Gaming accessory maker PDP has revealed its latest controller for the Switch, calling it "the best Nintendo Switch controller for serious gamers".
While we'd have to say that nothing can really top Nintendo's own Pro Controller in our eyes, this new PDP design does have a particularly interesting feature. As you can see, there's a standard 3.5mm headphone jack on the bottom (which Nintendo's own controllers are frustratingly lacking) and your audio settings can apparently be adjusted on the fly right from your controller.
It also benefits from an interchangeable faceplate and two additional programmable buttons, the latter of which will no doubt work in a similar way to PowerA's range. John Moore, SVP of marketing at PDP, has shared the following in a press release today:
“When we set out to make the new Faceoff Deluxe+ Audio into the ultimate third-party controller for Nintendo Switch we focused on elite performance and customisation, and enabling more opportunities for in-game chat. We worked with the industry leaders at Vivox to offer the best chat experience possible and now we’re helping them get the word out to developers.”
This new product is called the 'Faceoff Deluxe+ Audio Wired Controller' and pre-orders are expected to go live in May. You'll be able to get it from PDP's official site and at participating retailers, with its full release coming this summer.
As ever, we'd love to read your thoughts in the comments below.
Comments 74
Huh. If it works, then it would solve a lot of problem for game with Native voice chat.
I'll need to see the price before I can say I'm really interested.
Is it wireless?
@Joxe1 by looking at the image. No.
Also the Switch doesn’t stream audio wirelessly. This clearly is a controller with an USB dac built in.
@ilikeike I'm predicting like $40
Does it support motion controls?
It it lacks motion controls you've lost the Splatoon 2 audience, which would actually be the main target here.
Although I guess this would work for Fortnite which does not require an absurd solution to get voice chat working?
@Joxe1 based on the image, no. just open your damn eyes.
Does it have turbo?
There is only one thing Sony did better on their controller and it's the jack.
Hopefully the next iteration of the Switch will include a proper voice chat and a jack in its controllers. Come on Nintendo, copy good things from the competition
Ugh it's not wireless, which sucks. I really adore my PS4 having the headphone jack through its controller. However, with the Switch, if you're close enough, you can just put your headphones in the jack on the Switch itself and it will work, even with it in the dock.
But that won't always work out depending on how far away the dock/TV is, so having a controller with it is a great idea. I just wish it was wireless. I hate wired controllers. This is 2019, not 1999.
@fcknmrcls watch your comments, no need to be so aggressive.
@fcknmrcls Yeah, except the second image is intentionally misleading, with the tiniest amount of the cord showing from the top of the controller, then mysteriously disappearing into nowhere. So yeah, while it's clearly wired, it wouldn't be that difficult to overlook it.
@roadrunner343 maybe it's wireless like one of those old RC car controllers that had a big rubber aerial poking out the top
@pupypup According to their blog:
"The Faceoff Deluxe+ Audio Wired Controller will be available at launch in Red Camo and Purple Camo for $24.99."
Seems a fair price considering it's wired and most likely will lack motion controls and maybe rumble as well.
Why does it have a wire?!
How I do audio (and chat) on both my PC and PS4. Especially for audio when my girl is reading in the living room. This is 6 year old tech, and it is wireless on every other platform!
I got it sucks it's not wireless, but with my experience with bluetooth no thanks. I like rhythm games and would not want lag/delay thanks.
It is really cool, but I don't feel like trading gyro, HD rumble, wireless and NFC reader on my controller for a headphone jack.
@Joxe1 Nintendo Switch does not currently support audio with their wireless module.
Now if only it was wireless
@ilikeike $24.99
@Johnmo14239 Where did you get that price? If it's true then that's awesome.
I don’t understand. Is this native for all games with voice chat? Nintendo really dropped the ball big time with online and voice chat.
A 3rd party controller with the rumble feature and motion controls is what I want
@Qwertyninty For all games with ingame voice chat. So Splatoon 2 local network play and Fortnite.
@ilikeike I work here at PDP. We developed this tech in-house in our San Diego based office.
Too bad it'll be too little too late, we needed this 2 years ago not this summer..Everyone and their brother let alone N will have something wireless to announce at E3..
@Johnmo14239 welcome to Nlife!
One question: can you map the '-' and '+' buttons to the additional buttons on the back?
@sanderev and why couldn’t Nintendo do this.
@fcknmrcls
Says the guy who commented after someone had already answer the poor blind fool
Finally, about time.
no sense if the controller is with cable
But it's not wireless it has a corded connection still.
@Johnmo14239 Oh sweet, thanks for that! At that price I'll definitely be on the lookout for it.
That new pro controller makes sense. Wired controller with headphone jack?! Meh. Dont care. Switch pro controller is better than this one.
They get around the fact that it isn't wireless so elegantly in this material. NOT.
This is not really weird, because there are accessoires that use sound via the USB port.
Call me if we see a wireless one, that would be interesting
It’s got a wire though 🙄 make it wireless
Not wireless, not gonna bother with it.
@RupeeClock does Splatoon have in game voice chat now? I've never seen nor heard about it. AFAIK only Fortnite uses it.
There seems to be no competitor to the Pro Controller, but with all its features - wireless, rumble, gyro, amiibo compatibility, etc. Why? Is it because nobody's interested in making it, or does Nintendo withhold some secret sauce that makes having these features impossible for 3rd party manufacturers?
