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The Verge
2 hours ago
- The Verge
GuliKit's new anti-drift Switch 2 controllers are budget-friendly alternatives to Nintendo's
After debuting its affordable $29.99 Elves 2 controller last month, GuliKit is back with another budget-friendly alternative to Nintendo's Switch 2 Pro Controller — if you prefer an asymmetrical joystick layout. Both the $24.99 GuliKit ES and $29.99 ES Pro controllers are available starting today in gray for the cheaper version and your choice of black or white for the pro model. GuliKit is positioning both controllers as being ideal for e-sports competitors with high Bluetooth polling rates and reduced latency that the company claims outperforms the controllers included with the PS5 and Xbox. But the ES and ES Pro will potentially appeal even more to non-competitive gamers who are more interested in finding an affordable alternative to the $89.99 Switch 2 Pro Controller without sacrificing much functionality to hit a lower price point. The $25 GuliKit ES features anti-drift Hall effect joysticks (Nintendo's uses the same problematic joystick technology as the previous version) and triggers, a gyroscope for games that support motion controls, and a 950mAh battery with up to 30 hours of playtime. It supports Windows PCs and Android devices, but like GuliKit's Elves 2, the ES and ES Pro are both Switch compatible and can be used to wake the Switch 2. That's a feature that's still not common amongst third-party Switch 2 controllers. The pricier $30 GuliKit ES Pro carries forward all the same features but adds upgraded and more precise anti-drift tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) joysticks with adjustable sensitivity, a D-pad that can be switched between four and eight-direction modes, and the ability to swap between PC and Switch button layouts — with alternate buttons being sold separately. There are a couple of Switch 2 Pro Controller features you won't find on either of these. The ES and ES Pro can't be used to scan Amiibo figures, and they don't have an additional set of buttons on the back. But those seem like small tradeoffs given you're not only saving over $60 by choosing either of these over Nintendo's, you're also getting a controller with better joystick hardware that will potentially last a lot longer. Posts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All by Andrew Liszewski Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Gadgets Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Gaming Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All News Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All Nintendo Posts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed. See All PC Gaming
CNET
a day ago
- CNET
Drag x Drive Proves the Switch 2's Mouse Mode Controls Are Fantastic
Nintendo's next summer title -- and one of the few new games for the Switch 2 soon after its June launch -- is the multiplayer wheelchair basketball game, Drag x Drive. It uses the console's new Joy-Con mouse controls to simulate moving the wheels of your chair (or vehicle, as it's referred to in-game) while playing short three-on-three matches. While it does take some getting used to, it shows off how well this new input mode works and harkens back to an era of motion-controlled gaming made popular on Nintendo's Wii. Playing Drag x Drive is unique, reflecting the Switch 2 new tech. You detach each Joy-Con 2 controller from the system, place the sensors face down on a surface (which can range from a table to even your legs), and slide the controllers forward and backward to move the wheels respectively. I actually found it more comfortable on my wrists to use the controllers positioned a little wider on my thighs instead of straight up and down on a table. Learning to play has a steep curve, and I found my shoulders getting tired quickly as the game kept reminding me that longer strokes would move my character faster on the court. For anyone who experienced Tennis Elbow back when WiiSports came out, Drag x Drive's bodily wear-and-tear will be familiar. Screenshot by Sean Booker/CNET The mouse's controls are good -- better than I expected, in fact. They feel snappy, and I was able to pull off some higher-level maneuvers when I got used to it. And as you move, you can feel a subtle vibration in each hand to help you dial in how much force you're inputting. Moving the controllers at different speeds will adjust the turning radius. Braking (by pressing the R or L buttons) can be done independently of each wheel to further your control. There are even tricks you can pull off by using breaking and lifting the controllers in specific combinations, which the game points out will help you perform more advanced blocks and interceptions. Controls are the big novelty of Drag x Drive and take time to get used to, though the court and game modes offer their own unique challenges. Read more: I Played Donkey Kong Bananza. It's the Switch 2's Killer Ape Screenshot by Sean Booker/CNET Moderately deep mechanics for a $20 game The primary mode is a 3-minute three-on-three game that's reminiscent of Rocket League (without the jetpacks). There's an indicator always pointing toward the oversized ball. Rolling into it will pick it up. If you're going fast enough (represented by a flashing light on your back) and crashing into someone head-on will knock it loose. And if you raise one of the joy-cons off the surface, you will lift the ball, flicking your wrist will make a shot. Since the court is kind of a skateboard-style bowl, you can even roll up into the air from the sides and shoot or dunk from above. These trick shots will award players with more granular points, for example, an aerial shot might award you 2.3 instead of the standard two you'd see in typical basketball. But you can still land a three-pointer from outside the boundary, but you'll have to be lined up real well while the other five players aren't slamming into you. Defense also works just like you'd expect, with positioning playing the most important role. Pressing the R and L buttons together will pass the ball to a teammate. If an opponent is in the way, they can intercept. This is key since I witnessed many teams pass a ball way down the court to an isolated player while we tried to race after them to stop the shot. Like every sport, you'll want to spread out and cover someone instead of clumping all together around the ball, like most new players often do. Screenshot by Sean Booker/CNET While Drag x Drive curiously doesn't