The Nintendo Switch 2 launched this year after an extremely long wait that left much of the industry baffled, but this wait didn't prevent the system from becoming a smashing success.
However, it's undeniable that the new generation console by Nintendo comes with some issues, including a long-standing controls issue which forced legendary game creator Hideki Kamiya to go to some extreme measures to fix: the lack of D-Pad on the Joy-Con controller.
Speaking with Japanese publication 4Gamer as part of its now traditional end-of-year wrap up with Japanese game developers, the creator of the Devil May Cry, Okami and Bayonetta series, among others, recounted his experience with the Nintendo Switch 2, finally managing to get his hands on a system only recently after purchasing a second system for his niece, who took his launch system for herself. Spending time with the system made Kamiya-san frustrated by the lack of a proper D-pad on the Joy-Con controllers.
"Even after it finally came back to me, for some reason, in this age of diversity, the manufacturer itself has stubbornly refused to offer the option of a 'Joy-Con with a D-pad' since the Switch 1. This just didn't fit into my gaming lifestyle, where I usually play while lying down, so I have no choice but to use the Joy-Con when playing games," he said, as translated by Stealth, touching upon an issue many old-school gamers have had with the Nintendo Switch systems.
After continuing to use the original Switch for his daily Tetris 99 fix and taking advantage of third-party peripherals with a proper D-pad, Kamiya-san decided to take matters into his own hands to make the Nintendo Switch 2 his primary hardware.
"I purchased a new Cyber Gadget 'mini grip with D-pad,' which I use with the Switch 1, and after some sanding and modifying it so that it could be attached to the Switch 2, where the button layout is slightly different, I was able to make my own 'D-pad Joy-Con 2,' which finally allowed me to play titles from 'Arcade Archives 2.'"
As someone who frequently plays old-school 2D games, I have long felt Hideki Kamiya's pain. Hopefully, Nintendo or third-party manufacturers will eventually address the issue and provide more controller options for those who think a solid D-pad is an essential part of any controller. As the Japanese company itself offers access to a catalog of older games via the Nintendo Switch Online subscription, it would make considerable sense.
About the author: Francesco De Meo has been covering video games and technology since 2012, starting his career at small outlets like Gamersyndrome and GeekSnack. After joining Wccftech gaming section in 2015, he quickly expanded his video gaming coverage with in-depth reporting, interviews with iconic industry figures such as Grasshopper Manufacture founder and No More Heroes creator Goichi "Suda51" Suda, Resident Evil series creator Shinji Mikami, Team NINJA's president and Nioh series director Fumihiko Yasuda, and Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama, reviews and on-the-ground coverage of major industry events such as Gamescom and E3. When he's not reporting or reviewing, Francesco can be found playing the genres he loves most, spending time with his six cats, reading, writing music, playing guitar and drumming for his progressive rock band.
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