A modder has created a one-handed Nintendo Switch controller that should make its games accessible to a wider range of gamers.
Hardware modder Akaki Kuumeri's bespoke Nintendo Switch controller seems unorthodox at first glance. But in practice, it will allow gamers with physical disabilities to play console games in a much more accessible way.
The modified pad works in conjunction with the Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllers, which are split on both sides, as is the plastic charging grip that comes with each console. The difference here is that you're only using one Joy-Con, and a variety of switches in the center of the pad are used to access either the d-pad or the face buttons, depending on which suits your dominant hand, as shown in the video. down.
The one-handed Joy-Con controller is available to buy from Akaki Kuumeri's Etsy shop (opens in a new tab) for €200 (about $175 / AU$288). The modder also has a solid track record, earning a near-perfect rating after 200 reviews of other modded adapters for the DualSense and Xbox wireless controller.
Accessibility is the name of the game.
Kuumeri's modified pad, upon closer inspection, appears to be intended to help disabled players who may have limited use of one hand. By doing so, such a device could help them play the best Nintendo Switch games that they might not otherwise have easy access to.
And while the price seems a bit high, remember that Kuumeri's operation is relatively small when compared to companies like Nintendo or Microsoft. Similar pads like the Xbox Adaptive Controller have been criticized for being more expensive than traditional devices. But here we are dealing with larger companies that could develop cheaper accessibility-aware drivers.
It's impossible to say for sure, but Kuumeri's device could be similar to something Nintendo once envisioned for its flagship console. According to former Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé, at one point the company was developing its own controller focused on accessibility. However, since Fils-Aimé's departure, the progress of the device's development is unknown.