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A common complaint among Nintendo Switch users is that Joy-Con, while capable of some really amazing technological feats like HD Rumble and precise motion controls, are also a bit on the small side and lack a proper d-pad. Enter HORI, accessory-maker extraordinaire, with its lovely Split Pad Pro. Ostensibly, the Switch Pad Pro is like a supersized pair of Joy-Con with a d-pad but lacks any of the wireless, NFC, or motion-sensing technology of Nintendo’s pads.
Which isn’t a big deal to fans of the Split Pad Pro because what they lack in technological bells and whistles they more than make up for with comfort and usability. The one downside to the Split Pad Pro, beyond the missing Joy-Con features, is that they can only be used when playing the console in Handheld Mode. Although any number of controllers can be plugged in when playing a Switch while docked, the quality of HORI’s buttons, control sticks, and the overall ergonomics of the Split Pad Pro are a shame to see go outside of Handheld Mode.
Well, that’s about to be a thing of the past, as HORI has announced a new version of the Split Pad Pro that can be played while the console is docked:
【念願のデバイスが登場🎊】
「グリップコントローラー専用アタッチメントセット for Nintendo Switch™ / PC」の発売が決定‼️
一度使ったら戻れない使い心地をテレビモードでも✨#HORI #ホリ #NintendoSwitch #グリップコントローラー #一度使ったらもう戻れない pic.twitter.com/hoOYkRqnGC— HORI /ゲーム周辺機器のホリ (@HORI__OFFICIAL) November 10, 2021
As the announcement shows, the new version of the Split Pad Pro slides into a special unit that connects via wire to a Switch dock. PC users can also get in on the fun, as the controller is compatible with that platform, too. Alas, there is no release date nor word of a Western release, but given the abundance of Split Pad Pros available from HORI here in the US, one can only hope the new peripheral will be along eventually. Also, importing should work just fine even if HORI never officially brings this new Split Pad Pro beyond Japan.
Are you excited to have a Split Pad Pro that connects even while a Switch is docked? Let us know what you think down below!
Source: HORI Japanese Twitter Page
