Nintendo Switch Pro Controller#Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller

{{short description|Alternative controller for the Nintendo Switch}}

{{Infobox information appliance

| title = Nintendo Switch Pro Controller

| image = Nintendo-Switch-Pro-Controller-FL.jpg

| caption = A standard Nintendo Switch Pro Controller

| developer = Nintendo PTD

| manufacturer =

| type = Gamepad

| power = 1,300 mAh,{{cite web |last1=Gurwin |first1=Gabe |title=How to get the most from your Nintendo Switch Pro Controller battery |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/nintendo-switch-pro-controller-battery-tips/ |website=Digital Trends |access-date=31 December 2018}} USB-C connector (recharge){{cite web |last1=Abent |first1=Eric |title=Nintendo issues Switch USB-C cable warning |url=https://www.slashgear.com/nintendo-issues-switch-usb-c-cable-warning-06526394/ |website=SlashGear |date=6 April 2018 |access-date=31 December 2018}}

| input = * 2 × analog sticks

  • Accelerometer
  • Gyroscope
  • Digital D-pad
  • 10 × digital face buttons (two under analog sticks)
  • 2 × digital shoulder buttons
  • 2 × digital triggers
  • Sync button

| connectivity = {{hlist | Bluetooth{{cite web |last1=Gurwin |first1=Gabe |title=How to connect a Nintendo Switch controller to your PC |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/how-to-connect-a-nintendo-switch-controller-to-a-pc/ |website=Digital Trends |access-date=31 December 2018}} | NFC | USB-C }}

| successor = Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller

| predecessor = Wii U Pro Controller

| release date = March 3, 2017

| lifespan = 2017-present

| family =

}}

The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller is a video game controller developed by Nintendo for use with the Nintendo Switch hybrid console. It serves as an alternative to the Joy-Con controllers.

Design and features

The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller incorporates a button layout similar to the Wii's Classic Controller Pro, but uses a staggered analog stick layout used by the GameCube controller and Microsoft's family of Xbox controllers. Up to eight Pro Controllers can be used at a time with the Nintendo Switch.{{cite web |title=Controller pairing FAQ |url=https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/22424 |website=Nintendo.com |access-date=31 December 2018}} The Pro Controller also supports near-field communication for use with Nintendo's Amiibo toys,{{cite web |last1=Donaldson |first1=Alex |title=Zelda: Breath of the Wild guide – how to use amiibo |url=https://www.vg247.com/2017/05/03/zelda-breath-of-the-wild-guide-how-to-use-amiibo/ |website=VG247|date=11 April 2019 }} as well as HD Rumble and motion controls.{{Cite web|url=https://www.trustedreviews.com/news/deal-nintendo-switch-pro-controller-already-discounted-to-just-54-99-2948127|title=Deal: Nintendo Switch Pro Controller already discounted to just £54.99|last=Keach|first=Sean|date=2017-03-03|website=Trusted Reviews|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181231194316/https://www.trustedreviews.com/news/deal-nintendo-switch-pro-controller-already-discounted-to-just-54-99-2948127|archive-date=2018-12-31|url-status=dead}} The controller's battery takes around 6 hours to fully charge, and is user-replaceable with the same battery (CTR-003) as the 3DS/2DS handheld game consoles and Wii U Pro Controllers.{{Cite web|url=https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/22546/~/nintendo-switch-pro-controller-power-issues|title=Nintendo Support: Nintendo Switch Pro Controller Power Issues|website=en-americas-support.nintendo.com|access-date=2020-01-04}} When fully charged, the battery duration for the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller lasts for around 40 hours.

The controller uses a USB-C connector for charging. It comes with a USB-C to USB Type-A charging cord, which can be connected to one of the USB-A 2.0 ports on the Switch dock.

PC and phone support

The Pro Controller can also be paired with or connected to a PC for use with PC games, such as those on Steam which added support for the Pro Controller through a beta client update on May 9, 2018.{{cite web |last1=Good |first1=Owen |title=Switch Pro Controller support comes to Steam |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/5/4/17319866/steam-switch-pro-controller-support-how-to |website=Polygon |date=4 May 2018 |access-date=31 December 2018}}{{cite web |last1=Greenwald |first1=Will |title=How to Use a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller on a PC |url=https://www.pcmag.com/article/363239/how-to-use-a-nintendo-switch-pro-controller-on-a-pc |website=PCMag.com |access-date=31 December 2018}} Official Nintendo Switch Pro Controller support was added to the iPhone and iPad, alongside other Bluetooth video game controllers as part of the iOS 16 update.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-24 |title=Connect a wireless game controller to your Apple device |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210414 |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=Apple Support |language=en}}

