The Nitro Deck+ wants your Switch to look even more like a Steam Deck
Mar. 6, 2024The full body Switch controller is getting a sequel
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CRKD just announced the Nitro Deck+, a revamped version of its Nintendo Switch controller that boasts tons of new features while looking even more like a Steam Deck cosplay. Available to pre-order now for $69.99 / £69.99, the full-body gamepad still promises to be immune to stick drift and offer up a chonkier way to play in handheld mode, but now doubles as an integrated docking station so that you, in theory, never need to remove it.
In ourNitro Deck reviewlast year, we dubbed the gamepad one of thebest Nintendo Switch controllersin terms of comfort, elevating the console’s prowess as agaming handheld. That said, the original accessory is far from perfect, and while small gripes like distracting rumble and slippy thumb sticks keep it from a perfect score, I personally also feel like it would have benefited from a few extra features for the price.
Enter the Nitro Deck+, CRKD’s sequel controller that takes to the stage with a familiar pitch, but features all sorts of new tricks up its proverbial sleeve. I’ve already spilled the beans on some of them, like the fact it’s got a built-in docking station you can tap into with an HDMI adapter, but it has also ditched its asymmetrical sticks for something that closer resembles handhelds like theSteam Deck OLEDin terms of layout.
If you’ve never held a Steam Deck, you might be unaware that it wields symmetrical thumb sticks, with both placed near the top of the handheld. This is almost exactly what the new Nitro Deck+ is seemingly gunning for, but honestly, the result looks closer to a Wii U gamepad thanks to the face buttons having to live underneath. I’ll have to put the controller to the test myself to see whether it ends up feeling like Nintendo’s weird mid-2000s tablet pad, as I have memories of actively trying to find a controller without that layout for the system so I could play Bayonetta and avoid hand cramp.
Swinging back to aesthetics, the current Nitro Deck+ pre-order roster features clear and black translucent editions, just in case you miss the days of being able to see your tech’s guts. Again, both are availablefor $69.99 / £69.99, and early bird orders will come with the cable required to use the integrated dock.
Not fussed about any of those new portable perks? The original Nitro Deck is still widely available, and you can grab oneat Amazon for $49.99thanks to an on-page $10 off coupon.
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I’ve been messing around with PCs, video game consoles, and tech since before I could speak. Don’t get me wrong, I kickstarted my relationship with technology by jamming a Hot Wheels double-decker bus into my parent’s VCR, but we all have to start somewhere. I even somehow managed to become a walking, talking buyer’s guide at my teenage supermarket job, which helped me accept my career fate. So, rather than try to realise my musician dreams, or see out my University degree, I started running my own retro pop culture site and writing about video games and tech for the likes of TechRadar, The Daily Star, and the BBC before eventually ending up with a job covering graphics card shenanigans at PCGamesN. Now, I’m your friendly neighbourhood Hardware Editor at GamesRadar, and it’s my job to make sure you can kick butt in all your favourite games using the best gaming hardware, whether you’re a sucker for handhelds like the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch or a hardcore gaming PC enthusiast.
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