New Joy-Cons for Switch 2 Arrive, But They Fail to Impress

Nintendo has unveiled its first batch of new Joy-Con controllers for the Nintendo Switch 2, and I have to admit, I’m feeling a bit let down. It’s not the $100 price tag that surprises me—after all, the original Switch Joy-Cons are still priced at $90, and the standard Switch 2 Joy-Cons are set at $100, which is pretty standard for gaming hardware these days. What really gets to me is how little these new Joy-Cons stand out from the existing ones.

Much like the original Switch’s Joy-Cons, the new Switch 2 versions come in two color options: a bright pastel purple and a lively aqua that Nintendo calls “Light Green.” While I might not fully agree with their interpretation of light green, I do find these new colors appealing. It took me a while to warm up to any of the original Switch’s Joy-Con color schemes, as most were overly saturated and didn’t offer combinations that I found visually appealing. In fact, I was so desperate for better options that I ended up buying the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Switch mainly because I thought it had the best Joy-Con colors available. In that regard, these new Joy-Cons feel like a step up.

However, the downside is that you won’t really get to enjoy these colors while using the Switch 2. When playing in handheld mode or using the Joy-Con grip, the colorful strips on the inner sides of the controllers are completely obscured. So, while the colors are nice, it’s a bit disappointing that they’re mostly limited to small rings around the thumbsticks. If you’re just looking for a second pair of Joy-Cons, these are a decent option since they do offer a slight variation from the standard red and blue controllers that come with the console. Still, it’s a letdown that they don’t have the same playful spirit, creativity, and variety as the original Switch’s Joy-Cons.

On the bright side, there’s a workaround if you’re willing to spend an extra $20. Shortly after the Joy-Cons were announced, a gaming accessories company revealed a Joy-Con skin that perfectly matches the new color scheme. It may not be an official solution, but as they put it, it “does what Nintendon’t.”