Summary
Nintendo might be making a new version of the classic NES controller to improve compatibility with theSwitch 2. Fans finally got a good look at theNintendo Switch 2during the one-hour Direct that aired on April 2. When it was revealed that the Switch 2 Joy-Cons are connected to the console using a strong magnet, players realized that it would most likely be impossible to attach the original Joy-Cons to the Switch’s successor. Naturally, this got the community wondering which controllers would be forward-compatible and work on the new system and which ones would have to be exclusively used on the Switch.
WhenNintendo shared a compatibility listfeaturing which controllers and accessories would work on the Switch 2, players were relieved to know thatalmost everything for the Switch works on its successor. Except for the original dock, HDMI cable, charging stand, and Micro SD cards, players can use every other accessory and controller that they already own if they get a Switch 2. However, some of the controllers will lose functions. The original Joy-Con’s HOME button does not work on the Switch 2, and they cannot be charged on this system either, similarly to the NES controllers.
While players have a replacement for the original Joy-Cons, that is not the case for the NES controllers, but rumors indicate that this could change. Nash Weedle, a known leaker among the gaming community, claims that a new version of the retro NES controllers will be made to ensure that they arefully compatible with the Switch 2. This way, gamers won’t have to rely on their old console to charge their controllers, and can replace them altogether.
Classic Switch NES Controllers Expected to Get New Versions
Since the NES controllers are also charged directly on the console and don’t have a USB entrance, gamers must connect them to the Switch or a charging station. If they lose access to their original Switch for some reason and don’t have a charging station, they won’t be able to charge the controllers anymore, which is problematic for Joy-Cons but even worse for NES controllers, as they are unique. Hopefully, these rumors will turn out to be true, and players will be able to get a replacement for their NES controllers and continue to enjoy theseNintendo Switch Online retro gameson the new Nintendo system.
Nintendo has always valued its classic games and made sure to add retro gaming to most of its more recent home and handheld systems. A major announcement during the Switch 2 Direct was the reveal that GameCube games will be added to the Switch 2 NSO service. This is a request that has been at the top of the list among Nintendo fans for years, and it’s finally happening. And although theGameCube controller for the Switch 2 isn’t perfect, it gives players a way to have a more legitimate experience.
Nintendo Switch 2
The successor to 2017’s Nintendo Switch continues down the same path as its predecessor, providing a hybrid experience that supports both home and handheld gaming. Launching on June 13, 2025, with games like Mario Kart World, the basic Nintendo Switch 2 bundle comes with the console, Joy-Con 2, straps for the controller, a dock, an AC adapter, an HDMI cable, and a Joy-Con 2 grip.
