The Nintendo Switch 2 booked Madness this week in the U.S. and abroad, regardless of how popular the Nintendo new handheld console will be in the launch event.
If you’re lucky enough to buy a device, if you stick with Nintendo’s first-party accessories, stare at the barrel that costs $70 or $80, plus an extra $100. Third-party accessories tend to be cheaper, but the licenses and more sacred peripherals that will be sold with the Switch 2 in some ways seem to be worse in some ways than Nintendo’s official gear.
For example, if you are looking for the most authentic retro experience on the Switch 2, you have to trade practicality at the price. The return of GameCube controller (at the same time) seems to be a major victory for gamers. But then Nintendo raised the confusing warning that it would only work with the GameCube title available for the Nintendo Switch Online+Extension subscription.
To confirm Nintendo’s life, Nintendo clarified that you can indeed use the GameCube controller to play other Switch 2 games, as long as they explain the lack of a left bumper button and a right analog stick shaped like a nipple. Even so, the new GameCube controller doesn’t work with any other console, but Switch 2.
When asked for clarification, Nintendo sent the following statement to Gizmodo:
The Nintendo GameCube controller is designed to work with the Nintendo Gamecube – the Nintendo Classics Games series, which is an optional way to play these games. Since it doesn’t have all the buttons and features in other controllers that can be used with the Nintendo Switch 2 system, there may be some issues playing other games. The Nintendo GameCube controller is only available on Nintendo Switch 2 and is not compatible with Nintendo Switch.
Nintendo recently updated its list of GameCube controllers on its website. The initial report indicated that the controller was priced at $65, but the product page now simply said it will launch with the Switch 2 on June 5. Only those who have passed Nintendo’s priority sale in the My Nintendo store may have the option to buy it for the first time on May 8. Gizmodo can confirm Nintendo to confirm the final retail price and listen to the final retail price of this information and hear more retail prices.
Still, even if the controller ends up getting a retail price for $65, it’s much cheaper than the new $85 professional controller and the $95 Joy-Con 2 (Nintendo recently raised the price per perimeter by $5 with US tariffs). Both first-party controllers feel good, but the premium price only increases the cost of the already expensive switch 2.
The Switch 2 GameCube controller isn’t the only accessory that might not work properly. If you’re paying close attention, the April 2 Switch 2 directly recommends gamers to use Nintendo’s $55 1080P resolution switch 2 cameras to delay and jagged images to encounter other issues.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrtveym4iim
Hori, which makes licensed Nintendo products, is selling Piranha Plant cameras that retail for $60. You would think that because it costs more than the official Switch 2 camera, i.e. the resolution may be better, but no, it’s actually worse! While cute, the Piranha camera is only 480p resolution, not even standard HD.
Hori also has another bass camera that is compatible with the Switch 2. You can find it on Amazon’s Japanese webpage, but it’s also limited to 480p resolution. It costs 3,981 yen and about $28 in the U.S., although we can only assume that the price will be higher at home due to tariffs. From a bright standpoint, both of Hori’s cameras can be plugged directly into the Switch 2’s USB-C port, while Handheld is something that Nintendo’s official camera can’t do.
Until we try the cameras, we won’t know that they compare to Nintendo’s. Lower resolution on the Hori camera may mean less lag and image quality can be ignored on the screen of switch 2.
Nintendo’s store page mentions that you can use “any compatible USB-C camera you want” on the Switch 2, which does suggest you should be able to use most third-party webcams, but the company hasn’t confirmed that yet. If so, you may choose more camera options.
Why doesn’t Nintendo just update the GameCube controller to features more like modern game boards? Why did Hori solve its camera’s solution inexpensively? I wish I had a real answer. So before you run out and buy any Switch 2 accessories, make sure you know exactly what they can do.
