According to Engadget, Nintendo has unveiled the first color variants for the Switch 2 Joy-Cons in light purple and light green. The new controllers are set to arrive on February 12, the same day as the game Mario Tennis Fever, and are now available for pre-order at a price of $100. The package includes matching wrist-straps. Technically, these are standard Joy-Con 2 controllers with motion controls, HD rumble, a C Button for GameChat, and mouse controls for compatible games. But the report highlights a very odd design choice: the new colors are only on the inner rails, meaning they’ll be mostly hidden when attached to the Switch 2 console. The colors also reportedly clash with the light blue and orange accent strips already on the console itself.
A Puzzling Design Move
Okay, so let’s talk about this. Nintendo is famous for its fun, vibrant hardware colors. It’s a huge part of the brand’s appeal. So launching these first post-launch Joy-Con 2 colors in a way that makes them practically invisible when in use? That’s just strange. You’re paying a premium for a color variant you can only fully appreciate when the controllers are detached. It feels like a missed opportunity. Why not make the whole shell pop? It almost seems like a half-measure, maybe to ensure the console itself maintains a cohesive look. But come on, people buy different Joy-Cons for personal expression. Hiding the best part defeats the purpose.
The Bigger Picture
Here’s the thing: this feels like a very safe, maybe even lazy, start to the Switch 2 accessory cycle. They’re testing the waters with a low-commitment color splash. The simultaneous push with Mario Tennis Fever is classic Nintendo cross-promotion. But at $100 for the pair, which you can see on the official Nintendo store, consumers might pause. That’s the same price as the standard Joy-Con 2 set. Are hidden rails worth the same cost? Probably not for most. It signals that Nintendo knows the accessory ecosystem is a profit powerhouse, and they’re not afraid to lean into it early, even with a slightly confusing product.
What Comes Next?
I think this is just the beginning. We’ll likely see bolder, full-shell color editions and special designs tied to major game launches later this year. This first pair might be for the collectors and the absolute die-hards who must have everything at launch. For everyone else, it’s probably best to wait. The design quirk has already generated chatter, which in a way, is marketing. But it also raises a question: is Nintendo being too conservative with the Switch 2’s aesthetic identity out of the gate? Only time, and sales, will tell. In the meantime, you can also find the pre-order listed on other retailers if you’re still tempted.