History

The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller was unveiled along with the Nintendo Switch on October 20, 2016, and was released on March 3, 2017.{{cite web |last1=Gartenburg |first1=Chaim |title=A close look at the Nintendo Switch's wild modular controller: the Joy-Con |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/10/20/13345758/nintendo-switch-joy-con-controller-modular |website=VG247 |date=20 October 2016 |access-date=30 December 2018}}{{cite web |last1=Abent |first1=Eric |title=Nintendo Switch Pro Controller released for sale [UPDATE: Sold Out] |url=https://www.slashgear.com/nintendo-switch-pro-controller-released-for-sale-update-sold-out-25472925/ |website=SlashGear |date=25 January 2017 |access-date=31 December 2018}}

A new version of the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller was spotted in stores around October 14, 2019, although the only changes to it were slight parts changes, and its Universal Product Code being updated from 104889D to 104889E.{{Cite web |last=Craddock |first=Ryan |date=2019-10-14 |title=A Revised Nintendo Switch Pro Controller Has Been Spotted In Stores (But it doesn't look like much has changed) |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/10/a_revised_nintendo_switch_pro_controller_has_been_spotted_in_stores |website=Nintendo Life}} As of 2024 revision is up to 104889G.

Special editions

File:Switch Pro Controller XB2 Edition (28076139759).jpg edition]]

File:Nintendo Switch Pro Controller Smash Bros.jpg edition]]

The base version of the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller is only available in black, but special color editions of the controller have been released, including:

A special Splatoon 2 edition Pro Controller with golden handles was awarded to the winning team of the PAX East 2019 Inkling Open.{{cite news |last1=Burch |first1=Jennifer |title=PAX East Smash and Splatoon winners announced, special Pro Controllers given as prizes |url=https://nintendowire.com/news/2019/03/30/pax-east-smash-and-splatoon-winners-announced-special-pro-controllers-given-as-prizes/ |access-date=15 July 2021 |publisher=Nintendo Wire}}

A special Pro Controller imprinted with the Super Smash Bros. logo was awarded to the winners of the Super Smash Bros. tournament at PAX East 2019,{{cite news |last1=Burch |first1=Jennifer |title=PAX East Smash and Splatoon winners announced, special Pro Controllers given as prizes |url=https://nintendowire.com/news/2019/03/30/pax-east-smash-and-splatoon-winners-announced-special-pro-controllers-given-as-prizes/ |access-date=15 July 2021 |publisher=Nintendo Wire}} as well as to Shuto Moriya, the winner of the Super Smash Bros. Ultimate tournament at EVO Japan 2020.{{Cite web|last=Craddock|first=Ryan|date=January 27, 2020|title=Random: Smash Ultimate Evo Japan Champion Drops Golden Prize Controller On Stage|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2020/01/random_smash_ultimate_evo_japan_champion_drops_golden_prize_controller_on_stage|access-date=March 11, 2021|website=Nintendo Life}}

Reception

TechRadar and IGN similarly praised the controller's handling, build quality and battery life, but criticized its high price.{{Cite web |last=Lynch |first=Gerald |date=2018-04-12 |title=Nintendo Switch Pro Controller review |url=https://www.techradar.com/reviews/nintendo-switch-pro-controller |access-date=2023-01-14 |website=TechRadar |language=en}}{{Cite web |first=Ryan |last=McCaffrey |date=2017-03-13 |title=Nintendo Switch Pro Controller Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2017/03/13/nintendo-switch-pro-controller-review |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=IGN |language=en}} They also criticized its rear triggers for being too shallow.

Secret message

On the controller's motherboard, if a player holds down on the right stick and looks closely into the transparent plastic surrounding its socket while shining a light on it, there is a hidden message that reads "THX2ALLGAMEFANS!". The message was first discovered by Japanese Twitter user Geo Stream on March 4, 2017, one day after the Switch's launch.{{Cite web |last=Barder |first=Ollie |title=There Is A Hidden Message On The Nintendo Switch Pro Controller |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/olliebarder/2017/03/05/there-is-a-hidden-message-on-the-nintendo-switch-pro-controller/ |access-date=2022-05-11 |website=Forbes |language=en}}

Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller

File:Nintendo Switch 2 - 54432490846 (cropped).jpg

The Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller is the successor to the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller for use with the Nintendo Switch 2. Just like the Joy-Con 2, it comes with HD Rumble 2 and the new "C" button, which enables voice and video chat control for the new Discord-like GameChat application.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-08 |title=Nintendo Switch 2 updates: Release date, price, new games and everything else you need to know |url=https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-switch-2-updates-release-date-price-new-games-and-everything-else-you-need-to-know-175623042.html |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=Engadget |language=en-US}} It includes new remappable GL and GR buttons on the backside as well as an audio jack at the bottom. The Amiibo connectivity of the predecessor is still supported. Although Nintendo originally announced it with a price of $80 in the United States, the price was raised to $85 due to "market conditions" surrounding U.S. president Donald Trump's ongoing implementation of tariffs.{{cite web | last=Maas | first=Jennifer | title=Nintendo Switch 2 Sets New Preorder Date, Price to Remain at $450 Amid Tariffs | website=Variety | date=2025-04-18 | url=https://variety.com/2025/gaming/news/nintendo-switch-2-preorder-date-price-tariffs-1236372547/ | access-date=2025-04-18}}

See also

References