Are Nintendo Switch 2 Joy Cons a Fresh Start or a Final Goodbye for Your Old Controllers?
Like many others, I was eagerly waiting for Nintendo to finally reveal its next gaming console. While the Nintendo Switch 2 was only briefly showcased in the trailer released last week, a closer look at the console's visual details provides answers to some of our pressing questions.
Nintendo Switch 2: A Major Question Remains Unanswered in the Trailer
After weeks of endless rumors and leaks about the Switch 2, I was hoping for one thing: for Nintendo to finally put an end to the speculation that had started to become tiresome. Thankfully, that moment arrived last week when Nintendo officially introduced its next gaming console.
Let’s be honest there weren’t any shocking surprises. The leaks about the console’s design turned out to be entirely accurate. Some people are understandably disappointed because the reveal lacked the wow factor they might have been expecting. Still, we must remember that we don’t have all the details yet. Aside from the console’s design, a brief mention of game backward compatibility, and a glimpse of what looks like Mario Kart 9, Nintendo didn’t share much about the hardware. For more information, we’ll have to wait until April 2nd.
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However, one detail is capturing the attention of many players: what’s the deal with the controllers, specifically the Joy Cons from the original Nintendo Switch? While there’s little doubt that Pro Controllers will work seamlessly, the compatibility of the old Joy-Cons has sparked serious debate.
The Original Joy-Cons May Be Unusable on the Nintendo Switch 2
Will the Joy-Cons from the original Nintendo Switch work with the upcoming console? We don’t need to wait until April 2nd to start piecing together an answer.
The first and most obvious point is the size difference. In the official trailer, the Nintendo Switch 2 appears to be noticeably larger than the original Switch. This alone raises questions about whether the older Joy-Cons can physically attach to the new console.
Additionally, after carefully examining the trailer and comparing it to my own console, one detail became abundantly clear: the attachment system of the Nintendo Switch 2, as shown in the video, confirms that the original Joy-Cons won’t be compatible with the new hardware.
That said, there’s still a lingering question about using the old Joy-Cons in wireless mode. Here’s the issue: to pair Joy-Cons with a console, they first need to be physically attached to the device for synchronization. If the original Joy-Cons can’t be attached to the Switch 2, this pairing process might be impossible.
So, as it stands, you should probably assume that the Nintendo Switch 2 will require entirely new Joy-Cons. Whether this decision was made to improve functionality or simply as a marketing strategy to push new accessories, it seems likely that your old Joy-Cons will not be part of the Switch 2 experience.
