Mad Catz M.M.O. 7+: the same DNA as the R.A.T. 8+ ADV, but with many more buttons
Who knows Mad Catz already knows what to expect from one of its products: aggressive design, quality materials, a modular structure, and a level of customization that few other brands on the market can match. The M.M.O. 7+ takes all this a step further by adding something that MMO and RPG players were missing: a truly generous amount of input, designed for those who have dozens of abilities to manage during a gaming session and do not want to rely on the keyboard for every single function. The result is a high-end mouse, precise, well-built, and rich in possibilities, but it also brings with it some considerations to make before getting your hands on it.
Design and Build: The Flat Shape That Works
Just like the R.A.T. 8+ ADV, which I have used daily for years and has become my reference mouse, the M.M.O. 7+ adopts a flat structure that accommodates the hand very naturally. This design philosophy is consistently pursued by Mad Catz and proves to be particularly successful: the hand descends onto the mouse surface without forcing, the thumb quickly finds a stable resting place, and the entire grip feels solid from the first use. Compared to the taller and "hump" shapes typical of many gaming mice, this low profile especially benefits those who use a palm or extended finger grip and ensures stability that is greatly appreciated during extended sessions. It is also complemented by a not insignificant weight of 140 g and dimensions of 120 × 90 × 40 mm, placing it in an appropriate range for a mouse of this category.
Aesthetically, it is as well-crafted as one would expect from a Mad Catz product: the design is assertive, with sharp geometric lines and a structure that conveys visual solidity even before holding it. The materials confirm this impression: the build quality is high, the components are rigid, and the modular elements snap on and off with precision without unwanted play. Additionally, the RGB backlighting is customizable via software and nicely completes an aesthetic that does not aim to be discreet.
The ergonomics are also customizable. As in the R.A.T. 8+ ADV, the palm rest, which is the part at the bottom of the surface that holds the hand, is interchangeable in four positions, and the package includes a second alternative palm rest. The thumb wrist rest can be adjusted laterally, forwards, and backwards using the included adjustment tool, to adapt the device to different hand conformations. This system impresses every time it's used, as it gives the real feeling of having a mouse built around one’s hand, not the other way around. That said, it is not so much the customization that prompted me to adopt the R.A.T. 8+ ADV (which shares all these settings with the M.M.O. 7+) as my reference gaming mouse, but rather its shape and solidity.
The M.M.O. 7+ features a total of 22 buttons, of which 21 are programmable. This is the data that most clearly distinguishes it from the R.A.T. 8+ ADV, which stops at 11 customizable buttons. The difference is considerable, and is immediately noticeable when you first grip the mouse: there are buttons everywhere, on the left side, in the center, on the top, and each is positioned to be reachable without moving the hand from its natural grip position. The most original element is the 5D button, which can be activated in five different directions: up, down, left, right, and central press. This button functions as a single physical input capable of executing five distinct commands. Combined with the Shift Mode, which using a single dedicated button instantly doubles all available inputs from 21 to 42, and the 5 onboard profiles that can be called up on the fly without going through the software, the M.M.O. 7+ effectively becomes a control tool of unusual complexity for a device of this type. There is also the Action Lock function, which allows you to lock a button in a continuously pressed state without having to hold it physically, useful in sessions where abilities must be held active for long periods.
Speaking of Shift Mode, it functions like the Shift key on the keyboard applied to the mouse: by holding it down, each button takes on an alternative function compared to its normal one. This way, the 21 programmable inputs effectively become 42, all accessible without ever moving the hand away from the gaming position.
The 5D button deserves a separate discussion also for its philosophy: it is designed to provide a sense of familiarity in use, with feedback that intuitively guides the thumb toward the correct directions. Combined with all the other controls present, it makes the M.M.O. 7+ one of the mice with the highest density of useful inputs available on the market.
Click Feedback and Comparison with the R.A.T. 8+ ADV
Using the M.M.O. 7+ after years with the R.A.T. 8+ ADV as my main mouse, the first difference that is perceived is neither visual nor related to size, but tactile: the main clicks of the M.M.O. 7+ have a different, more pronounced and distinct feedback compared to those of the R.A.T. 8+ ADV. The mechanical switches Kailh mounted on the M.M.O. 7+ are guaranteed for 80 million clicks and provide an actuation that is clearly felt under the fingers, with a more pronounced sound and slightly more defined resistance. This is neither better nor worse in an absolute sense, it is simply different, and those used to the feel of the R.A.T. 8+ ADV will take a few sessions to recalibrate their expectations.
