Nintendo Switch 2: Old Joy-Con and Pro Controllers Are Compatible – But Not All Accessories Make the Cut

When moving from one generation of consoles to another, it’s not always guaranteed that old accessories will work with the new system. So, do old Joy-Con, Pro Controllers, and other accessories from the first Nintendo Switch work on Nintendo Switch 2? The official compatibility table confirms the answer, and it’s good news for many players.

For a lot of users, this question is important because they may have spent a lot of money on accessories, especially controllers, which could have become useless with the release of the new console. Thankfully, Nintendo Switch 2 appears to be compatible with most products from the original console.

This approach is a blend of different philosophies. It is much closer to Microsoft’s approach, which allows backward compatibility with its accessories, rather than Sony’s approach when transitioning from PS4 to PS5, where old controllers were completely excluded from the new system.

Good News for Controllers

The good news mostly revolves around the controllers. Old Joy-Con, the Pro Controller, and various classic controllers (like the NES, Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, and Sega Mega Drive replicas) work on Nintendo Switch 2, though there are some limitations.

The Pro Controller is fully compatible, while others have certain restrictions. For example, the old Joy-Con only work wirelessly, as they can no longer physically attach to Nintendo Switch 2, which uses a different docking system.

What Doesn’t Work?

Unfortunately, several elements do not work with the new system. For instance, the Dock, video connection cables, the power adapter, and microSD cards (since Nintendo Switch 2 uses the new MicroSD Express standard) are incompatible. Accessories specifically designed for the old Joy-Con will not work with the new ones either.

Here’s a quick summary of the compatible and incompatible accessories:

Compatible Accessories with Nintendo Switch 2:

• Joy-Con Controllers
• Nintendo Switch Pro Controller
• Nintendo Entertainment System Controller
• Super Nintendo Entertainment System Controller
• Nintendo 64 Controller
• SEGA Genesis Control Pad
• Nintendo GameCube Controller Adapter

Incompatible Accessories with Nintendo Switch 2:

• Nintendo Switch Dock
• Nintendo Switch Power Adapter
• Switch Charging Stand
• HDMI Cable
• MicroSD Cards
• Various Joy-Con Accessories (such as Grip, Charging Stand, Wheels, and Battery Packs)

In short, Nintendo Switch 2 supports most controllers, but other accessories might not work as expected. Players will need to check compatibility before using their old gear with the new console.