Nintendo Life has introduced a new budget-friendly alternative to the official Switch 2 Pro Controller, with a new pad coming in at roughly $54 when converted from Japanese yen. This is significantly lower than the $89.99 price tag of Nintendo’s official offering, but there are a few sacrifices that have been made to bring costs down. The Horipad Turbo controller lacks the ability to wake the Switch 2 remotely, does not have a headphone jack, and does not feature NFC functionality for amiibos.
Interestingly, the Horipad Turbo does allow users to lock the buttons in the middle – such as the home, capture, +, and – buttons – via a small toggle located on the back. Not really sure why this matters, but there you go. In all seriousness, many arcade controllers nowadays include tournament lock toggles to disable unnecessary inputs during intense gaming sessions. It’s possible that Hori is trying to cater to that niche market, but these new pads may not be the top choice for fight fans.
The joysticks on the Horipad Turbo utilize TMR technology to minimize potential stick drift, and there are two additional inputs on the back of the pad to rival those found on the Pro Controller. Additionally, Hori has allowed remapping across nearly all the buttons, which could be useful for those who like to customize their gaming experience. Not really sure if this is a game-changer, but it’s good to have options nonetheless.
Maybe it’s just me, but I’m not really sure when (or even if) these new pads will be available in the West, but it’s worth keeping an eye on them. Even if they don’t have all the features gamers are looking for in a Switch 2 controller, having alternatives is always a plus. What do you think of the new Horipad Turbo? Would you consider getting one? Share your thoughts with a comment.
Nintendo Life’s resident horror fanatic, Ollie, enjoys diving into Resident Evil and Silent Hill lore when he’s not busy. He also likes reading horror books while sipping on a cup of tea and taking long walks. Ollie listens to everything from TOOL to Chuck Berry, showing his diverse taste in music. Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like Ollie has quite the interesting mix of hobbies and interests.