Both mice feature a large and prominent side wheel, ideal for weapon switching or navigation. Furthermore, while the R.A.T. 8+ ADV adopted a system for physical weight adjustment via small removable inserts at the back, this function has not been confirmed for the M.M.O. 7+. In compensation, the latter introduces the significant advantage of 2.4 GHz wireless connectivity with a battery life of up to 40 hours. The R.A.T. 8+ ADV, on the other hand, operates exclusively in wired mode. In terms of precision, both mice use the same PixArt 3395 sensor, with a maximum DPI of 26,000 and a polling rate of 1000 Hz: on this front, there is no practical difference.
A practical detail that is immediately appreciated is the DPI level indicator LED, which visually communicates the active preset instantly. This allows one to quickly understand in which sensitivity configuration they are located without having to go through the software.
Wireless and Connectivity
The M.M.O. 7+ works both in wired mode via the included 2-meter USB-A/USB-C cable, and in wireless mode at 2.4 GHz via the included USB receiver. The rechargeable battery guarantees up to 40 hours of autonomy in wireless mode, a high value for a mouse of this category. The convenience of wireless mode is a substantial difference compared to the R.A.T. 8+ ADV, which is available only in wired version, and for many users, it may be a sufficient reason to consider the switch.
The onboard memory is another real advantage: all profiles, macros, and configurations are saved directly in the mouse, which means it works with all customized settings even on a PC where the software is not installed, without having to reconfigure anything. This is a function that is especially appreciated by those who use the mouse on multiple setups or take it to LAN parties.
Software and Customization
The advanced management of the M.M.O. 7+ goes through the Mad Catz All-in-One application, which allows remapping any button, creating and managing macros, configuring DPI for each preset, customizing RGB backlighting, and setting up Action Lock. The software proves to be comprehensive, easily accessible, and allows a very granular level of control: keyboard shortcuts, command sequences, and game functions can be associated with each of the 21 programmable buttons. It is also possible to individually disable any button, which is an important function to keep in mind when discussing a mouse with this density of input.
Why is the ability to disable buttons important? Because 22 keys concentrated on a relatively compact surface, no matter how well-designed, increase the risk of accidental presses, especially in the first few weeks of use when one is still learning the mouse's physical layout. In an MMO or RPG game, an accidental click on the wrong ability at the wrong moment can be costly.
The software allows for cleaning up and keeping only the buttons that are actually used in one's setup active. That said, the mouse can be used and almost entirely customized even without resorting to the software for those who do not wish to install it.
Who It Is Really Designed For
When comparing the M.M.O. 7+ with the R.A.T. 8+ ADV, one discovers that the two mice are surprisingly similar in basic structure, grip feel, build quality, and sensor performance. The main difference lies in the number of buttons. The R.A.T. 8+ ADV has 11 programmable buttons, already a generous supply for a generalist gaming mouse. The M.M.O. 7+ has 21, plus Shift Mode that doubles them. For those who mainly play shooters, strategy games, or competitive games where reaction speed matters more than the number of commands, the R.A.T. 8+ ADV remains a choice that is hard to improve upon. For those who thrive on MMOs, RPGs, or online role-playing games where dozens of abilities, spell rotations, or combat macros are managed, the M.M.O. 7+ offers something that no generalist mouse can replicate.
The R.A.T. 8+ ADV has become my reference mouse, and it has been for years now. This fact alone speaks volumes about how successful and reliable it is as a product. However, the M.M.O. 7+ is not a step back: it is a different tool, built with the same care, designed for a specific type of player and a specific type of game. Those who use both immediately understand that Mad Catz knows exactly what it's doing and that every design choice has a reason.
Mad Catz R.A.T. 6+ USB Wired Gaming Mouse for PC - Ergonomic RGB with 11 Programmable Buttons - Pixart PMW3360 Optical Sensor 12000 DPI - Adjustable Wrist Rest - Black 53.10
Buy now -5% Mad Catz R.A.T. 8+ Gaming Mouse - Optical Sensor 16000 DPI - 11 Programmable Buttons - RGB - Adjustable Ergonomic Design - PC 83.85 79.99 �01 14% Mad Catz R.A.T. 8+ ADV Gaming Mouse (USB/red/20000dpi/11 buttons) - MR06DCINRD000-0 105.00 89.99 �01 14% Mad Catz M.M.O. 7+ Gaming Mouse with cable and wireless - 21 programmable inputs + 5D switch + Shift mode x2 + 5 profiles + PixArt 3395 sensor 26000 DPI - ergonomic for right-handed users 149.97 �01** Buy now **The price of approximately 150 euros is justified by the build quality, top-of-the-line sensor, wireless flexibility, and an input level that is hard to achieve with any other peripheral on the market.