZ Panthera: Had the bright orange Sanwa buttons, otherwise same (Sanwa) hardware stock.
Razer Kitsune (New PS5 leverless): This is new, leverless design. It uses low-profile linear mechanical switches for buttons (similar to keyboard low profile keys). Not Sanwa, since it’s a different kind of hardware entirely.
Upgrade Notes for Razer: If you have an Atrox or OG Panthera, you already have the best (Sanwa). For the Panthera Evo, many users indeed ended up swapping the buttons to Sanwa OBSF-30 because they preferred the feel – it is possible and even advertised as “fully mod-capable” on some listings, just slightly different process than normal quick disconnects.
Victrix Pro FS
Victrix Pro FS (Fight Stick): This premium stick (by Victrix/PDP) comes fully loaded with Sanwa Denshi parts. It features 8 x Sanwa OBSF-30 buttons for the main actions, and additional Sanwa OBSF-24 for auxiliary functions. The stick lever is a Sanwa JLF with a custom Victrix shaft (detachable Link 2) but the base is Sanwa. Essentially Victrix decided not to reinvent the wheel – they used the proven arcade-standard parts. Victrix even mentions in marketing that it has “authentic Sanwa Denshi buttons” for reliability.
There’s also the Victrix Pro FS-12 (their all-button controller). That one uses 11 x 24mm Sanwa buttons and 1 x 30mm Sanwa (for the up button) by default. Victrix didn’t skimp on parts.
Upgrade Notes: None needed – Victrix is already top-of-the-line. About the only “upgrade” folks do is maybe swapping to silent Sanwa buttons or different colors, purely for personal preference. The case opens easily for mods, but the stock parts are as good as it gets.
Nacon Daija
Nacon Daija (PS4, now PS5): The Daija is a PS4/PS5 licensed stick co-designed with pro player Kayane. It comes stock with Sanwa JLF joystick and Sanwa OBSF-30 buttons. Nacon explicitly advertises the use of high-end Sanwa parts for this stick, to appeal to competitive players. It has 8 Sanwa 30mm on the face (white or black depending on version) and the smaller buttons (Options, Share, etc.) are Sanwa 24mm snap-ins. Essentially, it’s very much like a Razer Panthera or Qanba Obsidian in using full Sanwa complement.
Upgrade Notes: None needed, as it’s tournament grade out of the box. Some users have reported minor issues with the stock Sanwa buttons on early batches (potentially wiring or firmware issues causing inputs not to register consistently), but that’s not due to the buttons themselves – it was an electronics issue that a firmware patch addressed. So no hardware swap necessary unless you want different colors or silencers.
Mayflash and Other Budget Sticks
Mayflash F500 (standard version): Stock parts are generic copies. The 30mm buttons are unbranded (feel okay but not as responsive as Sanwa) and the stick is a clone (often a copy of Zippy or a lesser JLF knockoff). They are all connected via quick disconnects, which is great because the F500 is meant to be easily upgradable.
Upgrade Notes: The Mayflash F500 Elite edition actually comes with Sanwa parts pre-installed – all Sanwa OBSF buttons and JLF stick. If you have the standard F500, it’s a common project to drop in Sanwa buttons and even a Sanwa JLF. The case is roomy enough. Same goes for the smaller Mayflash F300 (fits Sanwa after a bit of modding, though the F300 requires some dremeling for the JLF). But yeah, stock Mayflash = clone parts, Elite = real Sanwa.
Mayflash F500 Elite: As mentioned, all Sanwa stock (8 OBSF-30, 1 JLF). Mayflash basically did the mod for you on this premium version.
Qanba Carbon and other low-end sticks: Many of these are similar – stock buttons are clones, often soldered. For example, Qanba Carbon (PS3 era) had soldered generic buttons, not easily swappable. Qanba Drone we covered (wires and easily swappable clones).
