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The new Switch 2 Joy-Con colors make me wish Nintendo remembered how vibrant its console could be
During this week’s June Nintendo Direct, you may have missed when the company quickly revealed two new Joy-Con 2 colorways: blue and light yellow. The new colors are inspired by Deep Cut from the Splatoon series.
For the unfamiliar, Deep Cut is a band that pops up in Splatoon 3 composed of two octolings and a manta ray. The octolings wear the blue and yellow colors.
Really, it feels to me like it’s just one new color since the blue is just a slightly darker shade compared to the light blue that comes bundled with the Switch 2.
It’s honestly a reminder to me that Nintendo has dulled the vibrancy of the Switch 2 hardware, especially compared to the original Switch.
Yes, there are light purple and light green variants of the Joy-Con 2 controllers… but the only pop of color is the strip that connects to the Switch display and a single ring under the joysticks. A strip that disappears when you click the controllers into the Switch 2 console. The rest is just plain black.
Conversely, the original Switch featured controllers where the whole body was one color. And the Switch Lite came along in a choice of multiple delightful hues.
Compared to the black box that is the current Xbox (retro special edition aside), and the spaceship that is the PS5, Nintendo has always represented fun and playfulness with its console(s).
The Switch 2 feels like it’s slipped into a professional suit and is beckoning you into its office to discuss a spreadsheet. Am I the only one who’s a little disappointed by this?
The original Switch could be a loud contrast of colors, depending on how much you want to mix and match your Joy-Con controllers. Some of the best were inspired by Splatoon, itself a splashy series.
Just look at these practically neon controllers below, especially compared to the boring grey handles on the Switch itself:
Nintendo like many companies is facing economic uncertainity between the varying tariffs — which seem to have settled after multiple lawsuits — and the ongoing memory crisis affecting every bit of tech globally.
Nintendo markets itself as the playful system for everyone, which the design of the Switch 2 seems to elide. Here’s hoping that the gaming legend finds its way into the future of the Switch 2 with some whimsy in more than just pops of color that hide.
How to get the new colors
If you’re interested in picking up a set of the blue and light yellow Joy-Con 2 controllers, you can pre-order them now for $99 from Nintendo.
The Nintendo site and the images shown during the Nintendo Direct list July 23 as the release date.
Meanwhile, if you want more, there are Switch 2 third-party options that actually highlight a rainbow of colorways.
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