Bman94 Member Oct 28, 2017 2,600 I'm a big fan of Fighters and Platformers. I'm excited for the Switch 2 Edition of Street Fighter 6, since it looks to be a very competent port of the game and I love playing Dragon Ball Fighterz on the go. It's just so incredibly disappointing that Nintendo hasn't sold a left Joycon for a cheaper price that has a Nintendo specific D-Pad instead of the face buttons. If I remember correctly it took a while before 3rd parties got their hand on making a left Joycon with a D-Pad, and even then, they never felt as good as a Nintendo D-Pad. Do people not want this? I would have thought after 8 years there would have been more of a outcry on no proper D-Pad solution but I guess I'm in the minority.   cardboardboxer Member Oct 28, 2017 3,210 I love the D Pad on my Hori Compact Pro. Yeah yeah no HD Rumble no Gyro, I still use it in handheld mode 99% of the time because its so comfortable and the D Pad rocks. Can't wait for the Switch 2 to get its equivelent, hope it doesn't take four years again.  joffocakes Member Nov 15, 2017 1,920 The original Switch one was great for games like Mario, Celeste, Hollow Knight etc but I definitely had to be quite deliberate with it when playing Street Fighter III 3rd Strike, particularly half-circle motions. Interested to see how the new one holds up for SF6 training.  Jimnymebob Member Oct 26, 2017 21,938 Yeah, it's awful, and it's one of the main reasons I hardly ever use my Switch in handheld mode, and don't have a bunch of 2D platformers and fighting games for it. I feel like everyone who likes the Joy-Con d-pad should be forced by law to use a horizontal Joy-Con when playing multiplayer, and not being allowed to fob it off to whoever they're playing with while they use the Pro Controller.  Audiblee Member Mar 14, 2025 802 I expect we'll go another 7 or 8.   brinstar Member Oct 25, 2017 11,976 Yeah, I had the Hori Zelda one but it's missing features. I wish they'd make an official one.   Darkreaver Member Feb 16, 2024 724 All e official dpads are garbage. I'm a hardcore fightgame player and i always focussed on 8bitdo. Anyway, maybe the switch 2 pro controller is fixed. There are btw options for switch 1 btw. So will be for switch 2. Just not official. But lets be honest, why should we care about official anyway?  Dash Kappei Member Nov 1, 2017 5,498 Yeah, and while I'm thankful we at least had Hori's, the lack of wireless functionality meant I couldn't use it to play shmups/pinball in TATE on Flip Grip… I wished so much for an official Joycon w/ Dpad :-/   Kenny_Blankenship Member Jun 1, 2023 2,299 I don't think that was ever an expectation given the joycon's functionality.   TheAggroCraig This guy are sick of the One Winged Slayer Member Nov 6, 2017 7,171 This is NES joycon erasure   Shoichi Member Jan 10, 2018 12,271 within the first few months of owning it, I modded my left joycon to have a dpad. Had to put it back to how it was originally though as the split joycon usage with others was used more than I thought especially on traveling and dpad prevented it and didn't really want to buy another set at the time. I wish Nintendo would just sell an official variant of the joycon in stores with a dpad setup.  Last edited: Yesterday at 3:45 PM Lant_War Classic Anus Game The Fallen Jul 14, 2018 25,084 Kinda surprised nintendo never made a "dpad-centric" joycon for the switch that had a traditional dpad on top   SixelAlexiS Member Oct 27, 2017 9,037 Italy Kenny_Blankenship said: I don't think that was ever an expectation given the joycon's functionality. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Making a JoyCon Pro wouldn't have been too outlandish tho, it's an extra peripheral that isn't going to hurt anyone, it's weird indeed.   onpoint Neon Deity Games Verified Oct 26, 2017 18,878 716 SixelAlexiS said: Making a JoyCon Pro wouldn't have been too outlandish tho, it's an extra peripheral that isn't going to hurt anyone, it's weird indeed. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Yes. It should have been an option. But given the D pad on the Pro Controller maybe a bit monkey's pawish   The Boat Member Oct 28, 2017 5,159 SixelAlexiS said: Making a JoyCon Pro wouldn't have been too outlandish tho, it's an extra peripheral that isn't going to hurt anyone, it's weird indeed. Click to expand... Click to shrink... I wish they made Joy Con Pros. Not so much for the D-Pad, although that would be nice, but because I would love a split controller with better ergonomics and bluetooth. Hopefully the Bluetooth won't suck on the new ones.   Derbel McDillet ▲ Legend ▲ Member Nov 23, 2022 23,125 Agreed, but I've just made due with the Switch Lite. Hate to buy the console twice, but as a hybrid it really doesn't work for me (size, weight and yes, the "d-pad". Looking forward to that Switch Lite 2 in 2028. Kenny_Blankenship said: I don't think that was ever an expectation given the joycon's functionality. Click to expand... Click to shrink... It came up several times.   