New Joy-Cons for Switch 2 Disappoint with Lack of Innovation

Nintendo has unveiled its latest Joy-Con controllers for the Nintendo Switch 2, but many are left feeling underwhelmed.

While the price tag of $100 was expected—given that the original Joy-Cons still retail near $90—it's not the cost that fans find disappointing, but the minimal improvements over existing models.

The new Joy-Cons introduce color options of bright pastel purple and a vibrant aqua, which Nintendo calls "Light Green." These colors are a refreshing change, especially since the original color choices often felt too saturated. In fact, due to the limited appealing options of the predecessor's Joy-Cons, I resorted to purchasing the Animal Crossing: New Horizons edition just for its color scheme. In this aspect, the new Joy-Cons certainly appear to be a step in the right direction.

However, a major flaw is that most users won’t see these vibrant colors when using the Switch 2 in handheld mode or with the Joy-Con grip, as the eye-catching hues are mostly obscured. The only visible parts are the small rings surrounding the thumbsticks, which feels somewhat disappointing given the effort put into these new designs.

If you simply need an extra pair of Joy-Cons, the new options may suffice, as they do vary slightly from the default red and blue controllers bundled with the console. Nonetheless, the lack of creativity and whimsical design choices found in the original versions leaves something to be desired.

The good news is that you can enhance the appearance of your Joy-Cons by spending an additional $20 on skins, such as those offered by Dbrand, which match the new color schemes. Although not an official solution, it's a clever workaround to personalize your controllers.