You Can Use an Old Gamecube Controller on Nintendo Switch
Nearly every Nintendo Switch owner I have spoken to has confessed their love for the handheld console. And while its sleek design allows for comfortable local multiplayer play, using detachable pint-sized Joy-Con controllers attached to both sides, it’s not very comfortable to hold. Thankfully, the latest Nintendo 4.00 software update for Switch lets you use one of the most beloved console controllers of the past: the Gamecube controller.
Connecting a Gamecube controller to the Switch is pretty easy as long as you have the right adapter. This relies on the two USB ports on the Switch dock and only works when your Switch is docked (this shouldn’t be too much of an inconvenience, the Gamecube controller is plugged in anyway). According to Ars Technica , third party adapters are not as reliable as the official Nintendo Gamecube controller adapter. It was previously sold online separately or as part of a bundle that included Super Smash Bros. for Wii U. Unfortunately, the adapter is no longer in production, so you may have to pay a little more to get your hands on it.
If you’re a Nintendo fan (or, more likely, a die-hard Smash Bros. fan), you probably have an old Gamecube controller. That, plus one of the aforementioned adapters, could save you the $ 70 you have to spend to get the Switch’s modern equivalent, the Switch Pro wireless controller. The Pro Controller does not require an adapter and can manage the switch in an undocked state.
While the Gamecube controller works with every game on the Switch, it lacks a few shoulder buttons that the Switch has, which means you’ll lose a bit of functionality when you plug it in (though you’ll have more control than a single Joy -Vis).
If you don’t have a Gamecube controller, you’ll have to go to some resellers or your local video game store to get the official one (these are no longer in production). If you don’t want to but still hate your Joy-Cons, the Switch also supports certain Bluetooth controllers. 8Bitdo makes the $ 43 NES30Pro, a compact Bluetooth controller that doesn’t affect the portability of the console like a clunky traditional controller would.
Your Old GameCube Controllers Now Work With Nintendo Switch | Ars Technica