Hori Bringing Real D-Pad to Switch this September

If you’re a Switch owner who likes to play classic fighting games or platformers, you’re likely aware of how underwhelming the Joy Con’s D-Pad is. The four separate buttons with no central rocker feel very different than a traditional D-Pad. To remedy this, Hori released an officially-licensed Left-Hand Joy Con in Japan with a real D-Pad. New reports hold that Hori is looking to bring the Left-Hand Joy Con to the US in September.

Details: Pricing and Real D-Pad

The Hori controller is only the left-hand Joy Con, which is interestingly asymmetrical. The D-Pad is real, with a central rocker and click-y action. However, it’s missing some key features used by the normal Joy Con. For one thing, the Hori controller has no Bluetooth, so it has to be connected to the Switch in handheld mode in order to function.

It naturally follows that it has no SL or SR button, as it can’t be used when off of the main tablet. Another no-brainer for an always-attached Joy Con is the lack of an accelerometer and gyroscope. It also has no HD rumble, which is standard for a third-party Switch Accessory.

These cuts do allow for one good thing: a lower price point. Nintendo sells two Joy Cons for $70, but Hori’s controller sells for $25. If you really want to play hardcore platforming titles like Celeste or Shovel Knight on the go, this might be a good choice for you.

Not All Good News

However, the Japanese release of the Hori Joy Con hasn’t been entirely smooth. The Joy Con apparently has a bad habit of slurping the battery out of Switches it’s connected to. Whether the Switch is active or in sleep mode, the controller seems to greedily draw power from it. There are even a few scattered reports of the Hori controller disabling Switch docks when left attached to a Switch in its dock.

Hori has promised they are looking into these problems and intend to have them resolved by the time the device launches in the US. We will recommend all Switch owners use any third-party accessories with caution. Check reviews and sites like this to see if there are any reports of hardware failure. And, as always, try to stick with first-party devices for your Switch when you can.

Feature Image Credit: Nintendo Everything