alr1ght Member Oct 25, 2017 10,800 I don't even attempt to play 2d games on it. It's useful for Tetris and that's about it.   giapel Member Oct 28, 2017 5,153 I wish all controllers could be made with swappable parts. That would fix this problem AND drift issues. Obviously got no idea how feasible is to implement something like that in joycons.   HylianSeven Shin Megami TC - Community Resetter Member Oct 25, 2017 21,623 cardboardboxer said: I love the D Pad on my Hori Compact Pro. Yeah yeah no HD Rumble no Gyro, I still use it in handheld mode 99% of the time because its so comfortable and the D Pad rocks. Can't wait for the Switch 2 to get its equivelent, hope it doesn't take four years again. Click to expand... Click to shrink... This. The HORI Split pads were goated.   wagon Member Jan 6, 2025 289 giapel said: I wish all controllers could be made with swappable parts. That would fix this problem AND drift issues. Obviously got no idea how feasible is to implement something like that in joycons. Click to expand... Click to shrink... that does sound better, but my clumsy ass would probably lose every single part in about 1 month   criteriondog I like the chili style Member Oct 26, 2017 13,202 I hope that Nintendo makes an official separate left joycon with a d-pad so I can use it for fighting games other than fighting games I am fine with the left joycons seperate button d-pad  Kenny_Blankenship Member Jun 1, 2023 2,299 Derbel McDillet said: It came up several times. Click to expand... Click to shrink... As a want from certain fans or a legitimate possibility? Given what Nintendo seems to want the joycon to be I just don't see how a Dpad would work.  BabyDontHurtMe Member Dec 9, 2018 30,167 New Jersey Switch Lite FTW   Firefly Member Jul 10, 2018 9,572 Table top mode is probably the least used functions of the Switch so Nintendo's insistence to keep this design is weird. A middle ground solution is to give an option of a d-pad joycon but at that point I'd rather be spending my money on much better quality from third party providers anyway.   Hamlock Member Oct 7, 2021 169 Sacrificing the d-pad for horizontal joycon was probably worth it for people who don't have a lot of money to spend on extra controllers   Lightsong Member Nov 11, 2022 8,985 Join me: Abandon the D-Pad, embrace the Joy-Stick!   TigerGD Member Oct 29, 2017 287 I just wish they would have added analog triggers for the Switch 2. 🤷   Derbel McDillet ▲ Legend ▲ Member Nov 23, 2022 23,125 Kenny_Blankenship said: As a want from certain fans or a legitimate possibility? Given what Nintendo seems to want the joycon to be I just don't see how a Dpad would work. Click to expand... Click to shrink... It's a left joy con with a d pad. They'd be purchased by people who don't care about ever holding them sideways. They literally exist from third parties. The point is, an official version would still have the same functionality and rumble.  ResVulcan Member Apr 2, 2025 26 Lightsong said: Join me: Abandon the D-Pad, embrace the Joy-Stick! Click to expand... Click to shrink... But D-Pads are better, if you get my drift.  Eoin Member Oct 27, 2017 7,245 I'll be buying a JoyCon with a proper d-pad, but I'm not sure I'd buy a Nintendo one. Their record on d-pads last generation was quite poor and I think I'd rather buy a d-pad JoyCon from a good third party rather than a hypothetical Nintendo one.   Shoichi Member Jan 10, 2018 12,271 Kenny_Blankenship said: As a want from certain fans or a legitimate possibility? Given what Nintendo seems to want the joycon to be I just don't see how a Dpad would work. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Every Unused Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Patent - IGN Nintendo's patented many different Joy-Con designs over the years, some stranger than others - here's our rundown of every one we've found. www.ign.com there were a few Nintendo Switch 1 Joycon/controller patents that didn't see official products that had D-pads.  Last edited: Yesterday at 4:34 PM Jaded Alyx Editor-in-chief at SpecialCancel.com Verified Oct 25, 2017 39,713 joffocakes said: The original Switch one was great for games like Mario, Celeste, Hollow Knight etc but I definitely had to be quite deliberate with it when playing Street Fighter III 3rd Strike, particularly half-circle motions. Interested to see how the new one holds up for SF6 training. Click to expand... Click to shrink... I suspect SF6 may be fine given its huge input buffer.  GalvoAg Member Oct 30, 2017 2,538 Dallas I never play split so it doesn't effect me but it is pretty wild   Darknight "I'd buy that for a dollar!" Member Oct 25, 2017 24,834 Ya, I wish there was an official option, but I just ended up modding a set of Joy-Cons and put my own d-pad in. Even nicer is how easy it is to modify the detected color so it could match the color of my shell replacement. I have multiple sets of Joy-Cons so it's easy for me to switch to a different pair if I need the stock setup.   