refer to anything as a wheelchair (or even highlight the awesome and inclusive sport of wheelchair basketball), it's really wonderful to see this representation. The characters can also be swapped out for one of three unit types: defense, forward or guard, all with different speed and power stats. From there, you can customise your character's outfit and gear, with more to unlock as you play. Outside of the online play, there are also nine different bot difficulties you can take on, so the game is playable in single player. There are also several minigames stationed around the hub area. These include a timed race and a rebound mode where you need to chase after a bouncing ball in the hub before time runs out. They're pretty short and not all that interesting, but they will reward you with medals to unlock gear. There are also some obstacles positioned around to play with. One example is a giant jump rope that you can bunny hop over. There isn't a typical career or story campaign to work through -- the main draw is the one core multiplayer mode. Considering the low $20 entry price, I wouldn't expect anything super in-depth, making this more of a unique application of the Switch 2 Joy-Cons' mouse mode than a long-lasting play experience. Drag x Drive is a shallow experience, but the skill ceiling has a lot of potential. Its low entry price makes it an easy recommendation, even if you're just interested in trying out the new mouse controls that the Switch 2 offers. If Nintendo chooses to support the game with more content in the future, I would love to see limited-time events and more game modes get added, building on the bones of one of the most unique sports games to come out in years. Drag x Drive comes out on Switch 2 on Thursday.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Nintendo Partners With Interstate Scholastic Esports Alliance (ISEA) to Welcome Students to Competitive Gaming
REDMOND, Wash., August 12, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nintendo of America is partnering with the Interstate Scholastic Esports Alliance (ISEA) to make gaming competitions more social, accessible, and rewarding. Starting this fall, the Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Splatoon 3 games for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch – OLED Model systems will be used for school-organized tournaments and events for grades 4 through 12, reaching over 80,000 elementary, middle, and high school students across 23 states. Nintendo of America and the ISEA are excited to offer students another way to gather in the name of fun and friendly competition. As part of the partnership, Nintendo will provide a large quantity of Nintendo Switch Online memberships and digital game download codes at no cost. "We are so excited to partner with Nintendo as we continue to grow and expand competitive gaming opportunities for students across the country," said ISEA President Danielle Johnson. "Games are a fun, communal experience. We want to make gaming accessible to as many students as possible regardless of their previous gaming experience. School-based gaming programs connect students that may have not been involved in social competitive activities before, and every student deserves a place to belong at school. These programs not only raise student attendance and achievement but also help students build healthy relationships that can last a lifetime." In November 2023, Nintendo of America reorganized its official guidelines and application portal for individual competitive gaming event organizers. The goal was to make the process of hosting not-for-profit, small-scale community tournaments involving games for which Nintendo owns the copyright easier and more transparent. This partnership with the ISEA is yet another way to help build and support an engaged and connected gaming community. "We support kids who want to celebrate their passion – or discover a new passion – by getting involved in memorable cooperative and competitive play experiences," says Bill Trinen, Vice President of Player and Product Experience at Nintendo of America. "Working closely with the ISEA ensures that we are creating a fun experience that is open to everyone." To find the organization that is building esports in your state, and to learn more about the ISEA, please visit the Interstate Scholastic Esports Alliance official website: Additional information on official Nintendo tournament guidelines is available here: About Nintendo: Nintendo Co., Ltd., headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, has been providing a wide range of entertainment products and experiences since its founding in 1889, beginning with the manufacture and sale of Hanafuda playing cards. Since the 1983 release of the Family Computer (Famicom) system in Japan, and continuing through Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo's focus has been the development, manufacturing, and sale of its gaming systems and software. To date, Nintendo has sold more than 5.9 billion video games and over 860 million hardware units globally, and has created franchises such as Mario™, Donkey Kong™, The Legend of Zelda™, Pokémon™, Metroid™, Kirby™, Animal Crossing™, Pikmin™, and Splatoon™. Nintendo strives to expand the number of people who have access to its characters and worlds. Its continuing mission is to put smiles on the faces of everyone it touches with unique entertainment experiences, centered on its integrated video game hardware and software products. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for operations in the Americas. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company's website at About the Interstate Scholastic Esports Alliance (ISEA): Founded in 2022, The Interstate Scholastic Esports Alliance (ISEA), is a nationwide coalition of educator-run scholastic esports organizations serving grades K through 12. ISEA is committed to advocating for, protecting, and elevating scholastic gaming programs in order to empower all students to use esports as a platform to grow socially, emotionally, and academically. Official ISEA-affiliated scholastic competitive gaming organizations include the Texas Scholastic Esports Federation, Garden State Esports in New Jersey, the Missouri Scholastic Esports Federation, the Minnesota Varsity League, and many others across the U.S. Note to editors: Nintendo press materials are available at a password-protected site. To obtain a login, please register on the site. View source version on Contacts GOLINThierry Nguyen213-280-8680tnguyen@
