A bunch of Nintendo price increases went into effect today, August 3, and while Switch 2 hardware and games aren’t impacted, controllers for the new console will cost you more now–unless you buy them soon. The Switch 2 Pro Controller has increased from $85 to $90, and Joy-Con 2 pairs have moved from $90 to $100. Nintendo’s exclusive retro controllers for Switch Online have also increased. Not all retailers have updated their prices yet, which means you can get “deals” right now. Deals from the future, you could say.
The Switch 2 Pro Controller is $84 at Walmart–for the time being, at least–and $85 at Target and Best Buy. Amazon sold out of units at the $85 price today due to the price change that could go into effect at any moment. On Friday, Amazon and Target dropped the price of Joy-Con 2 to $90–five bucks lower than its old MSRP–and those deals are surprisingly still available despite the $100 price being active on the Nintendo Store. Amazon also has two-packs of Joy-Con 2 wrist straps for $13–Nintendo raised the official price from $14 to $15.
Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller — New MSRP is $90
Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Con (2-Pack) — New MSRP is $100
$84 at Walmart | New MSRP is $90
The Switch 2 Pro Controller has a matte black finish with light gray triggers and shoulder buttons. The color scheme and matte finish gives it a slightly different look and noticeably different feel than the original’s translucent plastic with textured handles.
Overall, the form factor is quite similar, though there are a few notable changes. The biggest additions are the back buttons, which can be remapped to any button input by holding down the Home button for a few seconds. Nintendo’s new C button for GameChat was added between the right stick and D-pad, and you’ll find a 3.5mm audio jack on the bottom.
Like the original, the new Pro Controller has a built-in gyroscope for motion controls, HD Rumble, and NFC support for Amiibo. Nintendo made improvements to the rumble motors, motion controls, and the analog sticks. Unfortunately, the sticks do not utilize Hall Effect sensor technology, but they do feel much smoother and don’t make as much noise.
Official Nintendo Switch 2 Accessories
As mentioned, Amazon also has Joy-Con 2 Controllers in stock for $90, but the price is likely to climb to $100 very soon. Even so, the combo pack still offers better value than the $55 singles. Keep in mind that one of the Switch 2 Pro Controller’s big new features is available with Joy-Con 2 with an additional accessory. The $40 Joy-Con 2 Charging Grip has built-in back buttons, so you could opt for this grip and turn the pair of controllers included with the console into “pro” controllers for docked mode.
With the official Switch 2 carrying cases difficult to find in stock, we’d recommend the officially licensed RDS Industries Game Traveler Deluxe lineup. Hardshell RDS Switch 2 travel cases start at $20, and you can get the RDS equivalent of the sold-out All-In-One case for only $40 instead of $85.
Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller Alternatives
There are other great traditional controllers for Nintendo Switch 2, including a handful of budget-friendly options from popular controller manufacturer 8BitDo. Shortly after the Switch 2 launched, 8BitDo released firmware updates for several of its customizable controllers to make them fully compatible with the console. Most notably, the flagship 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Bluetooth Controller works wonderfully on Switch 2.
8BitDo Wireless Controllers for Switch 2
8BitDo also added support for its USB Adapter and USB Adapter 2, which allow you to sync a wide range of Bluetooth controllers to your Switch 2 that otherwise wouldn’t be supported.
8BitDo Ultimate 2 Bluetooth Controller
The 8BitDo Ultimate 2 Bluetooth Controller has four remappable buttons–two back, two shoulder–adjustable trigger locks with two stopping points, TMR electromagnetic sensors (better than Hall Effect), RGB lighting rings, and robust customization features via 8BitDo’s software suite on PC and Android. You can set up three custom profiles, modify stick and trigger sensitivity, create deadzones, alter rumble intensity, and set up different lighting effects/colors. The Ultimate 2 and the other Switch 2-compatible 8BitDo controllers have turbo buttons, which is quite useful for Donkey Kong Bananza.
The Ultimate 2 Bluetooth comes with a matching charging dock with a storage compartment to keep the included 2.4GHz receiver. You can connect wirelessly via Bluetooth or 2.4GHz on Nintendo Switch 1/2 consoles as well as PC. The Ultimate 2 also works wirelessly in Bluetooth mode on Android, Apple hardware, and other devices.
8BitDo Pro 3 Bluetooth Gamepad
Another Switch 2 Pro Controller alternative to keep on your radar is the recently announced 8BitDo Pro 3 Bluetooth Gamepad. Releasing August 12 for $70, the Pro 3 has TMR sticks, trigger locks, and four remappable buttons–just like the Ultimate 2–but it also adds swappable magnetic face buttons and an extra pair of stick tops. The stick caps are arcade-style ball-top sticks, which is a unique addition.
The Pro 3 is the follow-up to the excellent Pro 2, which is our top pick for Nintendo players who prefer PlayStation-style aligned sticks as well as for retro games. The Pro 3 connects wirelessly to Switch 2, Switch, and PC via 2.4GHz and Bluetooth. It also supports Apple devices, Steam Deck, Android, and more over Bluetooth. It’s available to preorder in three colors: Gray, G Classic, and GameCube-inspired purple. Each edition comes with a matching charging dock.
Here are two other Switch 2-compatible third-party controllers that are worth checking out for different reasons:
- GameSir G8 Plus: This can cradle the console like a Backbone Controller and used as Joy-Con alternatives in handheld mode.
- NYXI Warrior Lite: A GameCube-inspired wireless controller with remappable back buttons and Hall Effect sticks.
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