Although by far most controllers – including the Nintendo Switch Pro controller – have a D-pad, this is not the case with the Joy-Con controllers. This, of course, has to do with the fact that the controllers can also be used separately so that the existing buttons for both controllers are identical. Do you regularly use the game console in handheld mode? Then many gamers still miss a D-pad.
Third-party Joy-Con controllers with D-pad for Nintendo Switch
A relatively unknown manufacturer from China called Shenzhen Jieruihong Electronics Co., Ltd. seems to be putting an alternative on the market soon. The company filed a patent on 29 January 2019 in the Global Design Database of the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Office).
The design patent shows two controllers that, at first sight, have a lot of similarities with the Joy-Con controllers from Nintendo. Even the colors are identical. The main difference is that? The blue left controller has a D-pad.
Switch console with Grey Joy-Controller is available here for grabs
In addition, the patented controllers seem to be slightly wider than the original; this will undoubtedly benefit the grip. Finally, the original controllers are pretty small, which is ideal for children’s hands but less for adults.
It is not the first Switch controller with a D-pad. Last year, the Japanese gaming company Hori brought the D-pad Joy-Con controller onto the market. This is a product officially licensed by Nintendo, which is also available in the Netherlands.
The Hori D-pad controller only replaces the left Joy-Con and can only be used in handheld mode. This game controller does not have vibration, motion sensors, NFC, and IR, which the original Joy-Con controllers do have.
Shenzhen Jieruihong Electronics Co., Ltd. has already introduced several Nintendo Switch controllers under the brand name Vigeland. These cheap controllers are mostly sold via online shopping sites such as Alibaba and AliExpress. The chances are that you will soon be able to buy this Nintendo Switch controller on those sites.
