Random: Solving the Joy-Con D-Pad Problem With a 3D Printer, Sort Of...

That's it. You'd imagine Nintendo could release something more professional and less abrasive on the underlying buttons. Or here's an idea, release a left Joy-Con with a built-in D pad.

That blue d-pad looks really janky compared to the sleek black color. Why didn't they put it on a blue joy con?

I understand why people would do this but the scuff marks, the texture, and the shape just looks so awful. Nintendo has got to make a joy con with a dpad, or else 8bitdo controllers will become the new standard (I would say pro controller but I'm not rich).

This seemed cool until I found out it could scratch the Joy-Con. rip

Nintendo should definitely release a left joy con with a proper d-pad at some point.

Its not really a solution, then I read about the marks and was convinced it wasn't. Thats like solving a messy bedroom by setting it on fire.

The only viable solution is to release a special Joycon but with Nintendo having difficulty ramping up production I don't expect such a product appearing for 1-2 years. Some may argue it will ruin the Switch's Local multiplayer anyway factor but the console's real main selling point is Choice; as in the multiple ways you can play. And if I'm on a road trip and want to play me some classic 2D platforming or balls to the wall shm'up action I prefer a nice cross shaped thumb wiggler.

Replace the little nub on the underside with a little bit of rubber or something like that (a rounded off pencil eraser would probably do the trick) and it should mostly solve the scratching problem.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE I wouldn't be surprised if they show a dpad joycon off at E3. Already got a pro controller and 8bitdo pad linked to my switch though, so I'm set.

A better idea is to buy the 8bitdo SNES pad and far cheaper than a 3D printer. Ultra street fighter II and an 8bitdo pad is the best street fighter purchase I've made in 30 years.

A better idea again would be for Nintendo to release an alternate left joycon with the 4 buttons replaced with a 4-way d-pad I know I'll hardly use the left joy con for two player and having a d-pad to play retro on my Switch would get far my use in my house.

Honestly, I prefer the four directional buttons to a D-pad. They're far more precise, especially while playing Puyo Puyo Tetris. When I use the pro controller, I sometimes accidentally push the D-pad up while trying to push left or right and snap my Tetris pieces down unintentionally. I can't stand it.

@Alikan playing street fighter portably means you've got to take your pro or 8bitdo controller with you, that's not as portable as having a proper left joy con.

They should have packaged a left joy con with d-pad and sold the button variant for those who might want a more local multiplayer array.

But doing it this way around means Nintendo will sell more alternate left joy cons. Smart 😜

I'd suggest nintendo should release a joycon with a dpad, but i have a feeling it will result in a markup price.

I don't see why Ninty doesn't just release a snap on D-pad cover for the left joy-con. Can't be that difficult. It'll easily sell for a good $5.

I know I'm in the minority, but I don't fully understand all the negativity with the D-Buttons. I have not had any problem with them. A Joy-Con with a D-Pad would be a nice option, but I've played Blaster Master Zero, Street Fighter and Tetris without any problems. This "problem" feels very first world to me.

@thesilverbrick Yeah, that has happened to me as well, Also, pressing up and two blocks fly down immediately. lol

Joy-Con Pro, where are you?

@SLIGEACH_EIRE I hope when virtual console comes out, you will be able to buy a gamecube joycon (with d-pad and analogue triggers.)

@GrailUK I've posted photos of that here several times before.

Oh come on!
Just slapping a 3D-printed d-pad on those four buttons is no solution at all. When those four buttons are the underlying problem, there is nothing you can do except for buying a Pro Controller. And that's the real issue here, that Nintendo forces you to do that.

@FX102A

"1-2 years"

Don't you mean, 1-2 SWITCH?!

@DESS-M-8 Yeah, I understand nintendo's methods and will be buying a dpad joycon so I can properly do handheld dpad games. I'm currently using my pro controller at home for USFII and the switch in tabletop with my 8bitdo during my lunchbreaks. More portable and I take its box with me so less chance of breaking it.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE It...it's beautiful! Seriously, gamecube left analogue stick had the most precise control ever.

