Nintendo’s long history with quirky controllers makes the iterative approach for the new Switch 2 Pro Controller seem rather tame. If you already owned a Pro Controller for the Switch, or even the Wii U, there’s really not much ‘new’ to be had here. That said, this is perhaps the Switch 2 Pro Controller’s greatest strength. As the old saying goes, “if it ain’t broke…”
“…don’t fix it”
The Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller is unapologetically similar to its predecessor, both inside and out. But, there are a few key differences.
Nintendo has changed the shell to a nice, smooth plastic that’s similar to what’s being used on the new Joy-Con 2. It’s fully matte, doing away with the semi-transparency of the old Switch 1 Pro Controller. The plastic shell goes all around the controller, ditching the textured material on the handles that was present on its predecessor.
It all feels very good to the touch, and while the handles are not the largest and most ergonomic on the market, they’re certainly not uncomfortable. They even contain a neat new party trick in the form of the new ‘GR’ and ‘GL’ buttons, but more on them later.
To further give the Switch 2 Pro Controller its own visual identity, the control sticks and top portion of the unit feature a splash of light grey, thus giving the controller a two-tone design. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it at first, but it has grown on me. That said, I’ve already gone ahead and applied a decorative vinyl skin, but it matches up well with the still visible grey L/R buttons and ZL/ZR triggers.
Input avenue
Speaking of the buttons, they all feel good to press. They have a distinctly ‘soft’ clickiness to them; not a sharp “clank!,” more like a softer “clunk…” if that makes sense. This makes it a relatively quiet controller to use, even in heated sessions when you’re button-mashing up a storm.
One downside to the buttons, particularly the triggers, is that Nintendo has opted to continue to forego an analog option.
Considering it has re-released the GameCube Controller for the Switch 2 for use with the expanded Nintendo Classics library, it’s a bit befuddling that the company continues to pretend like it doesn’t have a history with analog triggers. The last mainline controller to feature them was the Classic Controller for the Wii; a now distant relative of the Switch 2 Pro Controller.
While the instant response-time of digital triggers is appreciated (if not outright imperative) in some games, having an analog set-up would at least leave the option there for granularity. Considering that the Joy-Con 2 also continues to sport digital triggers, it would’ve been nice if at least the Pro Controller could be different.
That aside, the aforementioned GL/GR buttons are a welcome addition. They sit practically flush with the handles, and serve as remappable duplicate buttons for any of the existing inputs.
Their position right underneath the user’s middle fingers makes them very accessible, and perhaps more comfortable than shifting to click one of the face buttons. So, while they’re not additional inputs, they still serve a good purpose for the sake of improving comfortability. Because they’re so recessed, I didn’t even find accidental-presses to be much of a problem at all.
The mapping of these buttons is on a per-game basis and is done on the fly via the Quick Settings menu. The settings are saved to each title, so you don’t have to worry about constant reconfiguration.
Another new input function is the ability to now swap the inputs of the ‘B’ and ‘A’ buttons. This effectively transforms these inputs to be more familiar for Xbox players that may reflexively press the wrong button due to muscle memory. This is exactly the case with me as someone that games on PC and Switch. While this toggle is appreciated, it doesn’t modify the UI. So, it may still sometimes take an extra thought or two to get the input right.
Oh, I should also mention the inclusion of the new ‘C’ button that sits right between the D-pad and right control stick. It’s for the new GameChat service that’s been advertised as an ‘integral’ part of the Switch 2 experience. Honestly, I haven’t tried it at all, as I don’t do much social gaming. With that said, it is pretty cool that this button can be re-mapped to any of the other face buttons. This combined with the GL/GR paddles effectively gives you three remappable inputs, if you please.
Creature comforts
Beyond these changes and light drop of new features, there’s not that much more different about the Switch 2 Pro Controller. But, there’s still just a sprinkle more of additions that do result in an overall solid package.
For one, there’s now a 3.5 mm headphone jack located to the bottom of the body. Its capabilities are beat-for-beat, the same as the headphone jack on the Switch 2 console. Thus, audio quality and volume remain exactly the same. This feature has long been a part of Xbox and PlayStation controllers, so it’s grand to finally see it here on a Nintendo controller. Of course, the Switch 2 also has Bluetooth, but for those that prefer a wired connection, the option is now here.
Lastly, HD Rumble 2 is also part of the feature set. I never owned the original Switch 1 Pro Controller, but did own a Wii U Pro Controller. The rumble functionality here is definitely an improvement over that, and feels vibrant enough. Nintendo has made some intricate improvements to HD Rumble in the Joy-Con 2 as well, so it’s a delight that these changes have been carried over to the Pro Controller. It’s still a matter of personal preference if you deem it to be as good as other controllers.
Motion controls have been retained with the Switch 2 Pro Controller and feel just fine. I’ve used it mostly during matches in Splatoon 3, and it’s been a hoot-and-a-half. The entire package feels better than the original Joy-Con. That said, I’ve even found myself reaching for the new Pro Controller over the Joy-Con 2, despite their notable improvements. And, considering the price, this is a very good thing.
The price you pay for quality
One thing that you simply cannot get around with the Switch 2 Pro Controller is its eye-watering MSRP of $85. This easily makes it one of the most expensive first-party controllers on the market to date. It’s even a splash more expensive than the PS5’s DualSense, despite effectively being a ‘simpler’ device.
While it may be on the pricier side, its build quality is pleasant and comfortability is superb. I haven’t even brought up the battery life—because there’s been effectively no reason to.
Just like the Switch 1 Pro Controller and Wii U Pro Controller, the battery in this thing is a champ. I’ve used my Switch 2 nearly every day for almost three weeks, and the Pro Controller has been cruising off of just one charge thus far. Seeing that it sports a USB-C port that supports both data and charging, keeping it topped up is just as straightforward as the system itself.
Still, I do wish this was a more fairly-priced add-on. Around $70 or $75 would be better. Nevertheless, what you’re getting is certainly good.
Is it the most advanced controller out there? Not by a long shot. But, it serves its purpose and serves it well: it provides a more traditional control scheme for those that want it. It’s comfortable the whole way round, and sports a few neat additional features over its predecessor that sweeten the deal quite nicely.
Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller: The Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller doesn't try to reinvent the wheel, but it does add some creature comforts to sweeten the deal. The new remappable back buttons are quick and comfortable to access, and the inclusion of a headphone jack is a long-awaited touch. While it lacks analog triggers, its fit and finish make it a very comfortable and versatile piece of gear that practically every Switch 2 owner should have in their arsenal. – A.K Rahming
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