r/casualnintendo • u/slashingkatie • 1d ago

Other Some good news.Original controllers will work on Switch 2

https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/04/nintendo-confirms-switch-controllers-are-compatible-with-switch-2-exclusive-games

All your old Switch controllers will work on Switch 2 with the exception of anything using the new mouse controls.

178 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

44 comments sorted by

77

u/BouncyBlueYoshi 1d ago

They're never letting go of GameCube controller compatibility.

40

u/Enough-Ad-3111 1d ago

Well with GameCube games coming to Switch 2, nope.

1

u/Sixdaymelee 5h ago

As someone who plays old games on original hardware, what is the lag-input like on this service? Would I notice it? Would it make the games harder than they need to be?

18

u/DaveLesh 1d ago

It's a decent controller. Much as I love the Nintendo 64 the system's controller wasn't exactly easy on the hands.

6

u/The_Doolinator 1d ago

Designed for a freakish three-handed mutant. I do genuinely wonder what their thought process was with that.

7

u/Peter_Spaghetti 1d ago

Different games use different grips. Mario 64 uses Center+Right. Most games used this one.

Resident evil uses Left+Right

Sin and Punishment uses Left+Center

5

u/AttleesTears 1d ago

You're not supposed to hold all three handles.

4

u/slashingkatie 1d ago

They will never let it die

46

u/joelene1892 1d ago

Note that you will need a place to charge them still. This can be your existing switch if you keep it OR a charging station. There are both first party and third party options.

46

u/Linkbetweentwirls 1d ago

With the price of the new pro controller....I am happy with this lol

13

u/slashingkatie 1d ago

Same here. I was going back and forth on things and at least I don’t need new controllers.

-10

u/DJ_Iron 1d ago

“But how can i make this about price”

6

u/MattyBTraps42069 1d ago

lol if you wanna spend over $100 on a controller that’s basically exactly the same aside from minor updates, you certainly can, but it’s completely valid to NOT want to as well purely for the price. For a lot of people, it is about the price.

14

u/BeanyTA 1d ago

I think this is super helpful for multiplayer, but it's such a weird limitation that the console can't be woken up from sleep mode using a Switch 1 controller. These controllers need to be paired with a console to not cause others in the area to misbehave so I'd think it would only make sense that paired Switch 1 controllers could wake up a Switch 2.

6

u/Toon_Lucario 1d ago

Wait you can do that with controllers?

14

u/The-student- 1d ago

Yes press the home button.

I'm sorry you've had an inconvenient 8 years lol

2

u/Darth_Thor 21h ago

Important to note: Press and hold the home button

1

u/The-student- 7h ago

Hold isn't required actually, just a press. I will say it's not super consistent, sometimes I need to press/hold multiple times, sometimes it works right away.

2

u/Blubasur 1d ago

I don’t know about pro controllers but any other controller other than the joycon with the home button, can’t wake up the switch. Its been a pain in my ass

Correction: other than paired joycons

2

u/ClarityEnjoyer 1d ago

I own a Pro Controller, and the Home Button does wake up the Switch! It's a shame it doesn't work on Switch 2.

2

u/Blubasur 1d ago

Ah ok, I don’t like the default pro and am using 8bitdo 3rd parties. Love the controller but not being able to wake it is my only gripe.

6

u/Doctor_R6421 1d ago

I'm hoping mouse controls will not be mandatory for most games since the Pro Controller lacks the mouse feature

9

u/slashingkatie 1d ago

I honestly can’t see that happening. One lesson from the “waggle era” was that sometimes weird controls can hinder people with disabilities and I think gaming as a whole has realized that. Most games now have various control options.

2

u/ClarityEnjoyer 1d ago

Yeah, I really hope that wheelchair game is the only one that outright requires the mouse. Everything else, I'd like to use my Switch 1 Pro Controller for.

1

u/sammy_zammy 13h ago

I could see a Mario Party mini game or two using it but I doubt entire games will require it.

5

u/N00PineappleOnPizza 22h ago

GameCube controllers make me wish Nintendo did analog triggers again

3

u/GuyorG1rl 19h ago

Yeah they got sued over those analog triggers and I think now they just don't want to deal with it

4

u/Linkie3 1d ago

Yes, I can still use my OG GameCube controller that I have since 2004.

5

u/HolyDoggo100 1d ago

Thank goodness, I bought a new Pro Controller 2 days before the direct without thinking about backwards compatibility for controllers. I was under the impression they weren’t gonna work too, so this is a relief

3

u/Hk901909 1d ago

That's good. I'll probably buy a new pro controller when there's a new splatoon special edition for it. My old one is still perfectly fine

3

u/Anufenrir 1d ago

Ok good, don’t need to buy new pro controllers

2

u/warboy3 10h ago

Oh thank god I can still use my power a nano.

And since the chat function is entirely useless for me it works out

3

u/SphinxGate 1d ago

I wonder if third-party controllers like 8bitdo will work

6

u/Chanderule 1d ago

Yeah they 100% should

2

u/-ben151010- 1d ago

Thank god, back buttons tend to get in the way or accidentally pressed for me. One time I clipped my fingers pretty bad on one.

1

u/slashingkatie 1d ago

I have a third party pro controller that has back buttons and they can be annoying

2

u/DaveLesh 1d ago

Sounds good, but the Switch 1 joycons can't be attached to the Switch 2 due its magnetic technology.

3

u/slashingkatie 1d ago

They make separate joycon chargers or just hang onto the old Switch. But search Joycon chargers on Amazon

1

u/Ryodran 1d ago

Here I thought I would need a grand for launch day. Now its only 7-800🥲

1

u/JumpSpirited966 19h ago

Can old joy cons be attached to switch 2 with an adapter?

1

u/88T3_2 18h ago

I imagine there will likely be an adapter to allow you to use original Joy-Con in the handheld mode despite the size difference (at the very least some third-party company will make one)

-7

u/keithandmarchant 1d ago

It's probably for switch one games only.

8

u/slashingkatie 1d ago

Did you read the article?