Hori Fighting Stick Mini: Fixed soldered cheap buttons, smaller than 30mm (that stick is tiny). Not really user-serviceable for swaps.
8BitDo Arcade Stick (Switch/PC): Stock parts are generic 30mm buttons and a clone lever. It’s designed to accept Sanwa parts though – the buttons can be swapped to Sanwa 30mm snap-ins (it’s a tight fit but doable). So while stock is not Sanwa, it’s a relatively straightforward upgrade path.
Summary Table
Below is a quick reference table summarizing stock button brands in popular sticks:
| Arcade Stick | Stock Buttons | Button Brand/Model |
|---|---|---|
| Mad Catz TE/TE2 series | Sanwa (30mm & 24mm) | OBSF-30 main, OBSF-24 aux |
| Mad Catz SE/Brawlstick | Mad Catz clone (30mm) | MCZ stock buttons (upgrade recommended) |
| Hori RAP (2014+ versions) | Hori (Kuro/Hayabusa 30mm) | Kuro (older) or Hayabusa Matte (newer) |
| Hori RAP (pre-2010 older) | Hori proprietary | (Unspecific older Hori buttons) |
| Hori Fighting Edge (2017) | Hori Hayabusa 30mm | Hayabusa buttons, matte finish |
| Hori Fighting Edge (2012) | Hori Kuro 30mm | Kuro buttons |
| Qanba Obsidian/Dragon | Sanwa (30mm & 24mm) | OBSF-30, OBSF-24 (all Sanwa) |
| Qanba Drone/Carbon (budget) | Qanba clone 30mm | Qanba in-house buttons (upgrade to Sanwa) |
| Qanba Q4 RAF / Eightarc Fusion | Sanwa (30mm & 24mm) | OBSF-30, OBSF-24 (Sanwa stock) |
| Razer Atrox/Panthera (orig) | Sanwa (30mm & 24mm) | OBSF-30 main, OBSF-24 aux |
| Razer Panthera Evo | Razer mech. 30mm | Razer “Mechanical” pushbuttons |
| Victrix Pro FS | Sanwa (30mm & 24mm) | OBSF-30 main, OBSF-24 aux |
| Nacon Daija | Sanwa (30mm & 24mm) | OBSF-30 main, OBSF-24 aux |
| Mayflash F500 (std) | Generic clones | Unbranded (upgrade to Sanwa easy) |
| Mayflash F500 Elite | Sanwa (30mm) | OBSF-30 (factory pre-installed) |
| 8BitDo Arcade Stick | Generic (30mm) | Unbranded (upgrade possible) |
Notes: If a stick isn’t listed, assume most mid/high-end licensed sticks from reputable brands post-2010 use Sanwa parts or their own equivalents. Lesser-known or cheaper sticks often use clones. Always double-check specific model reviews; for example, PowerA Fusion sticks for Xbox came with Cherry MX-based buttons (unusual case) – but those are less common.
Quick Upgrade Recommendations
If your stick has Sanwa or Seimitsu stock buttons, you’re already golden. Only swap if you personally prefer a different feel (e.g., you want Seimitsu in a Sanwa-equipped stick for stiffer action, or silent variants).
If your stick has Hori Kuro/Hayabusa buttons, they are tournament-worthy. Upgrade is not “necessary” but if you love Sanwa’s feel, go for it. They drop in easily.
If your stick has generic or clone buttons (e.g., Mad Catz SE, Qanba Drone, Mayflash standard), upgrading to Sanwa OBSFs or Seimitsu PS-14s will noticeably improve responsiveness and durability. These sticks are designed to accept standard 30mm parts, so it’s usually a simple swap of buttons and maybe the joystick.
For sticks like the Razer Panthera Evo with proprietary buttons: many did swap them out for Sanwas – it’s reported that OBSF-30 fit with a little effort (some sanding on the plexi or so) and the wiring was compatible. That can make the Evo essentially perform like the original Panthera.
