If you've got a Joy-Con that's drifting, you've lost one, or you need a few more, there's a new smartphone app that's here to solve all of your controller-related problems on the Nintendo Switch. It's called Joy-Con Droid by DeepBlue Labs and is currently in its alpha testing phase on Android devices. In fact, if you want to try it out, you can download it for free right now from the Google Play Store.
While it's still in the early stages of development, and apparently "needs some work" according to quite a few user reviews over on the Google Play Store, you can see it being put to use in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, in the video below:
According to its description, the app is capable of transforming your smartphone device into a left or right Joy-Con, or a Nintendo Switch Pro Controller. Its features include the following: pair with the Switch, accelerometer and gyroscope support, and custom gamepad interfaces. Users can also connect a USB gamepad to their phone, which then acts as a bridge to control the Switch.
In order to operate, this application requires a Bluetooth HID Profile and Android Pie (9) or higher. Here's a bit more from the creator DeepBlue Labs:
JoyCon Droid is an application perfect for users who own a Switch but do not want to spend extra on a JoyCon. The application emulates a Switch JoyCon so you can control your Switch with it. Furthermore, the application lets you connect your USB gamepad to your phone, which can act as a bridge to control the Switch.
To find out more information about this app, visit the Google Play page. Would you use something like this? Tell us below.
[source gonintendo.com, via reddit.com]
Comments (27)
From a programming perspective, that's kinda neat.
But a big benefit of the Switch over mobile gaming is real, physical buttons and joysticks.
One of the absolute biggest reasons I dislike most phone games, is the limitation of touch screen controls, or having to fiddle with 3rd party app overlays and bluetooth controllers that may or may not work with various games.
Why would I want to downgrade my Switch to using touchscreen controls only?
That's really cool!
And useless...
I wonder if I can control my Switch with my wireless Xbox controller using this app. I already have a dedicated Xbox controller for my phone and play Project xCloud every day with it. This would be a simple change of system.
The only use I have for this is if I am out and about with my Switch Lite and want to connect it as P1 so that P2 can use my 8BitDo Lite.
I have an 8bit dio lite so I'm covered but this is kinda neat.
Pretty much the same thing as people above me have said already. It's neat in concept but like why would you want to use a touchscreen lol. I suppose I could see it be useful for party games with super basic controls if you don't have enough joy-cons but that's very situational.
Solve all our controller-related problems? Please
Nice idea but in reality it probably sucks using it...
But why? Or is it an early April 1st joke?
Very cool! This would be sweet for people wanting to play 8 player games with their mates without dropping a thousand dollars on controllers.
This app has been out for like a month now though...
A joycon without physical buttons.
A joycon without physical buttons.
A JOYCON WITHOUT PHYSICAL BUTTONS
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
I'd love to see this work on the Wii U as the gamepad. Using a tablet or smartphone would be great.
@Zorox88 several phones ago, I downloaded an app like this for a WiiMote, it didn't work at all
looks like a really uncomfortable way to play....
This is perfect if a joycon is away for repair( as it so often is for many.)
@Ham-n-jam
No it won't. Unless you want to look down at your smartphone every few seconds, have no real use for the shoulder buttons or desperately want your friends to lose in every single game you're playing.
Not a bad idea if you are down a joy-con for whatever reason
I happily use this for some Mario Party action with friends.
I can't tell if it's an intentional joke or not, but the app's virtual stick drifts for me.
Sounds like you could buy a less expensive wired controller and then use this app to connect it to your Switch through your phone for wireless play. That's actually pretty cool. I wonder how well it works?
I could see us using this for 4 player ACNH. I mean it seems like all you do is walk around follow each other, how hard could that be?
I may also use this for Labo. The drift is making me seasick, the model just keeps spinning round and round, no matter what I do it won't stop.
The ability to use any wired controller using this app is really cool. Now if they can get any Bluetooth controller working...
@Ham-n-jam whom is spending thousands not I or others here on controllers.
There are quite a few apps and services that do this with a PC controller. A few try to be their own awful gaming service.
@MrBlacky Of course it's not gonna be anywhere near as good as using an actual joycon with physical buttons, but most of the minigames in mario party for example only use a couple of buttons or even exclusively gyro controls. Using a phone as a substitute there would be perfectly playable enough if you're short on controllers.
@SwitchForce A thousand dollars is maybe hyperbole, but a pair of joycons still costs around $140 NZD. If you're buying 8 joycons, the price is really getting up there.
I read the comments and I feel like people didn't read or they just want to hate, but I understand that playing games with a screen is not easy. Nevertheless, the fact that this app can bridge any controller using a cable is actually crazy. If I knew this app existed before I bought this 15 dollar bluetooth just to connect my controller, I would have saved 15 bucks! Cause my hands are big and using joycons is really trash for me I actually need a controller that's comfortable for my hands. Furthermore, this app just opens the possibility to use macros! Which makes this app so unique. Just think about it, this app is a controller, a bluetooth dongle and a controller to can run macros. Plus its free!! Pretty crazy if you think about it.
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