Jack Frost Member Oct 25, 2017 1,684 SNES controller is a lifesaver for d-pad games.   Adulfzen Member Oct 29, 2017 3,857 Yeah definitely feels like an accessory Nintendo could sell but given how many third party options exist I'd say most options are definitely covered.   Kenny_Blankenship Member Jun 1, 2023 2,299 Derbel McDillet said: It's a left joy con with a d pad. They'd be purchased by people who don't care about ever holding them sideways. They literally exist from third parties. The point is, an official version would still have the same functionality and rumble. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Great idea, I'd almost certainly even buy one. Personally, I just wouldn't expect Nintendo to make one; I imagine they're perfectly fine leaving that to third parties. Shoichi said: Every Unused Nintendo Switch Joy-Con Patent - IGN Nintendo's patented many different Joy-Con designs over the years, some stranger than others - here's our rundown of every one we've found. www.ign.com there were a few Nintendo Switch 1 Joycon/controller patents that didn't see official products that had D-pads. Click to expand... Click to shrink... That hinged joycon is actually kinda wild!  spman2099 Member Oct 25, 2017 11,277 It was such an obvious peripheral that we should have expected Nintendo to never make it. They love not doing the obvious thing that would make people happy. It is the Nintendo way.   Bede-x Member Oct 25, 2017 11,789 Yeah, it's a shame. A handheld without a D-pad is just a bad handheld.   Derbel McDillet ▲ Legend ▲ Member Nov 23, 2022 23,125 Darknight said: Ya, I wish there was an official option, but I just ended up modding a set of Joy-Cons and put my own d-pad in. Even nicer is how easy it is to modify the detected color so it could match the color of my shell replacement. I have multiple sets of Joy-Cons so it's easy for me to switch to a different pair if I need the stock setup. Click to expand... Click to shrink... Joy Con 2 Pro coming to you for $100. Even do the color buttons. And add in some analog triggers (which they wouldn't). I'd roll my eyes at the price, but this is definitely a layup.  joffocakes Member Nov 15, 2017 1,920 Jaded Alyx said: I suspect SF6 may be fine given its huge input buffer. Click to expand... Click to shrink... It's more the motions than timing of links I have trouble with. DualSense dpad is equally poor for Street Fighter because it often skips diagonals unless I'm quite forceful. It's an issue I rarely have with the 8bitdo M30 or even SNES dpads.   Nessus Member Oct 28, 2017 4,517 Or any other cool weird alternative joy cons. There was, and still is with the Switch 2, so much potential for interesting add ons for specific games/genres.  Anth0ny Member Oct 25, 2017 51,750 this is my boy  mute ▲ Legend ▲ Member Oct 25, 2017 28,991 Audiblee said: I expect we'll go another 7 or 8. Click to expand... Click to shrink... .   Jaded Alyx Editor-in-chief at SpecialCancel.com Verified Oct 25, 2017 39,713 joffocakes said: It's more the motions than timing of links I have trouble with. DualSense dpad is equally poor for Street Fighter because it often skips diagonals unless I'm quite forceful. It's an issue I rarely have with the 8bitdo M30 or even SNES dpads. Click to expand... Click to shrink... yeh it's the motions I was thinking about. I thought about how the separate buttons in the joycon 'd-pad' aren't functionally that different from the buttons on a leverless controller - and that i'm often getting super arts when I don't want them, thanks to how generous the input buffer is.   TheLastOfPizzaCrUSt Member Jul 27, 2020 2,181 I was thinking of a Switch controller for PC gaming, is the dpad that bad? (for platformers, 2d games)   BennyWhatever Member Oct 27, 2017 5,425 US What I really want is for one where the dpad/direction pad buttons are on Top, with the joystick on Bottom. That doesn't even exist with 3rd party.   Hoa Member Jun 6, 2018 5,892 I'm fine with them providing the option but I like the buttons.   brochiller The Fallen Oct 25, 2017 2,255 Surely they have data showing that people use the joycons FAR more in regular handheld mode than they do holding them sideways. Could they just not have put a D pad on the left and still allowed people to press directions like buttons when it gets used like that the rare times it's needed?  JuniperAndSage Member Dec 27, 2019 6,885 Seattle TheLastOfPizzaCrUSt said: I was thinking of a Switch controller for PC gaming, is the dpad that bad? (for platformers, 2d games) Click to expand... Click to shrink... The pro controller has a fine (not good, not bad, just fine) D-pad. This thread's about the Joycons, which have 4 separate buttons instead of a D-pad.