Joy-Con — BrandWiki

Joy-Con

developer	Nintendo PTD
manufacturer	Nintendo
type	Motion controllers
generation	Eighth/ninth
release date	March 3, 2017
lifespan	2017–present
input	Analog stick Accelerometer Gyroscope Digital buttons: Joy-Con L: directional buttons, −, Capture, L, ZL, SL, SR, Left Stick (clickable) Joy-Con R: A, B, X, Y, +, HOME, R, ZR, SL, SR, Right Stick (clickable)
power	Internal 3.7 V, 525 mAh, 1.9 Wh lithium-ion polymer battery (non-removable)
weight	Joy-Con L: 48 g Joy-Con R: 51 g
predecessor	Wii Remote Wii U GamePad
successor	Joy-Con 2
website	https://www.nintendo.com/switch

Joy-Con are the primary game controllers for the Nintendo Switch, a hybrid video game console developed by Nintendo. A set of Joy-Con consists of two individual units, each containing an analog stick and an array of buttons. They can be used while attached to the main Nintendo Switch console unit, or detached and used wirelessly. When detached, the pair can be used by a single player, or each Joy-Con can serve as an individual controller. A successor, the Joy-Con 2, serve as the primary controllers for the Nintendo Switch 2.

Design

Joy-Con are distributed in pairs, designated as "Joy-Con L" and "Joy-Con R" respectively. They each measure 35.9 x 102 x 13.9 mm, and the Joy-Con L and R weigh 49 g and 52.1 g, respectively. When measured from the top of the analog stick to the tip of the ZL/ZR trigger it has an extreme depth of 28.4 mm.[2][3]

Joy-Con can be attached to the sides of the Switch console via rails, detached and used wirelessly either as a pair divided between two different players. Alternatively, it can connect to a mobile device via Bluetooth. Up to 8 Joy-Cons can connect to a single Switch console at a time.[4]

Joy-Con 2

With the announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2 on January 16, 2025, a second generation Joy-Con was revealed. The Joy-Con 2 controllers feature a larger size, buttons that are easier to push, and a new color palette. A notable new feature is the ability to snap in the Joy-Con 2 using magnets, eliminating the need to slide them in.[48]

Besides being larger to match the larger console body, Joy-Con 2 attach magnetically by snapping to the sides rather than using a rail system. They can be removed from the main Switch 2 unit using a small button on the back on the Joy-Con 2 that causes a cylinder inside it to extend and push off from the main unit.[49] Nintendo stated that their analog sticks would be larger, smoother, and more durable;[49] early reports indicated that they would use hall effect sensors, which would address the drift issues that the original models had due to dust collecting within the analog system.[50] However, these reports were later proven false in April 2025, confirming that the analog sticks of the Joy-Con 2 would not use hall effect sensors.[51]

The SL and SR buttons have been enlarged, and a "C" button is present on the right-side Joy-Con 2 R controller to activate the GameChat feature.[49] The Joy-Con 2 controllers can be used like a computer mouse in supported games by sliding them on their connector side on any surface.[49] Both Joy-Con 2 controllers have a 500mAh battery that is estimated to last 20 hours. The controllers are recharged when connected to the console or by using a third-party charging dock or grip.[52] The infrared sensor from the original Joy-Con R controller was not included in the Joy-Con 2 R controller.[49]

The original Joy-Con controllers are largely compatible with the Nintendo Switch 2, and the Joy-Con R controller in particular may still be required for certain game play functions when playing original Nintendo Switch titles that support the infrared sensor on the console.

On January 8, 2026, Nintendo unveiled light purple Joy-Con 2 L and light green Joy-Con 2 R, which released alongside Mario Tennis Fever on February 12, 2026.[53]

Colors

Legal issues

Patent challenge

In August 2017, Los Angeles-based tablet peripheral manufacturer Gamevice filed a lawsuit against Nintendo in the United States District Court for the Central District of California, alleging that the design of the Joy-Con controllers conflicts with its patent on the design for the Wikipad, an Android-based gaming device that also features a tablet with a detachable controller. The lawsuit sought damages on existing Switch sales and banning further sales of the console.[64] The lawsuit was voluntarily dismissed by Gamevice on October 23, 2017.[65]

However, in March 2018, Gamevice initiated a second patent infringement lawsuit on Nintendo related to a different set of patents. Gamevice also sought action through the United States International Trade Commission related to patent infringement under Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, and was seeking to block imports of the Switch into the United States.[66][67][68]

Joy-Con drift lawsuits

Two class action lawsuits were filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington in July 2019 and September 2019 over the Joy-Con drift issue. The first suit alleges that Nintendo is well aware of the defect but does not "disclose the defect and routinely refuses to repair the joysticks without charge";[69] the second suit alleges that the Joy-Con controllers are defective. It asserts claims for breach of warranty, fraud, and violations of numerous state consumer protection statutes.[70] The court refused to dismiss the suits, and as of October 2020, are currently under arbitration hearings.

Two additional class action lawsuits were filed in October and November 2020 in the United States, respectively in the Northern California District Court and in the Western Washington District Court. Both suits allege Nintendo of having defective manufacturing processes for the Joy-Con, even after the company apologized for the problem, as the primary clients in both cases has purchased multiple Joy-Con but found the drift occurred over time in each set purchased.[71][72]