Now You Can Play The Switch With Just The Most Adorable Controller Ever

Now You Can Play The Switch With Just The Most Adorable Controller Ever

Photo: 8BitDo

Playing classic 8-bit side scrollers with a touchscreen is awful, so 8BitDo’s releasing an updated version of its tiny, keychain-sized Zero gamepad with support for the Nintendo Switch, and motion controls, so it should be easier to be perpetually prepared for any retro gaming emergency.

The original Zero gamepad featured a directional pad, four action buttons, shoulder triggers, and a pair of function buttons. It was as streamlined and compact as a controller could get, without being impossibly uncomfortable to actually hold. That, plus a cheap price tag, made it one of 8BitDo’s more popular gamepad options, so it makes sense that the company wouldn’t mess with a form that works.

Now You Can Play The Switch With Just The Most Adorable Controller Ever
The Zero 2 will come in five different colours inspired by the Game Boy and Game Boy Pocket. (Photo: 8BitDo)

The Zero 2 will come in five different colours inspired by the Game Boy and Game Boy Pocket.Photo: 8BitDo

8BitDo has instead improved the Zero on the inside, with updates that finally make it compatible with the Nintendo Switch, including the addition of motion controls so that it functions more or less like the console’s Joy-Cons. The lack of an analogue joystick means the Zero 2’s probably not the ideal controller for most Switch games (can you imagine playing Breath of the Wild with a directional pad?) but with a bunch of classic Nintendo titles enroute this Fall, it does seem like a better alternative than the Joy-Cons for retro gaming.

The Zero 2 will also work with PCs and Macs thanks to its wireless Bluetooth connection, but it will be especially useful when paired with mobile devices running Android where it’s easy to emulate nearly every classic gaming console you grew up with. You’ll unfortunately have to wait until the holidays later this year to slip the Zero 2 in your pocket, but with a price tag expected to fall somewhere around $20-$30, it seems like a no-brainer if you do any kind of smartphone gaming that doesn’t involve tapping on candy.

[8BitDo]


The Cheapest NBN 50 Plans

It’s the most popular NBN speed in Australia for a reason. Here are the cheapest plans available.

At Gizmodo, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. We have affiliate and advertising partnerships, which means we may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. BTW – prices are accurate and items in stock at the time of posting.