LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: In the aftermath of the tragic Titanic submarine incident, the Logitech F710 game controller, which was used in the ill-fated expedition to the legendary ship, became the target of trolls leaving sick reviews on its Amazon page. As the tragedy of the OceanGate submersible and its crew unraveled, the revelation that the Titan submarine was piloted using an old Logitech video game controller sparked controversy and drew a wave of trolls to its Amazon store page.
Following an exhaustive search, US authorities announced the grim fate of the Titanic-bound submersible named 'Titan,' disclosing that it had suffered a "catastrophic implosion." All five crew members on board tragically lost their lives. The US Coast Guard, during a Thursday, June 22, news conference, confirmed the discovery of the wreckage, including the tail cone and other debris from the missing submersible, found by a remotely operated vehicle approximately 1,600 feet from the bow of the Titanic, which rests at a depth of about 13,000 feet in the North Atlantic Ocean.
OceanGate, the company behind the fateful expedition, disclosed that the Titan submarine trip cost $250,000 for an eight-day trip to explore the depths of the sunken Titanic. However, the navigational controls for the submersible were stunningly operated using a repurposed Logitech G F710 Wireless Gamepad. Originally introduced in 2010, this gaming controller is primarily designed for PC gaming and continues to be sold by Logitech to this day, typically priced between $50 and $60 in retail stores.
Amazon's Logitech F710 Controller Page Trolled
However, given the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, some individuals have now taken to trolling Logitech by inundating the Amazon store page with derogatory reviews, making explicit references to OceanGate's ill-fated submersible.
Amidst the snarky comments, one individual asked, "Will it control a submarine?" before someone else ominously responded, "Once."
Interestingly, Amazon is currently running a promotional offer, providing a 40% discount on the original price of the $49.99 controller, and some customers have reported receiving a complimentary 90-day trial of Amazon Music.
The Logitech F710's Features
The silver device features a conventional gaming system layout, incorporating two analog sticks at the front, a black D-pad in the top left corner, and a series of colorful buttons on the right side. It operates via a 2.4 GHz wireless connection, which some Amazon users claim can occasionally experience dropouts. Nevertheless, the product overview asserts that the Logitech G F710 controller ensures virtually no delays, dropouts, or interference during gameplay. The Logitech G F710 controller can function wirelessly using two AA batteries or plugged into a power source. Although it remains unclear how the controller was powered within the submarine, it should be noted that AA batteries have a lifespan of up to 10 years.
The repurposing of video game hardware for non-gaming purposes is not unprecedented. In 2017, it was revealed that the US Navy had incorporated Xbox 360 controllers to operate periscopes on some of its submarines, replacing the previously cumbersome and heavy controls. Moreover, reports suggest that the US military is integrating Xbox-style controllers into at least two of its next-generation weapons systems. More recently, the Ukraine military was observed customizing the Steam Deck to remotely operate turrets in their ongoing warfare efforts.
Ripple Effects
That said, it is not only Logitech's controller that has drawn public attention. The disappearance of the Titan submarine has unexpectedly led to an increase in sales for "Iron Lung," an indie-horror game that simulates underwater navigation in a small, rusted submarine. The game's creator revealed that sales have nearly tripled since June 19, coinciding with the tragedy. On the other hand, Logitech experienced a three percent decline in stock value on Wednesday morning, June 21, as news spread regarding the missing submarine's use of their controller, culminating in a four percent overall decrease in the past five days.
