Nintendo is one of the most iconic names in gaming, but the engineering behind its hardware doesn’t always live up to its reputation. The newly launched Switch 2 is no exception, and one of its key peripherals is already raising eyebrows for being anything but repair-friendly.
As the premium option (and the official one at that), the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller offers some excellent features. But when it comes to repairs or maintenance, it’s a whole different story.
Repair Expert Calls Out Nintendo Over Switch 2 Pro Controller
Disassembling gadgets isn’t for everyone, and for the average gamer, the fear of breaking them can be enough to never even try. The Switch 2 Pro Controller, however, gives players even more reasons to just leave it alone.
A month after the Switch 2 launch, the well-known repair channel iFixit got its hands on the Pro Controller and didn’t hold back about how frustrating it is to open up, even for something as basic as replacing the battery.
The YouTuber assured the whole process is a “nightmare,” and highlighted that the front cover is held together by an extremely strong adhesive that requires patience and a fair bit of force to loosen.
And that’s not what bothered him the most. As ridiculous as it may sound, to actually reach the battery, players will have to take the entire controller apart, since this piece sits in the back, but is only accessible from the front.
A Controller That’s Hard to Open and Prone to Drift
According to iFixit, the sticks are still prone to drift issues, and removing them takes considerable force. That’s especially disappointing considering the controller costs $85 USD. For half that price, you can find alternatives that use Hall effect sticks, which are far less likely to drift.
The YouTuber ultimately slammed Nintendo for designing the controller in a way that discourages owners from repairing it themselves.
Other than the headphone jack, which is relatively easy to swap out, iFixit found almost every part of the Switch 2 Pro Controller to be unnecessarily complicated to repair, and called it “a cheap excuse for a controller,” “a cash grab that leans on Nintendo’s name,” and “a nightmare to fix if you plan on keeping it for the long haul.”