Joy-Con
Joy-Con are the main controllers for the Nintendo Switch and one of two types that can be used in Splatoon 2 and Splatoon 3. They use Bluetooth LE technology and have a battery life of over twenty hours of continuous gameplay. They also feature finer haptic feedback called HD Rumble instead of traditional vibration technology, and replace the traditional on the Joy-Con (L) with a four-button array identical to the cluster. The latter feature is intended to make for more comfortable controls, and to give the Joy-Con (L) the same single-controller experience as the Joy-Con (R).
Description
A Joy-Con (L) and Joy-Con (R) pair, two straps and a grip are included with every Nintendo Switch, with extras and individual controllers sold separately. Minus and , they are exactly as tall as the console itself to create a continuous rounded rectangle shape when they are attached to it.
The Joy-Con (L) has eleven buttons, including a directional four-button array that replaces , the clickable , the shoulder button, the trigger, the Capture button, and , , and SYNC, which doubles as a power/reset button.
The Joy-Con (R) also has eleven buttons, including the diamond, the clickable , the shoulder button, the trigger, , and , , and SYNC.
Joy-Con Grip
The Joy-Con Grip is an accessory included with every Nintendo Switch. The player can slot the Joy-Con into either side of it to form a more conventional controller. However, it does not add any other features or establish any communications with the console or controllers. The Joy-Con Charging Grip is a separate accessory that charges the controllers while using it, if connected to the Nintendo Switch, and has a translucent plastic backing rather than the matte opaque plastic used in the regular grip.
Features
Joy-Con (L)
- : Used primarily to move the player's character in all directions.
- : Allows players to transform into swim form. In this form, Inklings and Octolings are able to move faster through their own ink and jump farther.
- : Used to throw clams that the player currently possesses in Clam Blitz.
- Directional Buttons: Up and down on the directional buttons is used for signals. On the map screen, holding while pressing Left, Right or Up allows the player to Super Jump to another player and Down jumps to the spawn point.
Joy-Con (R)
- Motion controls: By tilting the Joy-Con up, down, left, and right, players can change their character's view and aim, as well as move the cursor to Super Jump.
- : Used for more precise aiming, and controls which direction the player looks. Clicking it activates the player's special weapon. Also used a lot in menus.
- : Allows players to shoot ink using a variety of weapons. In hub areas, this button can be used to zoom in the camera.
- : Allows players to use their sub weapon and, along with , skip pages when selecting gear or using the menu.
- : Used in menus to select specific actions and options and, along with , to throw clams in Clam Blitz.
- : Cancels an action or exits a menu or prompt, and doubles as the jump button.
- : Used to bring up the map in multiplayer matches and the shooting range, and the menu in the Square and places like Grizzco, The Shoal, and the shops.
- : Resets the camera angle, allowing for quick corrections. This feature is most commonly used alongside motion controls.
- NFC touchpoint: Used for reading amiibo.
Splatoon-themed Joy-Con
Soon after the ARMS Direct, Nintendo announced new Splatoon 2 themed Joy-Con colors, in neon green and neon pink, along with other Splatoon 2-themed accessories including a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. They are sold separately in Japan, as a pair in Japan and Europe, or in a bundle with a Nintendo Switch, Splatoon 2 and a Splatoon 2-themed carrying case in Japan and America. They were released on 28 July 2017, a week after the release of Splatoon 2. Neon green and neon pink Joy-Con straps were also offered exclusively in Japan.
On 5 January 2018,[1] Joy-Con with the swapped color scheme were announced, available by choosing them in the custom Nintendo Switch configurator in Japan or sold as a pair in America.
On 6 July 2022, a Splatoon 3 version of the Nintendo Switch - OLED Model was announced, due for release on 26 August 2022. It includes themed Joy-Con, designed for the first time with color gradients: blue and purple on the left and yellow and green on the right, both with graffiti designs, and a white tentacle pattern on the rear.
Joy-Con colors
| Joy-Con (L) | Joy-Con (R) |
|---|---|
| Gray | |
| Neon blue | |
| Neon red | |
| Neon yellow | |
| Neon green | |
| Neon pink | |
| Red | |
| Cardboard brown | |
| Eevee brown | Pikachu yellow |
| Blue | |
| Neon purple | |
| Neon orange | |
| Animal Crossing green | Animal Crossing blue |
| Fortnite yellow | Fortnite blue |
| Mario red | |
| Hylian Shield blue | Master Sword purple |
| White | |
| Splatoon blue and purple | Splatoon yellow and green |
| Pokémon Scarlet | Pokémon Violet |
| Zelda gold and green | Zelda gold and white |
| Pastel purple | Pastel green |
| Pastel pink | Pastel yellow |
Gallery
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The controls as shown in the tutorial
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The Joy-Con Grip and tabletop mode
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The Joy-Con Grip and TV mode
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The Joy-Con and the Switch console in handheld mode
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The Joy-Con in the Joy-Con Grip
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Official promotional art of the Hero vs. Villain Splatfest, with Pearl and Cap'n Cuttlefish using Joy-Con
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Promotional image of the Splatoon 3-themed Joy-Con.
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The reverse of the Splatoon 3-themed Joy-Con
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Blue and Neon Yellow Joy-Cons