Keep in mind button hole size: All Japanese sticks use 30mm for main, 24mm for aux, so any Sanwa/Seimitsu of those sizes will fit the holes. The only time you worry about hole size is if you had something like an American-style panel (Happ 28mm holes) – but none of the commercial sticks listed use those except custom builds. For example, an X-Arcade Tankstick uses Happ-style 28mm concave buttons, not covered above because it’s a different category.
Other Considerations
Wiring
Most modern sticks use .110″ quick-disconnect wiring for buttons, which is plug-and-play with Sanwa/Seimitsu. A few like older Hori or budget models might have buttons soldered to a PCB. In those cases, upgrading buttons means also doing some soldering or using a conversion harness. Check if your stick’s buttons have individual wires (good, easy) or a ribbon cable/PCB (a bit more work).
Mounting Depth
Rarely an issue for buttons, but if you ever try to put Sanwa screw-ins in a stick that came with snap-ins, just ensure there’s clearance (as discussed in previous article). But as far as stock info: if a stick had Sanwa snap-ins originally, using Sanwa screw-ins is fine physically in most cases.
Brand Mix
Some special editions had mixed parts. E.g., a “Hori RAP SE” might have Seimitsu buttons stock (SE = Seimitsu Edition). But these are usually clearly labeled. Our list covers the mainstream default configs.
With this index, you can quickly identify what you’re dealing with inside your arcade stick. Whether you plan to mod or just satisfy curiosity, you now know who made those buttons you’re mashing on. Happy gaming and modding!
To go further with sticks buttons, check our review of the best arcade buttons, and to learn more about the best joysticks, read our review and comparison of the best fight sticks.
Sources
- TheSixthAxis. “Razer Panthera Fight Stick Review.” (Apr 6, 2017) – notes use of industry-standard Sanwa parts thesixthaxis.com
- Shoryuken Forums Archive. “Mad Catz MLG Stick – Counterfeit Sanwa buttons?” (Mar 2013) – confirms standard TE uses Sanwa, SE uses knock-offs archive.supercombo.gg
- PCGamingWiki. “HORI Real Arcade Pro V” – first RAP Hayabusa model with Kuro buttons (2014) pcgamingwiki.com
- Arcade Shock. “Hori Hayabusa Matte Pushbutton – product description.” – Hori’s improvement over Kuro; only on HRAP4 Kai arcadeshock.com
- QanbaUSA (Press). “Obsidian 2 – Product Specs.” – Sanwa Denshi joystick and pushbuttons stock qanbausa.com
- Reddit r/fightsticks. “Razor Atrox, fitted some new buttons, ball top, shaft & dust cover today. Happy with it for now.” reddit.com
- TheSixthAxis. Razer Panthera Fight Stick Review thesixthaxis.com
- Shacknews. “Razer Panthera Arcade Fighting Stick Review: It’s Over 9000!” shacknews.com
- PC Gamer. “Razer Panthera Evo arcade fightstick review” pcgamer.com
- Shacknews. “Victrix Pro FS-12 review: The best built bundle of buttons” shacknews.com
- Turtle Beach. Victrix Pro FS page. turtlebeach.com
- The Arcade Stick. “Victrix Pro FS-12 Review” thearcadestick.com
- Nacon Gaming. “Daija Arcade Stick” – states Sanwa buttons and stick in Daija nacongaming.com
- Nacon Gaming – Daija Arcade Stick Playstation. nacongaming.com
- Reddit r/fightsticks. “Nacon Daija Sanwa Button Problems” reddit.com
- SteamCommunity. Fight Stick Upgrades. steamcommunity.com
- Reddit r/fightsticks. “…you can actually use screw-on buttons in the 8bitdo arcade stick…” reddit.com
- Focus Attack Product Listing. “8 pcs Sanwa OBSF-30… compatible with Mayflash F500/F300…” – confirms Mayflash sticks accept Sanwa buttons (Elite version pre-equipped)mayflash.comsteamcommunity.com