This would make a great 3rd party accessory, but just with a softer material on the bottom, silicon or something that won't damage the joy-con like that...that or I'd still buy a joy-con for portable mode with a real d-pad

It's not a problem for me. But scratches to my hardware are.

I'm surprised the paint could actually be abraded off the buttons like that.

It's different having D-buttons, but it hasn't really been a big deal breaker for me. Besides having my pro controller, I've been able to use the d-buttons just fine. I know they're not laid out exactly the same, but Playstation has had a fragmented d-pad for ages and I don't hear people complaining much... unless I'm mistaken :/

If you're that serious about fighting games or whatever, I would think you'd just want to use the Pro Controller anyway. Even if you're playing in portable mode, it's a lot more pleasant to just prop the Switch up on a table and play with the Pro Controller if you're playing something that requires a lot of precision IMHO.

@MeloMan I've clearly not been shouting loud enough.

I'm also still bitter with Sony removing the Vita style d-pad from the initial PS4 controller for its final design. And what's worse this was supposedly due to "gamer feedback"; the sort of gamers I would pay money to ram a battering ram into their guts for denying me what could have been.

I'll stick to the Switch Pro Controller, it's got a proper D-Pad.

@MeloMan well, play station's d-pad is pivoted, making back and forth movement more natural and comfortable. the switch litterally is just four buttons

Would people actually pay for another Joy-Con with a D-pad? They're expensive. If Nintendo could make their own D-pad cover like this without it's flaws I'd buy that

@GrailUK Why would you want a GameCube D-pad? It's the worst one Nintendo ever made

@geox30 I totally agree. like just the left joy con like they already do but with a Dpad.

Nintendo should have designed the left Joy-Con with a d-pad attachment in mind. Maybe someone will produce a high quality accessory that won't leave marks.

@thesilverbrick The Pro controller has some sort of design flaw where left and right inputs occasionally register as up (or down) inputs. Nintendo doesn't seem to acknowledge the issue, but based on the number of people complaining about it the problem is widespread.
I was actually excited for this article at first because I misread the title and thought someone had fixed the Pro Controller's D-pad issue, not the Joy-Con's.

Eh, I really have no issues with the directional buttons as they are.

Why doesn't Nintendo just release a version of the left JoyCon that's optimally designed for single player use, how a mass majority of people are using it, and doesn't assume you're going to hand off the JoyCon to a friend to play simple party games on a shared small screen on the go?

It's not like they would have to get rid of the original left JoyCon, just give people the option.

I'd expect (more like hope) to see some retro joy-cons, ones for VC etc.. that add a d-pad or dare I say analogue triggers, it's nice to dream.

I don't see what the big deal is. The buttons are fine.

@LuckyPower Hmm, now ya got me thinking about it...the d-pad was accurate just too damn small lol!

Ah well, it was a nifty idea, shame about the execution. Still hoping Nintendo makes some joy-con with a left D-pad, just so the choice is out there. I rather suspect they might consider the issue a non-issue, however, because of the existence of the Pro Controller. Darn.

I'd hate to have been the guy who had to decide between a stick & d-pad and a stick & 4 buttons. Choice would be nice as I didn't mind using the Wiimote d-pad as 4 buttons when required.

For me the major boon of the Pro controller (other than ergonomics) is the travel of the sticks. However, I have used my Switch as a handheld extensively and have nothing bad to say about the buttons. I rock my thumb from the centre to hit whichever button I want on both sides now.

The finish on the joycons is a strange one though. My greasy paws have seasoned the grey finish where my palm rests. I like keeping tech squeaky clean but really it's also a first world problem.

For me, I prefer Analog stick to perform Spiral Arrow of Cammy with command a Quarter direction to Front + Kick. Do it by D-pad is kinda tricky for me.

@DESS-M-8
I'm all in favor of them selling a Dpad Joycon, BUT, honestly I prefer the 4 buttons over the Pro controller dpad. The only caveat is when split apart it's hard to use in Street Fighter, but when connected to the Switch or in the grip (so that your right hand can brace it while your left hand presses buttons) it works better than the pro controller.

