Nintendo Reveals Surprising Reason for Switch 2’s Lack of Analog Triggers

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Summary

  • Nintendo Switch 2 controllers won’t have analog triggers.
  • Nintendo decided digital triggers were a better fit for Switch 2.
  • Nintendo also said that some developers prefer digital triggers.

Regarding the Nintendo Switch 2, it’s been disclosed that its controllers, dubbed Joy-Con 2, won’t incorporate analog triggers unlike their predecessors on the initial Nintendo Switch. The reason behind this change is outlined by some of Nintendo’s leading hardware experts. Unlike the rail system on the original Switch, the new Switch 2 controllers bond with the tablet using magnets – a feature Nintendo had considered for the first Switch at one point. Additionally, there’s a fresh C Button designed to manage the console’s novel GameChat function. Interestingly, each Joy-Con 2 controller can be rotated sideways and used as a makeshift mouse.

For individuals who enjoy a classic gaming feel, they’ll find solace in the newly unveiled Pro Controller for the Nintendo Switch 2. This was presented alongside the console’s price and launch date during the same Nintendo Direct broadcast. The Pro Controller boasts some enhancements compared to its predecessor on the initial Switch, including a 3.5mm audio jack for headphones and GL and GR buttons on the grips, which can be customized to other buttons according to user preference.

Contrarily, neither proposed Nintendo Switch 2 controller designs will incorporate analog shoulder buttons; instead, they will retain the digital triggers from the original Switch. In a recent interview with VentureBeat, Nintendo Switch 2 producer Kouichi Kawamoto and technical director Tetsuya Sasaki explained their decision-making process behind this choice. Sasaki acknowledged that some developers’ preferences for digital shoulder buttons played a role in the decision, while Kawamoto stated that the immediate response of digital triggers was deemed more suitable for the Nintendo Switch 2 compared to the slight delay associated with analog triggers.

Nintendo Decided That “Instant Input” Digital Triggers Were a Better Fit for Switch 2

Instead of the Nintendo Switch and its future model, both the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Valve’s Steam Deck handheld opt for analog triggers on their controllers. Gamers often appreciate this feature in games like racing titles because it can detect the degree to which the player is pulling them back.

Instead of the new Nintendo Switch 2 Joy-Cons and Pro controllers featuring traditional digital shoulder buttons, the reissued Nintendo GameCube controller is expected to keep its analog triggers, given their extensive use in classic GameCube games. In related updates, Nintendo has confirmed that the controllers for Switch 2 will not include Hall Effect joysticks, which some fans find disheartening as this could have alleviated the wear-and-tear issues leading to joystick drift on the original Switch.

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2025-04-11 18:53