PDP does what Nintendon't?
The effort on the picture to hide the fact that it's wired until you read and get disappointed...
Nah, it doesn't have HD rumble, and when I play Fortnite with my friends, I play in Portable mode, or I hook my Switch to a smaller tv I have.
Make it wireless and I’m in
Why does everyone want wireless? I don't get it. Convenience? I'm genuinely wondering. If I'm buying a dedicated performance controller, then I'm going to combat latency as much as possible, which means a wired controller, along with a dedicated gaming monitor.
@Ulysses I'm not always home and I mostly either play my Switch in handheld mode or tabletop mode at work so yeah no way to connect wired controller off the dock which is why I prefer wireless more in this day and age.
@RupeeClock
Nah. Motion controls are terrible. You can always tell when someone's using it because you run circles around them with a real controller.
I'd wager most people that are quasi serious about winning aren't using gimmicks.
Before wondering "Why isn't this wireless?!" just remember - this is Nintendo we are talking about here. Everything they release comes with a catch and some things are just done in a way you would have never predicted... for the worst. Nintendo is my preferred console but they have morons making decisions.
@Ulysses Well for me, I play mostly docked on my 75” Samsung and my couch is about 9ft away from the tv. After a long day of work, I want lay back on my couch (untethered) and get my game on. So I guess, for me, it’s comfort/convenience. A wire impedes said comfort and convenience. That’s my reasoning, don’t know about others.
Why can't Nintendo do this!?
Wired? Ugh if only nintendo made an app I could download on my phone and I could do voice chat there!
I was going to get it but then I saw the wire.
@Gen0neD Same here. I play and lounge, even when I'm 'getting in the zone'. I've used wireless controllers since the Wavebird, and not looked back.
I've also never had this supposed 'lag' monster, either.
@mlj11
I think it's because, unlike Nintendo, these smaller accessory companies realized all that stuff unnecessarily drives up the cost.
I say unnecessarily because it's all gimmicks that aren't used beyond your honeymoon period.
Scanning toy figures? If I had a child that cared, simply sell me a separate thing.
Motion controls? No. Never. Not in our lifetime will it be good or accurate or 1:1.
HD rumble? So I can play ..... 1-2 switch minigames? Regular rumble was sufficient.
The Nintendo pro controller isn't anything special nor is it worth the asking price. Strip away the fluff and you have a decent controller that could sell at a reasonable price point next to ps4 and Xbox controllers.
Which is totally hypocritical of gamers in general. Xbox and Microsoft got blasted for forcing Kinect 2.0 on everyone this gen. It was a tech demo gimmick that zero developers supported. That was eventually pulled due to lack of support, lack of quality and the consumers didn't want to be forced to buy it.
But Nintendo does the same exact thing almost an entire generation after the fact and everyone's got amnesia.
@Zyph @Johnmo14239 Just the action buttons
Aux jack and a d-pad, I'm sold.
Edit: Just realized it's not wireless, hopefully the cord is more than 6 ft long 'cause I don't like sitting in front of my TV.
i have wireless headphones that work off my smart TV so no worries if pro controller has no jack. easy solution.
No thanks. Not really interested in downgrading to a wired controller.
The Switch Pro controller isn't perfect, but it is still one of the absolute best controllers I have ever used.
@Johnmo14239 Bummer. I thought I could map some moves in MHGU since some of them are assigned to either the minus or plus button
if it was wireless then i'd be into it.
@RupeeClock fortnite was the first thing I thought of for the controllers!... Although first I'm going to need a Chat headset in the first place!
Depending on Price I could well be interested in one of these.
I've always fancied a more authentic feeling controller but can never bring myself to Shell out for the Official Nintendo Pro controller because I already have 2 sets of Joy Cons and 2 grips
@Johnmo14239 Just wanted to say thank you for your wonderful customer service
@Reigestugatensho You could just use the earbuds that you got with your phone. Usually does the trick.
@OveDue I wish
but I don't have that kind of earbuds either...
@Reigestugatensho Aah, ok. If you just want something for chatting then there are plenty of cheap options though.
Wired!? No thanks
@OveDue Thank you for the kind words. The team has been really striving for raising the bar on the whole customer experience. They are a new team and will appreciate the compliment. I will be sure to pass it along.
Does it have an indicator light? That's my only complaint with my wired Hori pad. I would definitely buy this just for the headphone jack, it would be nice to be able to watch Hulu and play games at night on TV without disturbing roommates.
I am interesting based on the 3.5mm jack, but I would be more keen to sacrifice wireless connectivity if it has HD Rumble. Not super fussed on NFC, but even the Xbox One knockoff wireless controllers you can get from Amazon have decent rumble. Honestly, let's just will into existence the PowerA Enhanced Wireless controller with a 3.5mm jack and HD Rumble.
I think you should have put bluetooth In it as well you know keep it modern
Plugging a headset into the controller for voice chat (and general game audio) is a really useful feature that I miss on the Switch's Pro Controller.
Neat! I have a blue one of the old model. My little bro got it for Christmas, and I have used it whenever I use a dock ever since. Even if the headphone jack doesn't want to work, the controls are very high quality!
@OveDue Time to start searchin' then!
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