Part of that is because the Pro controller Dpad doesn't work as well as it should, but the other part is that the joy con D pad buttons work far better than expected.

I insist on playing Street Fighter with the joy cons- I can't stomach it any other way. When playing on the spot we just turn them sideways and use the analog- it's not perfect but if you're just playing casually on the go it's all in good fun anyways

Covering the buttons with a cover?
I have one Super Famicom game that bothered with such a plastic coin. Libble Rabble, an early '80s arcade game port.

@DarkKirby
I think the majority of people (or at least a good chunk of them) are actually using it to play with others- having two controllers with you at any time it's kind of hard not to. And it's more than just party games- Mario Kart, Puyo, Street Fighter, Shovel Knight co-op, Fast Racing... I know me and the guys at my work who own a Switch have played just about every game you could imagine with each other.

But I'm still for having a separate option. I'd probably buy one. I think it's a great idea... a no-brainer really. But I just wanted to clarify that- at least from everyone I know who has a Switch- even single player gamers like myself, who practically never play with others, are now playing with others. I'm sure there's people out there who don't, of course. And for those people, and even those who do play with others, the option would be great. Then I could take whichever one I needed that day depending on what I planned on doing

yea, my small time with the Nintendo Switch I found that the d-pad on the left joy con was definitely weird. With Sony controllers, it looks the same as that almost, but it is still a plus type d-pad, but the left joy con is 4 separate button, and I really don't care for it at all. I understand why they did it, so when someone is using just the left joy-con, the d-pad is now functioning as buttons, but it is still annoying. The best argument is that you could just buy a pro controller which has the normal d-pad, but that doesn't help when your playing fighters on the go

A rank 3D printed d-pad, you say? Erm, NO!!

But — if Nintendo made one — would I buy an official left JoyCon with a proper d-pad? Well that's a YOU BLOODY BETCHA!!

Better solution: Buy a Pro Controller

That's the reason Nintendo won't add a D-Pad to a Joy Con, because if you want it, just buy a Pro controller. It feels better than Joy Cons and if Nintendo made new ones with D-Pads it would still cost at least $80, more than Pro Controller.

I don't mind the d pad at all. I have only used it to play shovel knight and I had no issue playing that game due to the terrible button d pad.

I personally think it was practically sacriligeous to release a home console with out a Dpad. The Dpad practically defines Nintendo in my view as ditching the joy stick for the Dpad was one of the master innovations of the NES and has been included on every console till the Switch.

It bothers me enough not having a Dpad that I haven't tried to buy a Switch yet

On a side note, has anyone else's Joy-Con become worn around the buttons through constant use? I'm talking about the surface being worn to look smooth rather than rough. More on the ABXY buttons as they're the ones in constant use.

@DarkKirby because they aren't Microsoft and won't be correcting a core mistake after launch cough cough Kinect cough

I think what some people forget is the left joy con couldnt have a D-Pad out of the box because it wouldn't work sideways as a single controller

@BustedUpBiker The benefits of having four buttons far outweigh the benefits of having a d-pad on the left joycon. It allows people to use each joycon as a standalone controller or use them together as one controller.

Nintendo could easily release a left joycon with a proper d-pad but they don't.... I don't get it. Meanwhile I'm happy to use the pro controller and the 8Bitdo SF30 Snes controller. But that's still no sollution when playing mobile.

Nintendo should just release a left JoyCon that replaces the 4 directional face buttons with a d-Pad. It'll most likely be released alongside a Mario Maker port/sequel when that is inevitably released for Switch.

@Debit I prefer the Pro Controller because it's an official Nintendo controller plus HD Rumble, Gyroscope, and NFC Reader.

@thesilverbrick: Here I was thinking I'd be the only one who doesn't mind the buttons instead of D-Pad situation. I mean, the four buttons are close enough together. Must be missing something others are having problems with.

@SLIGEACH_EIRE They won`t because they want you to buy the pro controller.