Nintendo has officially unveiled the first alternate color set for the new Switch 2 Joy-Con controllers, and the reveal has landed with a slight thud. While we appreciate new accessory options, the initial reaction is one of distinct underwhelm.
To be clear, the primary disappointment isn’t the $100 price tag. Given that even the standard Switch 2 Joy-Cons retail for that much—a slight bump from the original Switch’s $90 controllers—the cost aligns with current market realities for gaming hardware. The true issue is how little these new units differentiate themselves. Functionally, they seem nearly identical to the existing pair, failing to introduce the sort of innovative changes or quality-of-life updates many fans were hoping for.
However, once you move past the lack of functional innovation, the aesthetic of the new colorway is actually quite appealing. Following the established mixed-color tradition, this release features a pastel purple alongside a vibrant aqua/teal that Nintendo has somewhat ambitiously dubbed “Light Green.”
For players who grew weary of the highly saturated and often clashing color combinations offered throughout the original Switch’s lifecycle (where better color options were often restricted to special edition bundles like the *Animal Crossing* console), this new palette feels like a genuine visual upgrade. They might be underwhelming in engineering, but at least Nintendo is finally delivering better tones for those willing to shell out the premium price.